"Here Today" Temporary Public Art Project returns for the month of August! Eight physical and time-based projects by nine local artists will appear on the streets and in the public spaces of downtown Olympia from August 1-31. Project artists include Bil Fleming, Faith Hagenhofer, Jenn Kliese, George Kurzman, Shaw Osha, Tony Perkins, Jeff Shannon, Dana Squires and Trudes Tango. From visual art to music, performance art to literature, the work of these local artists celebrate a sense of place through reflection and response to our physical and social environment. All the exhibition dates vary, and some of the projects involve components that move, so the element of surprise and discovery is part of the fun! Only in downtown Olympia, and only for one month, plan your August around Public ART!

A Project Kick-Off is planned for Saturday, August 2nd at the Olympia Farmers Market.

The schedule follows:

10-Noon / Community plate decorating with Bil Fleming. Plates will be used in his project "Performance Dishwashing," taking place at the Farmers Market on August 15.

11am-Noon / The Waterfront Public Art Tour will leave at 11am from the bell at the south side of the market, including stops at "Leaf and Twig" by Dana Squires and "Would it Be" by George Kurzman, with discussion by the artists, during the Tour's regular route.

Noon / Writer Tony Perkins gives away several copies of his chapbook "Like Everyone Else" to several lucky Market Patrons in advance of the August 16th public reading at Yashiro Japanese Garden.

1-2pm / Meet at the bell on the south side of the market at 1pm with Jenn Kliese and Jeff Shannon, for a tour of their two-week music installation "Bus Station."

1-3pm / Create ceramic birds with Trudes Tango, to be used in her project "A Bird in the Hand: Lessons in Letting Go."

2-3pm / Join Faith Hagenhofer at 2pm for a tour of her project, "Rising Tides." Meet at the bell on the south side of the market.

"Here Today" Temporary Public Art Project is presented by the City of Olympia Olympia Arts Commission, Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation Department, with promotional support from MIXX96fm and Intercity Transit, and special thanks to the Olympia Farmers Market. For more information, contact Olympia Arts & Events at 360/709-2678 or go online after July 21 at www.olympiawa.gov