Improvisation often leads to discovery. Folk artists often are led to improvise by the simple desire to create from what's on hand. Wally Shoup and Jimmy Lee Sudduth are two artists at opposite ends of many spectrums, both creating richly textured works on wood and canvas, evoking images of their respective surroundings.

At 93, Jimmy Lee Sudduth has been using his native Alabama mud to make pictures since he was 3. One of the folk art genre's living legends, the artist still paints daily. His work, typified by his unique "sweet mud", came to the attention of collector's as early as the 1960's. As a child, Jimmy Lee discovered that by mixing molasses with mud he could create paintings on tree stumps that would endure the elements. He eventually perfected his methods, augmenting the red Alabama mud with natural pigments found in grass, shrubs, berries and bark. His subjects range from chickens and gators, to grand Southern houses and portraits of women (his favorite subject!). His work is major folk art collections and the Smithsonian.

Self-taught artist Wally Shoup moved to Seattle in the 1980's from his native North Carolina by way of Colorado. Spending lots of time in the Rockies, Wally became obsessed by the beauty of natural rock surfaces. He began experimenting on canvas and paper, using a variety of paints, household products, and various binding agents to illustrate his ideas on politics, nature, and architecture. The results are wide ranging; all richly textured, yet with different qualities that come from his applying and removing of layers, his improvising.

Wally is also well known as an improvisational jazz saxophonist. Having played and toured with Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore (among others), Wally also is key in organizing both the Seattle Improvised Music Festival and the Other Sounds Series. On opening night Wally will be performing with one of his ensembles, PROJECT W, beginning at 9pm.