Tuesday, July 26, 2016

See Dick. See Jane. See Ellensburg ~

See Dick’s art.       See Jane’s art.

See Dick and Jane’s Spot in Central Washington State and you’ll find not only their art, but the artwork of nearly 40 other Pacific Northwest artists on display as well.

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Entry to Dick and Jane's Spot
We’re spending our summer at our Pacific Northwest home and soothing the travel itch with some in-state travel. Ellensburg, considered the most centrally located city in Washington State, was the focus of a recent travel article I was writing for the Seattle Times newspaper and made for a one-day getaway. (That article can be found at the other end of this link, so just click here.)

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Back Yard at Dick and Jane's Spot
In pre-trip research I turned to Trip Advisor and found one of the most highly rated things to do in this university town, is Dick and Jane’s Spot. (Turned out to be a great recommendation.)

Dick and Jane’s Spot has been the real-life home of artists Dick Elliott and Jane Orleman for nearly 40 years. The small house on a corner lot across from the town’s police and fire Station has – in my words – redefined ‘yard art’. 

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In the heart of Washington State
There is no admission fee, in fact, a small sign requests that you enjoy their outdoor gallery from the public sidewalk that borders two sides of the corner lot (unless you’ve called in advance and made other arrangements) or from the public walkway they’ve created on the north side of the house or from the alley behind it. And don’t forget to sign the guestbook.

PicMonkey Collage
The newest installation stretches along the alley
Their whimsical creations are made of bottle caps and reflectors – more than 10,000 of them. Over the years the works of other artists have been added to the garden gallery. As works decay (or rust), they are replaced with new items, such as the recently finished dragon that snakes the length of the back fence off the alleyway.

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A Blowin' in the Wind and it gets windy in Ellensburg
Dick and Jane were 1971 (art majors) graduates of Ellensburg’s Central Washington State College, today a University. They married the same year and began turning their small home on Pearl Street into a gallery. Dick, aka Richard, Elliott passed away in November 2008 at age 63 from pancreatic cancer. Jane continues to live in their home and curates the outdoor gallery.  Once, they had a dog named ‘Spot’.

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Geometric design to the side of the house
While the yard gallery is a fantasy-land setting – their reflector art is nationally-known and has been commissioned for entities that include: the  New York Transit System,  Minneapolis' light-rail system,  the University of Washington's Henry Art Gallery and the Ellensburg Public Library. 

“The Old Inspires the New” reflector installation is found at the entry to concourse A at Seatac International Airport. The State of Washington owns 26 pieces of Dick’s artwork.

PicMonkey Collage
It takes awhile to see it all at Dick and Jane's Spot
If you go:


Map picture

Ellensburg is 107 miles from Seattle via Interstate 90 over Snoqualmie Pass. 

Dick and Jane’s Spot is just south of Ellensburg's historic downtown. Curbside parking is free in their neighborhood – just don’t park in front of the house, 101 North Pearl Street, so you don’t block fire trucks exiting the station across the street.

For those who are out of the area or who are armchair travelers, follow Jane on FB: https://www.facebook.com/DickandJanesSpot/?fref=ts and her web site is reflectorart.com

If you are simply passing through SeaTac and want to check out the installation there (as well as the other art on display) use this Art Map for the airport:  http://www.portseattle.org/Sea-Tac/Maps-and-Directions/Documents/ArtMap.pdf

That’s it for this week and again we thank you for the time you’ve spent with us. We wish you happy and safe travels.  We are spending our summer planning season figuring out future travels. I'll tell you about that next week!
 
Linking this week with:

Through My Lens
Our World Tuesday
Wordless Wednesday
Travel Photo Thursday – 
Photo Friday
Weekend Travel Inspiration

40 comments:

  1. So cool. I would love to visit there.

    http://csuhpat1.blogspot.com/2016/07/el-pueblo-de-los-angeles-historical.html

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    1. Thanks for visiting today, Patrick. Hope you make it to Ellensburg one day.

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  2. Beautiful work of arts. Very creative.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Rajesh - glad you enjoyed the post!

