This Tales of the Magic Skagit podcast episode encompasses two topics, which while seemingly unrelated at first consideration, actually have a common theme: the past, present, and future of the Skagit Valley as viewed through an artistic lens.
We start this episode off with Laynie Moran, the Skagit County Historical Museum's Collections Manager, who is heading up a first ever art contest and exhibit with the unlikely theme, "Everyone's a Critic." This upcoming exhibit could, however, also be called "Everyone's an Artist," since the goal of Laynie's project is to showcase art from anyone in the county, regardless of age or skill level, to contribute a work of art of their own creation. The only criterion for the entries, whatever the chosen medium, is that they adhere to the theme "The Past, Present, and Future of Skagit County." Entries are due by June 1, 2025, and the exhibit opens and voting begins on June 20. Details and registration forms are available at the museum and its website, www.skagitcounty.net/museum.
On the subject of Skagit Valley's past, we turn next to Ann Maroney, the office and store manager at the museum, to learn about its current exhibit on the life of Lawrence (Laurie) Wells. In describing Laurie's life, it's hard to know where to begin. He was a largely self-taught artist whose works captured the beauty of his Skagit Valley home through an astonishing number of paintings across a variety media and styles. But he and his wife, whose love story is part of the exhibit as well, were also active in the early grange and socialist movements of the early 20th century. In addition, Laurie could justifiably be called the godfather of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, thanks to his promotion of the Magic Skagit's bulb farms and his landscape design skills in showcasing them decades ago.
Suffice it to say that the museum's current exhibit, "Laurie Wells: A Skagit Original," is a multi-layered tribute to an individual whose deep and abiding love of where we live combines works of art with a glimpse into lesser known aspects of Skagit Valley history that will appeal to the eye, heart, head, and soul. And with the exhibit to come in June, Skagitonians of all ages are invited to celebrate Laurie Wells' legacy in a way he would have undoubtedly appreciated: through art.
