Mission

To foster the creation and the presentation of sculpture by the emerging and the professional sculptor. Personal growth, experimentation, and exploration are encouraged.

Park Amenities

Over 100 contemporary sculptures

Hedge Maze in shape of a butterfly

Fantasy Garden

Bird and Butterfly Garden

Japanese Garden

Sound Garden (Sculptural Musical Instruments)

Nature Walk

Facilities for indoor and outdoor receptions

Outdoor Stage with water & power

Papillon:  Indoor gallery

Parking for visitors

Bathroom

Handicapped accessible Sanican

                 Public Notice

Periodically there will be works of art on the grounds and in the gallery that represent the unclothed human form.

Monarch Staff

Myrna Orsini, Founder/Director/Curator/Sculptor

Doris Coonrod, Co-Founder/Attorney/Wood Carver.  Doris passed away October 18th, 2008.  She was a woman of intellect, integrity, wit and compassion.  She will be missed.

Additions to the park outdoor sculpture exhibit.  "Portal" by Orsini;  "Shatkone" by Bill Wilson; "Day's End" by Leann Powers;  and, "Pyramoidal Colloidal" by Bill Wilson.      

History

Monarch Contemporary Art Center is an 80 acre public sculpture park and a center for the visual arts. Classes, workshops, and international sculpting and ceramic symposia are held at the Center. When funds are available, scholarships and residency grants are offered to gifted young artists and professionals so that they may attend events or use the facilities at the Center.

In June of 1998, as part of the Annual Sculpture Exhibition, Monarch held its first Open House. Demonstrations in stone, metal, wood and ceramic working were given. Over three hundred people visited the grounds.

1998 saw the institution of the Visiting Artists Workshops and the Student Mentoring Project.

Monarch hosted an International Stone Symposia for professional sculptors during the summer of 1998. Artists representing nine countries participated. The artwork created formed a large part of the permanent collection. Select pieces are currently offered for sale to help finance future programs.

In 1999, "Transcending Boundaries," a conference to celebrate contemporary women in the visual and performing arts was held.  Betsy Sabin was the keynote speaker.

The Center hosts an Annual Sculpture Exhibit on the grounds with new works added periodically throughout the year. Efforts are made to sell the work for the Artists. To assist the artist and to keep the art affordable, a commission of only 25% is assessed by the Center on each sale. These funds will go into the general operating budget of Monarch.

The first phase of planning for Monarch in 1994 involved the formation of a Board of Directors and the formation of a non-profit charitable corporation.

The second phase involved the purchase of seventy acres of land in Thurston county, ten miles south of Olympia. Later, in 1997, an adjacent ten acres was purchased. This piece of property holds three buildings that have been converted to Office and Living Quarters, the Ceramic Studio and the Sculpting Studio. The Living Quarters can accommodate twelve artists.

The Center is involved in establishing a Donor Base to fund the programs, events, future construction and development of the acreage. Forty dollars a year will give the Donor a newsletter citing coming events and information of the Visiting Artist Workshops.

Monarch will be maintained as a non-discriminatory, drug and smoke free environment with emphasis on preserving the natural landscape.

Initially, the work for Monarch will be on a volunteer basis exclusively. When funds become available, staff will be hired. Volunteers will always be key elements in the operation of the Center.

Board of Directors planning projects for 2010:

1.Planning for Art in the Park Festival to take place on August 15th the 3rd Sunday of August from 11am to 6pm.

2.Revamping the offerings for the Art Adventures Program.

3.  Recruitment of new sculptures for the outdoor exhibit.

Kevin Crigger                            "No Man Is An Island"