Everett, art and flowers

I had to return to Everett for one more safety recall for my car. Since taking the ferry keeps me from visiting the east side of Puget Sound often, I like to make the most of each trip across the moat. The Kia dealership offers rides within a reasonable distance, which is really convenient. While my car is being serviced, I usually take an Uber into downtown, grab a latte, take photos of the art and flower planters, or stop by the Schack Art Center.

I’ll start with outside the building and permanent art installations. The gabion with the sculpture on top would be a great standalone structure almost anywhere, yet would be fantastic in a garden, too. The cubes on the side of the building I composed so the graffiti-like art set it off. There are three Sasquatches on the front of the building, but I am only showing one of them and the plaque of the artist who made them.

Inside there is The 24th Juried Exhibition: Present Tense going on now through August 22, 2026 the center featuring a wide variety of art. “This exhibition showcases contemporary work by Northwest artists across all mediums. It brings together artists working today to offer a wide-ranging view of current creative practices in the region, highlighting the voices, ideas, and approaches shaping the Northwest art scene now.”

It’s always fun to return to the Arts Council of Snohomish County’s events. I served on the board many years ago, so it’s great to see them become a prominent and positive force for the city. I remember when they started back in the 80s, they would go into empty store spaces for their galleries and moved around as space became available. Then into the historic Monte Cristo building during the time I was involved. I thought that was their permanent home. Their permanent home is at the Schack Arts Center.

Art programs for cities bring many positive changes; it’s good to see this happening there.

The art center also has a glassblowing studio where visitors can watch the artists at work. I stopped by the public viewing window to snap a few photos of the artists in action. Just as I arrived, the piece a pair was working on broke, so they paused to clean up and take a break. I didn’t get a photograph. Shrug. That’s how it goes sometimes. The hot shop has a 1,000-pound furnace, three annealing ovens, and more. Up to three glassblowing teams can work there at once, and they also offer glassblowing classes.

The center offers classes in many different art forms, hosts artist-in-residence programs, and has a gallery shop.

I took photos of some of the art that stood out to me, then went outside to capture some of the outdoor pieces.

I especially liked the painted crosswalk and the blue house across the street with its primer clouds. A few blocks away, I found a planter I just had to photograph. It smelled amazing, probably thanks to the white sweet alysum.

Enjoy the art, and if you find yourself in Everett, Washington, take some time to wander around—especially if it’s been a while since your last visit.

A half block down the street from the Schack, is Imagine Children’s Museum, which looks like it would be worth visiting with children.

Walking around downtown Everett is an unexpected treat. To visit Everett’s outdoor art here’s an art map.

Schack art center:

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