Blank Canvas Party Raises $40,000 for Downtown Mural Projects
- Hayley Harrell
- Aug 18
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 19
The Ellensburg Downtown Association’s Mural Society raised $40,000 during its annual Blank Canvas Party on August 8th. The fundraising dinner brought live music and painting, cabaret entertainment, auctions, and storytelling to the alley behind Gallery One Visual Arts Center in downtown Ellensburg.
Guests enjoyed a Korean-inspired menu prepared by The Night Owl, craft cocktails by Cellar and Stem, live music by Black Grenade Entertainment, tablescapes by Canyons Design and Interiors, and custom-label Muralist wine from Fortuity Cellars. Live entertainment included artist Sailor Walker painting a mural live, and Cabaret-themed entertainment by Sailor St. Claire. The whole evening was captured beautifully by local photographer Rob Fraser.
Community members and local businesses donated more than $16,000 in silent- and live-auction items. With support from emcee Johnny Graf and Keynote Speaker Emily Jacobs, attendees helped generate more than $40,000 for the creation and restoration of downtown murals.
“Much like the community shared their Ellensburg stories for topic curation, participants at Blank Canvas were invited to pause in Phoenix Alley and complete the prompt, “In this alley, I feel… I notice… I imagine…” capturing a few words about their immediate experience of the space,” said Jacobs.
“What struck me most was how quickly people moved beyond discussing the murals themselves. They shared ideas of community, pride, creativity, belonging—and what they hope Ellensburg might become next. Phoenix Alley shows us that public art can do more than transform a wall; it can help people see their community, and their place within it, in a new way.”
EDA Mural Society Chair Renee Fyall was able to share heartfelt sentiments about the growth of mural restoration and creation in downtown Ellensburg.
“I’m truly in awe of what our community has accomplished,” she said. “The amount of money raised for public art, the volunteers who give so generously of their time, and the staff who stand behind my vision and support my drive to bring more art to our community. Public art is more than beautification; it creates connection, builds pride, brings life to overlooked spaces, and gives a community a sense of identity. Seeing so many people believe in that vision and come together to make it possible is incredibly meaningful.”
Thank You to our Partners
The Blank Canvas Party is made possible by the dedication of the EDA Mural Society. This volunteer-led group is passionate about creating new murals, revitalizing existing artwork, and reducing graffiti on downtown buildings. Volunteers include Renee and Trevor Fyall, Stephanie McIntyre, Jason Clifton, Joe Chanes, Madison Ford, Natalie Benson, Natalie Rauschenbach, Emily Jacobs, Kristi Sparks, Sarah Beauchamp, Katrina Whitney, and Bernadette Jungblut.
Downtown murals are not possible without strong partnerships in our community. Thank you to Kelle Vandenberg, Chase Pederson, Heidi Behrends-Cerniway and the Landmarks and Design Committee within the City of Ellensburg. Thank you also to the five artists featured in Phoenix Alley, all of whom completed their murals during the inaugural Mural Festival in July: Justin Gibbens and Will Bow of PUNCH Projects, Kyle Krauskopf, Josephine Rice, Desmond Hansen, and Jason Clifton.
About the Ellensburg Downtown Association
The Ellensburg Downtown Association is a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening the economic vitality, historic character, and sense of place in downtown Ellensburg.
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