NW7: Where We Are Now
A Exhibition Celebrating 18 Years of Creativity and Friendship in the Center Gallery
Art has a remarkable way of bringing people together, and for the artists of NW7, it has done exactly that for nearly two decades.
Eighteen years ago, local artist Sue Robertson extended a simple invitation: join her once a month in her Edmonds studio for a day of painting. That invitation sparked something lasting. What began as a small gathering of artists has grown into NW7: a close-knit group of creative friends who continue to meet each month to paint, share ideas, enjoy lunch, and encourage one another's artistic journeys.
While each artist has developed a unique voice, the foundation of the group has remained the same: friendship, inspiration, and a shared love of making art.
Today, many of the original members still gather at Joyful Art Studio, where conversations flow as freely as the paint. Over the years, their work has become a familiar sight throughout the local art community, with paintings exhibited at Cole Gallery and HouseWares in Edmonds, Parklane Gallery in Kirkland, and Lynn Hanson's Gallery in Seattle's Pioneer Square.
Their latest exhibition, Where We Are Now, marks the group's second show at the Center Gallery. More than simply displaying new work, the exhibition invites each artist to reflect on nearly two decades of creative growth. The show will be up through the end of August.
Some artists have continued to refine the styles they first embraced years ago. Others have rediscovered familiar subjects with fresh perspectives, while some have ventured into entirely new techniques, mediums, and artistic directions. Together, the exhibition tells a story of evolution—not just as artists, but as friends who have witnessed and supported each other's creative journeys.
Whether sketching quietly in a notebook, experimenting with bold new ideas, or joyfully throwing paint onto a canvas, the members of NW7 continue to celebrate each person's individual path. Their willingness to encourage one another, embrace change, and remain curious has made the group something truly special.
Where We Are Now is both a celebration of where these artists have been and an invitation to see where they are headed next. After 18 years of painting together, one thing remains certain: the friendships, inspiration, and creativity that first brought NW7 together continue to flourish. They look forward to many more years of creating together.
The current members of NW7: Sue Robertson, Donna Wallace, Lynn Hanson, Mona-Smiley-Fairbanks, Tracy Felix, Angela Bandurka, and Binky Bergsman.
About the Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation
The Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to education and the cultural enrichment of the community through the arts. The Foundation awards more than $80,000 annually in scholarships and grants, and over the past 39 years has provided more than $1 million to support public art installations and major special projects. The annual Edmonds Arts Festival, held each June for more than 60 years and produced entirely by community volunteers, is the Foundation’s primary fundraiser and makes its year-round arts programs and initiatives possible. Learn more here.