Vashon Island Visual Artists (VIVA) wholeheartedly thank our island friends, sponsors and patrons from surrounding communities for their wonderful support.

VIVA artists have created art for decades. The first “Potter’s Tour” was launched in 1979 by six ambitious island potters. From that tiny seed the Vashon Island Art Studio Tour, scheduled the first two full weekends in May and December, has continued to grow. VIVA became a 501 (c)3 non-profit entity nearly two years ago, expanding membership and creating opportunities for everyone to take part in art.

The past two weekends, VIVA hosted its annual spring Studio Tour, the biggest spring tour ever. The overwhelming support artists receive from our island community helps individuals and art thrive on Vashon. Thank you for visiting studios and purchasing island-made art during the tour and Strawberry Festival. Thank you for enabling VIVA to give back to the community. We give college scholarships for graduating VHS seniors, offer artists’ salons, host classes and mount exhibits. And thanks to you, VIVA continues to keep visual arts and crafts alive and well here on Vashon.

Give Big just concluded and islanders were once again generous to all our nonprofits. You might wonder why you didn’t see VIVA on the list. Right now VIVA is financially sound, and our needs this year for scholarships, workshops and member services are funded by Studio Tour, events and our great sponsors. This might not always be true, and we’ll let you know when help is needed. In the meantime, keep all our nonprofits in your hearts and minds when it comes to donations.

We Vashon Island artists are fortunate to live and create here on our little piece of paradise. We owe it all to you. Thank you Vashon, we love you.

— Sy Novak, VIVA Studio Tour Coordinator