The University District

Advance agendas will be posted approximately 3-4 days before the meeting. Please contact ajones@spokaneudistrict.org if you need a Zoom link for the UDPDA meetings.

In 2024, the University District Development Association (UDDA) board of directors will meet on February 7, March 6, April 3, May 1, June 5 (retreat), September 4 (annual meeting), and October 2.

In 2024, the University District Public Development Authority (UDPDA) board of directors will meet on February 7, March 6, April 3, May 1, September 4 (annual meeting), and October 2.

2024 State of the Downtown June 6

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0700

2024 State of the Downtown

Dedicated exclusively to the health of the urban core, come learn about the work being done by the staff and Board of Directors from the Downtown Spokane Partnership, who work diligently each year to advocate on behalf of downtown’s continued growth and vibrancy.

Saranac Art Projects May Exhibition through June 1

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0700

MAY 2024 EXHIBITION

Joshua Hobson, “Potential Synergy,”

Lisa Nappa & Roger Ralston, “In Technicolor”

EXHIBITION DATES: Friday May 3rd – June 1st, 2024

OPENING RECEPTION: Friday May 3rd, 4:00 – 8:00 PM

GALLERY HOURS: Fridays 12:00 – 8:00 PM, except the day of exhibit opening: Saturdays 12:00 – 8:00 PM

JOSH HOBSON – “Potential Synergy”

Joshua Hobson is a lens-based artist based in Spokane, WA. He studied photography at the University of Florida and received a BFA in Creative Photography in 2007 and an MFA in 2017. Josh regularly exhibits his work including exhibitions at Candela Books, Colorado Center for Photographic Art, Detroit Center for Contemporary Photography, Newspace Center for Photography, Chase Gallery, Saranac Art Projects, Brooklyn Waterfront Arts Coalition Photo Center Northwest, and the Center for Fine Art Photography. Josh is currently a lecturer in photography at Eastern Washington University. Josh’s work is engaged with an analysis of and experimentation with the fundamental attributes of the medium. His practice incorporates tabletop studio photography, on-site photography, and camera-less concrete processes. Through material engagement and process-oriented actions, Josh’s work aims to shed light on the various uses and origins of the photographic image. His work is grounded in material culture, the history of abstraction, and an alternative history of lens-based media. His current projects engage with the dire environmental issues facing the planet including both the social and personal effects of climate change, pollution, and resource extraction. Nocture Humide 3, 2023 pictured at left.

EXHIBITION STATEMENT

New work by Roger Ralston and Lisa Nappa is an adventure in color, referencing the idea of seeing the world in fantastical wonder. Roger Ralston continues his chromatic odyssey through playful, formal compositions in watercolor painting and intimate handmade books. Lisa Nappa has artfully combined the colorful world of rug tufting and ceramics to create magical, one-of-a-kind stools and wall pieces.

Lisa Nappa, Short Bio

Lisa Nappa is a ceramic sculptor and mixed media artist living in Spokane, Washington. Her work varies in scale, from intimate handheld objects, large wall and window installations and currently mix media stools. For the last decade, her work has been inspired by the beauty and underlying politics of water. She exhibits her work nationally and internationally as well as participates in residencies throughout the world. She recently stepped away from being a Professor of Art at Eastern Washington University where she taught and headed the area of Ceramics in the Art Department. She now spends blissful hours in the studio and traveling looking at art and the world. Though she will never completely shed her New York City upbringing, she loves her current life surrounded by the mountains, skies and scablands of the Inland Northwest.

Statement

These ceramic and wool tufted stools and wall pieces started as a response to the anxiety of living through a pandemic. They became a way to transport myself to a different time and space, the stools are inspired by imaginary travel through fantasizing about magic carpet rides. By incorporating tufted wool into my work, I can translate a desire for newness and adventure while holding true to ceramic forms that continue to intrigue and ground me. The outcome of combining these two disparate materials creates something playful, colorful, and funky, carrying us away from daily stress to find a moment of joy.

Roger Ralston

Short Bio

Roger Ralston is an artist working in the Spokane, Washington area for the past 26 years. He previously worked in Seattle, Southern Louisiana, New York, and Portland, Oregon. His work includes art in public places in Spokane and Seattle and smaller-scale gallery works.

Roger Ralston has been an active member of the Saranac Art Projects as a member since 2008. He was an instructor at Eastern Washington University, and has also taught at Gonzaga and Spokane Falls Community College.

