News and events

Added: 1/25/25

3rd Annual Beer, Wine Coffee & Veterans Art

Restaurant Owner’s John and Niki O’Reilly, in partnership with Jim Anderson, showing National Award-Winning
Art by Local Veteran Artists in their  3rd Annual Beer, Wine Coffee & Veterans Art held on April 26th, 2025, in Steilacoom, Washington from 1 until 6 PM.

Come celebrate art, meet local Veteran Artists, and enjoy our beer, wine, coffee, and food！

No purchase necessary. No reservations required. Must be 21 or over to enter the Anchor Room. 

Topside Bar & Grill, 214 Wilkes St, Steilacoom, WA

 

Added: 1/18/25

No. 9 Aurora Borealis” wins the Bronze Medal

“No. 9 Aurora Borealis” wins the Bronze Medal in Mixed Media at the 2024 National Veterans Creative Arts Competition and Festival (#nvcaf)!
The National competition had over 6,200 entries from 3,700 Veteran Artists competing from 118 VA facilities across our country! I honored that my piece is recognized amongst them. Congratulations to all of the other Veteran competitors and winners!
This piece is the culmination of nearly two years of designing, planning, experimentation, failure, growth, and the many, many countless hours spent laboring on it.
Inspired by witnessing the rare celestial occurrence in May 2024 from home in Steilacoom, Washington, allow me to present (with maximum allowed photos) the creation of “No. 9 Aurora Borealis” by me, Jim Anderson, 2024.
Mixed media, 22 species of wood, glass, shell, epoxy, lamp.

2024– 1st Place (Group A/#5-Colored Drawing) – VA Puget Sound Arts Competition Visceral

2024 – All Hallows Eve celebration at Lakewold Gardens, Lakewood, WA Visceral

2024 – 1st Place – Master Woodworking Artist of the Year No. 6 Jupiter aka Lathe Breaker

2024 – Finalist - Master Woodworking Artist of the Year No. 7 Mars

2024 – 1st Place (Div 351 Woodturning/1103 Mixed Media) – Washington State Fair No. 7 Mars

2024 – 1st Place (Div 223 Stained Glass/5038 Lamp) – Washington State Fair No. 8 Gravitationally Bound

2024– 1st Place (Group C/#40-Mixed Media) – VA Puget Sound Arts Competition No. 9 Aurora Borealis

2024 – Bronze Medal (Group C/#40-Mixed Media) – National Veterans Creative Arts Festival No. 9 Aurora Borealis

2023 – 1st Place (Mixed Media) – VA Puget Sound Arts Competition No. 8 Gravitationally Bound

2023 – Silver Medal (Mixed Media) – National Veterans Creative Arts Festival No. 8 Gravitationally Bound

2023 – 1st Place – Master Woodworking Artist of the Year No. 4 Venus

2023 – 1st Place (Div 351 Woodturning/1103 Mixed Media) – Washington State Fair No. 4 Venus

2023 – 2nd Place – Master Woodworking Artist of the Year No. 5 Saturn

2023 – Grand Champion and 1st Place (Div 352 Furniture/1203 Art) – Washington State Fair No. 3 Event Horizon

2023 – 1st Place (Woodworking) – VA Puget Sound Arts Competition No. 6 Jupiter aka Lathe Breaker

2023 – Silver Medal (Woodworking) – National Veterans Creative Arts Festival No. 6 Jupiter aka Lathe Breaker

2022 – Grand Champion and 1st Place (Div Furniture/1203 Art) – Washington State Fair No. 2 Celestial Compass

2022 – 2nd Place – Master Woodworking Artist of the Year No. 3 Event Horizon

2022 – Silver Medal (Mixed Media) – National Veterans Creative Arts Festival No. 3 Event Horizon

2022 – 1st Place (Mixed Media) – VA Puget Sound Arts Competition No. 3 Event Horizon

2022 – 10th Place in Quarterfinal Round (Top 256 of 14,000+) – DIY Hero 2022

2022 – 1st Place (Group Art) – VA Puget Sound Arts Competition (Into the Kraken’s Embrace)

2022 - Silver Medal (Group Art) – National Veterans Creative Arts Festival (Into the Kraken’s Embrace)

2021 – Winner – Master Woodworking Artist of the Year Armillary Sphere

2021 – 1st Place (Furniture/Art) – Washington State Fair Armillary Sphere

2021 – 1st Place (Woodworking) – VA Puget Sound Arts Competition No. 2 Celestial Compass

2021 – Gold Medal (Woodworking) – National Veterans

2020 – Finalist – Master Woodworking Artist of the Year The Gardner’s Toolbox

2020 – 1st Place (Woodworking) & Best in Show – VA Puget Sound Arts Competition Armillary Sphere

2020 – Gold Medal (Woodworking) – National Veterans Creative Arts Festival Armillary Sphere

2019 – 1st Place (Woodworking) – VA Puget Sound Arts Competition The Gardner’s Toolbox

2019 – Silver Medal (Woodworking) – National Veterans Creative Arts Competition and Festival (NVCAF) The Gardner’s Toolbox

2018 – 1st Place (Woodworking) – VA Puget Sound Arts Competition (Stool)

2018 – 2nd Place (Glassblowing) – VA Puget Sound Arts Competition (Vase)