Describe your organization in one sentence.

The MIVAL Gallery promotes local artists by exhibiting their artwork.

Are you an Islander? How did you decide to open a business on Mercer Island?

MIVAL as an organization has been on Mercer Island since 1961. In 2009, the Gallery was opened as a program of MIVAL.

What makes your organization so unique?

We are a cooperative of volunteers that share their art stories and staff the [Gallery] business.

What was your experience adapting to the new COVID reality?

Even though we were closed for four months, our volunteers continued to pay dues so that we could pay our rent. Awesome!!

We often say innovation comes from questioning the status quo. Have you uncovered new ways of doing business or launched new products/services that you had not thought of before? How did it work out?

MIVAL is looking into online art sales for its members. We hope to be up and running by 2021 with a new website. In addition, we are planning an auction that will benefit our members. Our monthly arts demonstrations are currently done over ZOOM - a learning experience for all of us.

If there was a single product, service, or expertise you should be known for, what would you say it is?

We like to be known for the promotion of all visual arts by local artists.

Tell us something about your organization that would surprise us.

As a cooperative of 20+ members, we are all encouraged to voice our opinions as to how best to run the gallery business.

Since you’ve been in business on Mercer Island, what have you discovered about Islanders and the Mercer Island community in general?

People do like to shop locally. And promote their favorite stores.

When you are not working, what is your favorite pastime?

I like to photograph birds, create artful images on my computer, and work in my garden.

If you had to convince a non-Islander to come discover our town, what would you tell them?

Visit the parks, visit our shops, and, hopefully, someday soon, enjoy our many wonderful restaurants.

Learn more about MIVAL and the MIVAL Gallery at mival.org.