The Centralia Sunshine Project, in partnership with the Centralia Cultural Society, held the first Art and Wine Walk in Carillon Park on Saturday, October 4. The event replaces Celebrate Centralia, which in past years was run by the city. Centralia Sunshine Project president Morgan Taylor said this year’s event was well attended by guests and vendors.
“I think it turned out really well,” Taylor said. “There was a lot of grassroots effort that went into the event with a relatively small team of people putting this together. All of the funding came from our local businesses who sponsored and donated to it.”
56 pieces of art were submitted for the art contest, and a total of $3,000 dollars in prize money was awarded to winning artists (see the art show results here). In addition to the art show, visitors were able to enjoy live music by Hosteen and the Aztechs, interactive art exhibits, crafts and handmade goods, and wine from the Crooked Creek Winery.
Taylor said that since being founded over one year ago, the Centralia Sunshine Project’s mission has been to use art as a means of building and maintaining social connections in the community.
“I had the idea to do something like this a long time ago. I actually started to think about it during the pandemic when life changed so much for a lot of people and new challenges arrived, especially for people socially. For me, art has been a big part of my life throughout my life, and to me art seemed like an obvious way to bring light into people’s lives, to form connections, and to help bring community together.”
Taylor says the young nonprofit is continuing to look for ways to build support and interest in the community. More information on the Centralia Sunshine Project can be found on Facebook and at centraliasunshineproject.org.
Carillon Park during the evening on the first Art and Wine Walk. Photo by Austin Williams.
Works on display for the art show. Photo by Austin Williams.
Hosteen and the Aztechs perform in Carillon Park for the Centralia Art and Wine Walk. Photo by Austin Williams.
