Leah Jackson is the owner of Angst Gallery, which she opened in 2008 in downtown Vancouver. She curated the award-winning Baby Boomers exhibit at the Clark County Historical Museum and is one of the founding members of the Mosaic Arts Alliance and the Sixth Street Gallery. As an artist, she works with steel and welded art, jewelry, painting and glass. She is also a founding member of Bike Me! Vancouver, a bicycle advocacy group interested in cycling education and fun on the streets of Vancouver.

What brought you to SW Washington?

I moved here in 1993. I was born in Portland but moved back to this area from Southern California in 1993.

What do you love about SW Washington?

That there is access to all of the camping and hiking and water. There are lots of arts and good food. There is access to a LOT of good stuff!

What is the best-kept secret about SW Washington?

The abundance of artists here. There are so many artists that there aren’t even enough places to show their work.

What is your favorite place to relax or play in SW Washington?

I like to play in downtown Vancouver. There is a lot to do down here. There is good food. It’s easy to walk around. Easy to find parking. It’s all easy.

If you didn’t live here, where would you live?

Seattle.

What’s coming up that you are excited about?

I’m really excited about a new art conversations group that has formed in Vancouver. We meet the third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. to talk about art issues including visual arts, music, dance, theater, any kind of art. We meet at a different venue each month so anyone interested in attending should email artconversations@gmail.com.

What would surprise people to know about you?

The fact that I ride motorcycles and snowmobiles. It’s not just about my bicycle advocacy!

Sometimes you just have to put on your dancing shoes and hit the streets.  That happened in September when Main Street closed to traffic and opened to live music and lots of movement during Vancouver’s First Friday Artwalk.

Vancouver’s Downtown Association President Lee Couthard reported that 800 revelers participated during the evening event. From the 6th Street Gallery, Firehouse Glass and the Magenta Theater costume sale on lower Main Street up to North Bank and Angst, and spots in-between, galleries and restaurants were very busy.

The next First Friday Artwalk will be held on October 2 starting with a reception from 5 to 7 pm at Columbia Credit Union. Galleries will be open from 5 to 9 pm. Come ready to view and buy art, have dinner, see your neighbors. There is a LOT happening in downtown Vancouver!