Exhibition Showcases Immersive Mural and the Creative Minds Behind It
On June 20, Socha Arts Gallery in downtown Olympia is hosting ‘Focal Shift’, an event and exhibition that shares a peak at the collaborative process behind their new entryway mural and showcases the artists involved.
Entering the Socha Arts Gallery feels like stepping into a tall, narrow cove where art surrounds you on all sides. Their latest mural is a bold, fantastical landscape that transports viewers to a psychedelic forest floor teeming with towering mushrooms, vivid foliage, and colorful creatures. The mural’s central figures—three giant crows—hover dramatically at the entrance, welcoming visitors into the space. Ayda Rose, one of the lead artists on the project, chose crows as symbolic representations of community and the spirit of the Pacific Northwest. “Everyone knows that crows love to collect treasures and trinkets,” she explained. “That idea became the foundation for a more collaborative installation experience.” The “treasures and trinkets” appear as unique creatures nestled among the mushrooms, each one created by a different local artist.
“The exhibition will showcase photography of the installation process along with the work of each creative that had a hand in bringing the project to life”, explains muralist, Thyla Arden. Artists on display will include:
Meet the Artists Behind the Mural
Cruz Garcia
Photographer & storyteller
Instagram: @cruz_garcia_photography
Bloom Bairseach
Illustrator, writer & comic artist
Instagram: @bloomsillustrations
Tiger Hurd
Painter & illustrator
Instagram: @tigeriffic.art
Aaron Zonka
Art educator, painter & illustrator
Instagram: @aaronzonka
Vincent Li
Tattoo artist & painter
Instagram: @vincentlitattoos
Thyla Arden
Painter & muralist
Instagram: @thecolorofarden
Ayda Rose
Painter, illustrator & muralist
Instagram: @aydainetheoffing
Join the Celebration
Visit Unnaturell.com/sochaarts to learn more about the mural project and opening event.
Follow Socha Arts on Instagram @sochaarts or visit sochaarts.com for the latest on gallery hours, events, and exhibitions.
Opening Celebration: Friday, June 20, 2025
Time: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Exhibition on view through July 2025