As Times/News editor, I've received lots of invitations to meet the artists at a Burien Arts gala exhibition opening reception.

But this time was different.

First of all, the reception was not being held at "Old Blue." That's the little blue house nestled in the trees of Dottie Harper Park that used to house the art gallery.

Secondly, I had already met one of the artists.

In fact, I've wasted countless hours watching TV upstairs while Marge labored in the basement creating unique, vibrantly-colored, digital-art money collages.

Why money as the medium?

Marge explains, "Money carries a huge weight of meaning. It's a form of energy, a means of exchange, an object of desire. We trade our time for it, we philosophize about it, we think it will or will not buy happiness."

Wow. As a husband, I had always thought my wife's deep interest in money had just to do with spending it.

After five years toiling in her artist's lair, she was ready to emerge and show her work at exhibitions and on her website at www.margeryellsworth.com.

She was accepted into Burien Arts first annual juried exhibition in the old library/new community center, located at 14700 6th Ave. S.W.

The prestigious judges were Michael McCafferty, Seattle Art Museum exhibition designer; Parvi, an artist whose work has been collected nationally and internationally and Susan Wold, a former Pioneer Square gallery owner.

This was my first gala in my role as "artist's spouse." As Times/News art critic, my review is that there was some great stuff there by some really serious artists.

First place went to Aaron Hart with his oil on canvas painting entitled "Rock, Scissors, Paper." We featured Hart and his winning work in the Nov. 19 Times/News. Lolly Shera's charcoal drawing, "Zach," took second place and Burien artist Mark Eaton was third with another oil on canvas, "Steps."

John Unbehend, Burien Arts president, said his nonprofit group of volunteers organized the juried exhibition as a way of bringing "the highest quality of artistic endeavors to South King County.

"We also desired to expose artists whose voices deserve to be heard,"
While they limited this first juried show to two-dimensional art, he said Burien Arts wants to include works of glass, sculptures and video in future shows.

Later, I pulled Unbehend aside to find out more about Burien Arts.

The art space at "Old Blue" just wasn't cutting it, he told me. Sure, they were getting great support on opening nights but then attendance would fall off. People warily approaching the little house tucked away in the woods felt kind of like Hansel and Gretel.

Big change doesn't come without a significant emotional event to propel things forward, Unbehend noted. Shutting down Old Blue was that moment.

The group has taken about a year to regroup, figure out who they are serving and look for money donors.
"I hate bringing the arts down to money but the arts need financial support," Unbehend declared.

The group is getting to the point where they have a solid enough base to start looking for gallery space in downtown Burien, according to Unbehend.

He's encouraged that the logjam preventing sales of the Town Square condos and retail spaces looks like it will clear up soon and bring more people to downtown.

Unbehend envisions a downtown gallery and rotating shows with groups like Artists United, augmented by exhibitions at the community center and other venues.

Like the Burien Arts folks, I'm excited, too. Adding to Burien's great blend of old-timers and diverse ethnic groups I'm beginning to see a younger hipper crowd that just might make us the new Brooklyn, Belltown or Ballard (take your pick.)

Meanwhile, the free exhibition at the community center runs through Jan. 14.

And I think I might need to run out and buy a black beret so I can really get into this new role as "artist's significant other." Since the Burien gala, Marge has lined up an exhibition at the Fish Tale, an iconic Olympia brewpub, and she sealed a deal over Thanksgiving dinner to show her colorful collages at the Ballard Art Walk.