A new teamwork approach by the City of Kirkland, the Kirkland Cultural Council and the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce has formed the “Artilization Team.” Local artists and businesses are working with the “Artilization Team” in this new effort to bring more art into Kirkland’s downtown core by utilizing empty storefronts. Transforming empty storefronts into galleries goes by different names in different cities. In New York, they’re call “pop-up galleries” and in San Francisco they are “phantom galleries.” The end result is a win for everyone involved with positive results in increased business and an awareness and appreciation of the importance of local artists to a city’s economic vitality.

Kirkland’s latest temporary pop-up store is called the Art Shop, located at 122 Central Way. This shop joins Kirkland’s first pop-up, HAS, the Kirkland Art Center’s retail store that has become a new staple at Parkplace Center. For information, contact at kathy@feekcorp.com.