Reflecting On Terrain 17 Preview Night: Art, Inspiration, and Connecting Spokane to Seattle

Black In SpokaneColman CommonsArts & CultureErik KalligraphyAshleigh McCurdy

Oct 2

Ashleigh McCurdy poses at Terrain 17 Preview Night last night in Spokane, Washington. (Photo: Erik Kalligraphy)

Last night in Spokane, Washington, Colman Commons Executive Director Ashleigh McCurdy and the Converge Media team stepped into the creative whirlwind of Terrain 17 Preview Night ahead of tonight’s Main Terrain event. Bringing together over 500 artists and featuring over 1,100 curated artworks, Terrain is in its seventeenth year as an epicenter for Pacific Northwest arts, music, and culture.

Capturing Stories Across Mediums

During Thursday’s Preview Night, the team conducted interviews with a handful of artists spanning visual arts, music, ceramics, and exhibition curation:

Carl Richardson: Art preparator for Terrain 17, who offered invaluable insight into the massive undertaking of curating and hanging over 1,100 individual artworks for this year's show.
Matt Schwenk: Visual artist sharing the narrative, technique, and personal meaning behind his featured work.
Frances Mortel: Visual artist and community advocate discussing multi-medium expressions, visual identity, and creative storytelling.
Dario Ré: Musician bringing rich sonic landscapes and performance energy to the indoor stage.
Sadeh Parris: Visual artist and botanical jewelry maker highlighting nature, texture, and organic forms within the exhibition space.
Nicole Mowbray: Ceramic artist demonstrating tactility, structure, and craftsmanship in three dimensions.
John deRoulet: Painter exploring deep concepts, process, and personal inspiration.

Bridging Spokane’s Energy to Colman Commons in Seattle

For McCurdy, taking in the immersive displays and engaging with artists proved deeply inspiring. Navigating the expansive warehouse halls, observing the curation, and experiencing how Terrain builds community around diverse artistic mediums offered fresh ideas for her ongoing vision at Colman Commons.

As Seattle’s newest destination for art, culture, and community programming right next to Converge Media’s studio, Colman Commons shares Terrain’s core mission of elevating local artists and creating accessible, transformative gallery spaces. Experiencing Terrain 17 firsthand provided a template for bringing that same energy, community engagement, and multi-medium collaboration back to Seattle.

Looking Ahead to Tonight’s Main Event

As Spokane prepares for tonight's Main Terrain event, the Converge team will be on the ground experiencing the crowds, creations, and community.

Stay tuned for Converge’s upcoming coverage of Terrain 17 coming soon.