New art studio and gallery celebrates with holiday open house

SANDPOINT — Kevin Watson doesn’t look at things the same way as other people. To him, a thick slab of wood becomes the foundation for Passage, a boat-like sculpture, pear sticks, steel and leather are transformed into an assembly called She Sees the Ocean. So when he passed by the former Darigold distribution building at 525 Oak St. on a daily basis, Watson saw potential in the humble cement block building.

“I always thought it would be a great place to make art,” says Watson, whose background includes serving on both Pend Oreille Arts Council and Panida boards, as well as exhibiting artwork throughout Sandpoint and Spokane.

Nineteen years after first sighting the building — and a lot of elbow grease later — Watson is celebrating the opening of Shibusa Studios with a holiday open house Dec. 13 and 14.

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