The heart of our mission is to curate creative platforms that engage community, encourage dialogue, and create a distinct sense of place and belonging … for the Love of Kenmore!
Arts of Kenmore is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing sustainable opportunities for artists and engaging community with accessible arts experiences that improve quality of life.
As a dedicated Creative Placemaker in Kenmore Washington, our focus is to connect people with art by employing multi-faceted approaches to the planning, design and placement of arts to be most accessible in the public realm. AOK collaborates with the City, with citizens, and community partners to integrate projects and events that reflect the interests of our community.
VISION
AOK envisions a sustainable organization providing artist opportunities and engaging community in local Arts & Culture
MISSION
To encourage and promote both passive and active participation in all forms of the arts by the citizens of the area for the enrichment of the community.
Community Partnerships
It takes a Village! For 23 years, AOK has held a grassroots philosophy utilizing all the resources a micro-city has to offer to cultivate a creative community. We often think of ourselves as Community Organizers for anything and everything arts-related in Kenmore. We cannot do what we do alone!
City of Kenmore Public Arts
AOK maintains a mutual partnership with the City to carefully curate public art that represents our community’s cultural platforms, shaping vibrant, accessible experiences for our citizens, commuters, and visitors alike.
The City invests in AOK to manage the City Gallery exhibitions, city hall art collection, and to produce community-driven, non-infrastructural public art installations. AOK also serves as a valuable resource on the City’s Ad-Hoc Arts Commission, advising sustainable industry practices in the placement and selection of public art under the Arts Fund Policy. Selecting artists to integrate art into infrastructural projects in parks, sidewalks, utility cabinets, and bridges. From City Hall’s ceiling installation representing the natural life of Kenmore from heron’s nests to lily pads, to the Bird Blinds and imprinted walkways at Tl’ awh-ah-dees Park (formerly Squire’s Landing), to the vibrant art on utility cabinets around town.
Explore more of Kenmore’s public art at the international platform Public Art Archive. Simply type in keyword Kenmore City Hall to view Suzanne Zocola’s “Confluence,” the permanent ceiling installation in city hall, or Blue Trees Kenmore to see images of how Konstanin Dimopoulos’ vegetable pigmented trees originally appeared along the Burke-Gilman Trail.
So, the next time you’re out & about town, look around and notice all the art in public spaces.
Umbrella Fiscal Agency
The AOK Umbrella is our initiative program supporting professional and amateur-driven creative projects that add culture and a sense of place in Kenmore. Many of our biggest and best art projects are inspired by the City’s For the Love of Kenmore initiative encouraging citizens to create your own art in public spaces. Under the AOK Umbrella, we guide your ideations into reality as giant Love Notes that beautify our neighborhoods, engage community, teach art appreciation, become landmarks, advocate social issues, and tell the greater story of our community. Tell us about your fabulous artsy idea!
Northshore Nonprofit Network
Kenmore has been toted as one of the best up and coming cities in Washington state and building partnerships is vital to our community’s sustainability and healthy economy. Northshore Nonprofit Networks is a coalition of local nonprofits and community-based entities with mutual goals to enrich our community through collaborations, projects, and events. NNN includes Arts of Kenmore, Kenmore Heritage Society, Kenmore Community Club, Northshore Schools Foundation, Kenmore Business Alliance and Bothell Kenmore Chamber.
Staff
Sara Solum Hayashi
Executive Director, Program Development, City Gallery Curator
“Art is humanity’s greatest form of storytelling. Curating is puzzling that story together, one choreographed movement at a time.”
Sara curates life through the lens of Art in music, placemaking, and advocacy. Recipient of the Kenmore Heritage Society’s McMaster’s and the NSD Golden Acorn awards. Sara served AOK as curator and youth development before stepping into the role of President in 2019, transitioning to Executive Director in 2021.
Sara’s goal for AOK is to leave a multi-platform, service oriented legacy that continues to grow sustainably.
Tricia C. Woods
Operations, 48 Hour Youth Film Fest
Tricia started with the Arts of Kenmore in 2013, as liaison to the school district and Northshore Council PTSA Reflections chair (national PTA arts competition.
In 2018, Tricia was recruited into the role of President, and transitioned to treasurer and operations in 2020. She has brought another part of art to the organization, film. Developing AOK’s first high school film festival. Her talents are in film and stage. She is partner of a production company producing short films.
Elisabeth Lepine
Secretary, PopUp StoryWalk
Elisabeth is a recent transplant from NYC where her love of street art and artists for social change began.
Elisabeth is a collaborator, curator and intensely fascinated by those who create. She is the co-creator of PopUp StoryWalk, a local program that promotes literacy, health and art appreciation using deconstructed children’s storybooks installed in outdoor community spaces.
Elisabeth served as Vice President 2019-20, and transitioned to Secretary 2021-22.
Jeannine Frazier Boone
Member
Jeannine…
Jeanette Eggerman
Official Photographer – jeanetteeggermanphotography.com
Jeanette specializes in outdoor portraiture photography for weddings, events, high school senior photos and graduations. She has been involved with AOK and the Kenmore Art Show since 2009.
