Scene on the Town: First Thursday Portrait Gallery

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, July 9, 2025

This month’s art shows opened a day early on Vashon — instead of the usual First Friday gallery cruise, it came on Thursday, July 3, when galleries and artspots opened their doors a day early to make room for the following night’s Fourth of July festivities.

The portraits captured here are of some of the many artists and creative souls seen out and about that night.

On left (top to bottom) are painter Jonathan Kuzma and photographer Shelley Hanna, both exhibiting new work in Vashon Center for the Arts’ Summer Arts Fest. In middle, (top to bottom) Roger Stanley and Brian Brenno at Vashon Heritage Museum’s dedication of its outdoor hydroplane exhibit; Greg Wessel, soliciting signatures for his rewrite of the Declaration of Independence outside VALISE Gallery; and John Schuh, exhibiting new Pop Art at VCA. On right (top to bottom), jewelry artist Lisa Witherspoon displays her work in VCA’s gift shop, and Bill Jarcho strikes a pose in front of his whimsical creatures now on display at VALISE.