July 23 - October 9, 2025

Photo: Entry Text

"In times of crisis, art becomes a vital medium for both reflection and action."- Virginia Vigliar

Spanning the last five years, forged in a world reshaped by a global pandemic, these artworks evince a time of shifting political, labor, and cultural landscapes.

Art at its core reminds us of an enduring human condition. The artists in this exhibition have internalized these past few years in deeply personal ways. While some spent time honing skills for a world they hoped would return, some mined history to underscore the present. Still others have adopted a changing aesthetic in response to a world that no longer looks quite the same. Engaged with environmental issues, human rights, and the care and healing of body and spirit, these Washington-based artists have done what artists have done throughout time: endured, continued to create, process, and share their exploration of inquiry, meaning, and beauty with their communities.
Together, these works reflect the creative pulse of Washington during an unprecedented moment in time.

Curated by Ellen Ito and Jabari Owens-Bailey, Unprecedented: The Inaugural Postmark Biennial presents work across the venues of the Postmark Center for the Arts and the White River Valley Museum.

Programming

Opening Reception

The opening reception for Unprecedented occurred July 23, 2025 in two locations. Postmark Center for the Arts held its reception from 5:00 - 6:15PM, with a curator talk by Jabari Owens Bailey at 5:30PM. Guests then moved to the White River Valley Museum at their 6:00 - 7:30PM reception, and there occurred a curator talk by Ellen Ito at 6:30PM. Artists, their families, and community members came to view the variety of artwork, sharing in lively discussions and enjoying the company of the curators. 

Closing Reception

Postmark hosted a closing reception for Unprecedented: The Inaugural Postmark Biennial on October 9, 2025 in both locations.

Postmark Center for the Arts | 20 Auburn Ave, Auburn, WA
5:00 - 6:00PM | Reception
5:15PM | Artist Talks

White River Valley Museum | 918 H St SE, Auburn, WA
6:00 - 7:00PM | Reception
6:15PM | Artist Talks