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  3. I just love to go to places like Dick and Jane Spot...there's usually some really awesome art..of all kinds.

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    1. It is curiously refreshing, isn't it? I think how much fun it would be to have spent your life creating beauty!

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  4. how cute - delightful and imaginative place.
    thanks for linking up at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2016/07/bottoms-up.html

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  6. Here I go again - another try at a legible comment. We don't usually get much further east than Snohomish but I will remember this place when we cut loose and get off our beaten track.

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  7. Here I go again - another try at a legible comment. We don't usually get much further east than Snohomish but I will remember this place when we cut loose and get off our beaten track.

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    1. I laughed at this comment as I often leave one that made sense in my head but when it pops back up to read, I wonder what in the world was I trying to say. Snohomish is another delightful and charming place around these parts!

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  8. Dick and Jane's sounds like a fun spot.

    I love that your write articles that show off all your travel expertise.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by. I've always said this blog is meant to inspire others to travel - if these two old boomers can do it, anyone can.

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  9. Looks like a wonderful place to visit :)

    I wish you a wonderful Wednesday!

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    1. Thanks much and a happy weekend to you! Where does the time go??

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  10. Fun with Dick and Jane! This post just makes me smile, Jackie and I can imagine your own grin as you wandered around the whimsical displays. As a noncreative-type person, it always amazes me how artists can take everyday items and even throwaways and create such endearing works. Jane sounds like a person I'd love to have as a neighbor!

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    1. And I am always guilty, Anita, of looking at these kinds of displays and thinking, "I could do that!" and I know that if I tried, say making a tree out of empty wine bottles, the neighbors would have me pegged as a nut! Jane is a delightful person and it has been nice chatting with her for both this post and the article.

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  11. A very interesting place to visit; so nice said "a home turned into a gallery" with a lot of artworks! Lots of passion and positivity shared with us through images! Many thanks! A lovely summer day!

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    1. I love your phrase, "passion and positivity" as that so sums up Dick and Jane's Spot!

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  12. Hello, what a fun post. I love all the artwork. Washington state is one of my favorite places to visit, so much to see there. Enjoy your day and the week ahead!

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    1. Hi Eileen, I've loved your posts on visiting Washington State - I always like to see what has caught your photographer's eye while visiting here! Happy weekend, friend!

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  13. Thank goodness for creative people. The whole town benefits from their creations bringing tourists in for a visit. It certainly is a work of love.

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    1. Yes, I've always said there are two types of people - creative people and those like me who aren't but appreciate those who are! Thanks for the visit Jan!

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  14. Such beautiful works of art! Nice pics ♥

    summerdaisy.net

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    1. Thanks much for the visit - I just stopped by your blog, it is a day brightener!

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  15. The art at Dick and Jane's spot is very eclectic. I like that as it decays, it is replaced with new art.

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    1. It certainly keeps the display vibrant and brings one back for another look!

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  16. Gosh! Dick and Jane's place sounds like fun! I was in Seattle last summer and it's a shame I didn't know about it then.

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    1. And if I had known you were in Seattle we could have tried to get together! "Next time!" for sure!

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  17. Lovely photos, what a fun place! Beautiful art.

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  18. I love this kind of quirkiness that you can find all over the world. So fun!

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    1. So true Corinne. And it is this kind of place that I usually remember much longer than formal 'tourist' spots designed to be remembered!

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    1. And it probably took a lot more effort than I would ever give to the project, but it sure is fun to visit. Thanks for stopping by Margaret!

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  20. What a cool spot! I love the whimsical art. Dick and Jane's Spot seems like a place to lighten one's heart.

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    1. And there is nothing better about traveling than finding things to 'lighten one's heart' (I love that phrase, Donna!)

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  21. what a neat find. it reminds of the Magic Garden in Philadelphia -- someone's creativity run amock in amazing and fun ways.

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  22. Not a bad way to sooth your travel itch in Washington State! Art like this one of Dick and Jane is magnificent. I love it.

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