Artist Statement

Roger Ralston’s water media work presents as drawings. Drawing with color and layers lends itself to a playful more immediate manner than working with objects. There is a conversation in the drawings that moves through a place of narrative, formal, and material play. The material play follows similar methods to his sculpture and installations. In his drawings, he tries actions to see results that suggest options to his physical works. The drawings become part of his object-making work. The narrative dances into corners, sneaking into places seldom visited.

Spokane Transit Priorities Survey open through May 22

Wed, 22 May 2024 00:00:00 -0700

What should STA focus on in the next decade? Help shape the future of public transit by participating in our Transit Priorities Survey. Share your thoughts and sign up for the upcoming Rider Forum as you take the survey. Your insights will help us improve the transit experience for everyone!

If you are willing, please complete this survey, Transit Priorities Survey, about how STA can improve the customer experience and what changes to the network STA should consider. Your input will help STA define, refine and prioritize the list of projects that will get implemented in 2025-2035.

Rosalie Murrey Memorial Foundation Family Event May 19

Sun, 19 May 2024 00:00:00 -0700

The Rosalie Murrey Memorial Foundation, a Spokane-based non-profit dedicated to providing enriching and inclusive early childhood learning experiences for children with disabilities, cordially invites you to an event where everyone can enjoy the historic Looff Carrousel. This free, family-friendly occasion welcomes all visitors on May 19 from 2-6pm. Guests are encouraged to ride the Carrousel as many times as they like during the event, with the requirement to exit and rejoin the line after each ride.

This event is open to all, with a particular focus on extending a warm welcome to children with disabilities and their families. We've selected Looff Carrousel as our venue in honor of what would have been Rosalie's sixth birthday, as it was one of her cherished places to visit. The Rosalie Murrey Memorial Foundation is dedicated to offering enriching and inclusive early childhood learning experiences for children with disabilities. This event provides us with an opportunity to engage with the community while advancing our mission. To learn more about our efforts and the inspiration behind them, click here.

And here is the link to the event page on the Foundation website. We encourage families to pre-register to streamline their arrival process. Pre-registration is free, and the registration link can be found on the event website.

EWU hosts Future of Work & Entrepreneurship in Spokane lecture series

Wed, 15 May 2024 00:00:00 -0700

EWU School of Business Presents:

Future of Work & Entrepreneurship in Spokane

Be a part of the conversation!

WHEN: Wednesday, March 13 | 5:30 - 6:45 P.M.

WHERE: Catalyst Building | 601 E. Riverside Ave. | Spokane, WA

DETAILS:

Don't miss out, share the future with us! The EWU School of Business is hosting a series of speakers over the next few months. Join us Mar. 13 for the first event! Meet industry leaders & entrepreneurs, gain insights from experts shaping the future of work and connect with professionals and like-minded individuals.

Rand Miller & Hanna Gamiel | Co-founder & CEO of Cyan

Rand Miller is the co-founder and CEO of the cult game company, Cyan Worlds. He and his brother Robyn started the firm in north Spokane and enjoyed immediate success with the launch of their first game, Myst¸ in 1993. For nearly a decade, Myst was the world’s number one game by sales. Since then, Cyan Worlds has released several other games, in the same genre: URU, Firmament, Riven, Obduction and several sequels to Myst, including a VR version. Cyan Worlds is now the oldest surviving independent game studio in the U.S., still located in north Spokane.

Hannah Gamiel, a computer science graduate of Whitworth University and step-daughter to Miller, is now the company’s development director.

For more information, please contact Dr. Habib Islam at hislam@ewu.edu.

If you wanted to sign up (the events at the Catalyst are free), here’s the link.

By registering for this event, you are acknowledging you may appear in photographs and/or video of the event which may be used by the Eastern Washington University Alumni Association for marketing purposes. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us.

Leadership changes at SP3NW

Wed, 15 May 2024 00:00:00 -0700

We wish to share a few updates regarding personnel changes at SP3NW.

Earlier this month, Associate Director Dr. Michaele Armstrong (pictured at right) was named Executive Director of Evergreen Biosciences Innovation Cluster. Armstrong is the co-founder of Washington State University Spokane’s SP3NW and has served partners and members since 2020, mentoring startup entrepreneurs and supporting ecosystem and economic development efforts across the region. Armstrong will transition to her new position effective May 15.

During her time at SP3NW, Armstrong developed The Flexible Infrastructure for Resilient Entrepreneurship (FIRE) program, an initiative funded by The Economic Development Agency (EDA) SPRINT grant. Armstrong was also instrumental in securing funding for a wet lab space in partnership with the Health Sciences and Services Authority (HSSA), a move to better support the region’s health sciences research capacity.

In her new role, Armstrong will continue to work closely with WSU and life science ecosystem partners to increase opportunities for economic development, including enhancing talent connections to industry partners, increasing awareness about regional supply chain partners, and making the region a magnet for life science entrepreneurs.

SP3NW’s Director, April Needham (pictured at left), will also transition from her role at SP3NW effective June 30. Needham has been recognized as a leader in the Inland Northwest innovation ecosystem through her efforts in supporting regional economic development through entrepreneurship over the past nine years.

She is excited to devote more time to developing her startup, a studio focused on AI technologies, Pangeon, which she co-founded with Graham Morehead in 2023. Additionally, Needham will continue to advise entrepreneurs on their ventures and communities on ecosystem development through her consulting firm, Bloom Consulting.

Arriving at WSU in 2020, Needham initially provided one-on-one technical assistance to entrepreneurs across all stages of the startup lifecycle from Main Street businesses to technology-led entrepreneurs through WSU’s Center for Innovation and went on to lead WSU’s business incubator, SP3NW, supporting early-stage technology-led member companies after the merger of the two programs.

Collectively, both Armstrong and Needham have supported more than 300 start-ups over the past four years as well as have secured nearly $2.1 million in philanthropic and grant funds to expand SP3NW’s resources and services for entrepreneurs. Their significant contributions to Eastern Washington’s continued economic growth are numerous and far-reaching.

You may reach out to April Needham regarding questions at april.needham@wsu.edu until June 30. Inquiries may also be directed to Craig Parks, Associate Vice President for WSU Health Sciences at parkscd@wsu.edu. Additional details regarding operations, programs, and activities will be communicated in the coming weeks.

Save the Date: Hello for Good Spring Symposium May 14

Tue, 14 May 2024 00:00:00 -0700

Underserved: The Importance of Serving All Communities

Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at the Davenport Grand

Doors open at 7:30 and the program begins at 8:00. Breakfast will be available

Join us for a thoughtful conversation on the ideas behind the book Underserved: Harnessing the Principles of Lincoln’s Vision for Reconstruction for Today’s Forgotten Communities. From education and workforce development to criminal justice reform and healthcare disparities, Underserved makes a bold statement about what is necessary to see a change in the current state of affairs and presents a realistic action plan to make it happen. Our guest speakers, Chris Pilkerton and Ja'Ron Smith, the book’s co-writers, will discuss how these principles might be applied to issues facing the communities of Spokane.

The event is free and we are looking forward to seeing you there. A flyer with more details will be coming soon.

Thanks - Chris Patterson and Katy Bruya

Hello for Good

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/underserved-the-importance-of-serving-all-communities-tickets-871137845747

Register for Amplifying Women's Voices May 14th

Tue, 14 May 2024 00:00:00 -0700

Please join us and register for Amplifying Women's Voices at https://AmplifyingMay2024.eventbrite.com using the code EARLY to join us May 14th! Our topic is Negotiating with Confidence. We will have an in-depth conversation about knowing your professional value, balancing assertiveness with empathy, and advocating from a position of strength. Our amazing panel of experts includes:

Marianne Bornhoft, REAL Broker and Co-Owner of Bornhoft Commercial

Tara Brown, Treasury Management Officer at Idaho Central Credit Union

Sherri Lynch, Ph.D., Assistant Dean of Gonzaga University’s School of Leadership Studies

Darby McLean, Chief Executive Officer at Spiceology

Gloria Ochoa-Bruck, City of Spokane Municipal Court Judge

The Amplifying Women's Voices is generously supported by:

Premier Sponsor, Gallagher

Gold Sponsor, Idaho Central Credit Union

Location Sponsor, Gonzaga University's School of Leadership Studies

Produced by Vin & Yin LLC

Also, Women Helping Women has generously offered Amplifying 4 complimentary tickets to Give Like a Woman on May 22nd at the Spokane Convention Center featuring keynote speaker Sean Astin! The first four leaders that reply to this email will receive this amazing gift! If you don’t score free tickets, you can register using “Please seat me with…” Amplifying Women’s Voices to be at a table with members of our Amplifying community.