Artfully Edmonds: Celebrating authors, art and actors on eve of 2016-17 season

Misha Carter book
“The Criminal Color” by Jeanne Misha Hernandez Carter; “Lessons Straight from God’s Heart” by Pamela J Smith; and “Secrets of Aboriginal Healing, A Physicist’s Journey with a Remote Australian Tribe” by Gary Holz and Robbie Holz.

 

EPIC Group Writers Select “The Books of Local Authors”

 Presented in collaboration with Edmonds Sno-Isle Library. 

Writers come from all walks of life, and literary works reflect the divergent paths that we humans take as events and experiences are chronicled.

Edmonds Library and EPIC Group Writer’s (EPIC) have joined in collaboration on an inaugural exhibit of local authors which is slated to begin on Thursday, September 1 as a precursor to Edmonds’ writers’ conference, Write On The Sound (WOTS).

“The Books of Local Authors,” curated by Dr. David Gross, features titles by Edmonds-area writers and is intended to highlight the region’s vibrant writing community.

The range of titles chosen for the collection range from Jeanne Misha Hernandez Carter’s photography and poetry collection, The Criminal Color to Rick Steves Travel As A Political Act; and from Bruce Fergusson’s Two Graves for Michael Furey to Judith Works’ Coins in the Fountain.

Gross (DG) who serves on the Steering Committee for WOTS and is a Board member of EPIC, took some time out from his work as an author to answer questions posed by Artfully Edmonds (AE) about the project.

Besides being active in Edmonds’ writers community Dr. Gross (DG) is also a My Edmonds News columnist.

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Dr. David Gross
Dr. David Gross

AE: Dr. Gross, do you expect this exhibition of Edmonds’ literary talent to become an Edmonds-Kind-Of-Tradition?

DG: We are certainly hoping that EPIC and the Edmonds Library will continue to collaborate on projects such as this for the mutual benefit of local authors and the library.

– – –

AE: How many of the 17 authors do you believe have been, or are now, EPIC members?

DG: At least two-thirds of the authors being presented have participated in EPIC writing activities. My Edmonds News readers can go to our website and see what EPIC is doing to encourage and promote the writing arts in Edmonds.

– – –

AE: How does the collaboration between Edmonds Sno-King Library and EPIC on this display benefit the Edmonds arts’ community?

DG:   I think My Edmonds News readers will recognize the names of the authors included in this initial effort and will be surprised when they realize how many writers in Edmonds also participate actively in other aspects of the arts community.

We’re also hopeful that the greater community will recognize that we have many talented writers and authors right here in Edmonds.

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Thursday, Sept. 1
Edmonds Library
Literary Showcase
700 Main St.

“The Books of Local Authors” include:

Jeanne Misha Martinez Carter (Misha Carter)

  • The Criminal Color: A Book of Realism

Lisa Castillano

  • Balancing Light Amplified

Molly Charles (co-authors Jena MacPherson & Joanne Otness)

  • Passion Flowers

Nicki Chen

  • Tiger Tail Soup: A Novel of China at War
Books that take you around the world
Books by Edmonds authors take readers around the world; such as Rick Steves’ “Travel As A Political Act”; Nicki Chen’s “Tiger Tail Soup”; and Judith Works “Coins in the Fountain”

– – – –

Paddy Eger

  • 84 Ribbons: A Dancer’s Journey

Susan Ferguson

  • Lopez Island

Bruce Fergusson

  • Two Graves for Michael Furey

David R. Gross

  • Animals Don’t Blush

Emily Hill

  • Ghosts of White Raven Estate

Gary Holz with Robbie Holz

  • Secrets of Aboriginal Healing, A Physicist’s Journey with a Remote Australian Tribe

Kizzie Elizabeth Jones, illustrated by Scott Ward

  • How Dachshunds Came to Be: A Tall Tale about a Short Long Dog

Bill Morton

  • My Joey & Me

Courtenay Schurman & Doug Schurman

  • The Outdoor Athlete

Pamela J. Smith

  • Lessons Straight from God’s Heart

Rick Steves

  • Travel as a Political Act

Kim Votry

  • My Own Magic

Sandra Walker

  • Little Merchants: The Golden Era of Youth Delivering Newspapers

Judith Works

  • Coins in the Fountain

If you are a published local author and would like to have your book added to the library display, please contact EPIC President, Susan Ferguson at epic@epicgroupwriters.com.

All of these books are available to order through Edmonds Bookshop (111 5th Ave. S.) and will be on display at the library through the Write On The Sound (WOTS) conference held Friday through Sunday, Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.

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Groovy for Tracy
Panels 12, 13 and 14 in the “Groovy” series of artist Michele McGraw, a participant in this years ARTspot Challenge.

 

ARTspot
408 Main St.

The 2016 ARTspot Great Paint-Over Challenge

Tracy Felix’ 2016 Challenge came to a vibrantly colorful conclusion today (Wednesday) as nearly 30 artists pushed themselves through breakthrough moments of the “ARTspot Great Paint-Over Challenge”.

It was in June that ARTspot co-owner Felix whipped the veil off of this year’s challenge and descriptions such as “glowy glazes”, “color!” and “historic movements of art” began to fly as participating artists in this year’s ARTspot challenge painted over increasingly thick layers of “creation”.

Oils, acrylics, decoupage, watercolor, encaustics, and more artful media are represented on the event’s Facebook page.

This week Artfully Edmonds features the “groovy” art on Michelle McGraw’s page.

What’s next? Well. . . a party, of course!

The “Day of the Great Reveal” Party for the artists and their guests will be held, and then the mulling process for what might become the 2017 ARTspot Challenge.

Ideas, anyone?

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"Joie de Vivre" the work of local artist and sculptor, David Varnau, has been chosen by the City of Olympia and is now sited at Parcival Landing Park along the waterfront.
“Joie de Vivre” the work of local artist and sculptor, David Varnau.

Local artist and sculptor David Varnau has received the “People’s Choice” award in Olympia for his life-sized bronze Joie de Vivre which has been on display at Olympia’s waterfront location, Percival Landing.

The bronze, which received an Artfully Edmonds mention in this column after it was first installed, has been on display along with 14 other juried public art sculptures for an art-loan program in which the public was invited to vote for favorites.

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Friday, Sept. 9
Cascadia Art Museum (CAM)
190 Sunset Ave. #E

A Spirit Unbound: The Art of Peggy Strong

Membership has its privileges for members of the Cascadia Art Museum. Preview opening Thursday, Sept. 8 for members only; for information on membership proceed to this link.

The artistic world of Peggy Strong
The artistic world of Peggy Strong

From the museum’s program:

“Peggy Strong (1912-1956) was one of the leading regional artists of the mid-20th century. Born in Tacoma, Washington, Strong studied at the Annie Wright Seminary, the University of Washington and privately with Mark Tobey, Sarkis Sarkisian and Frederick Taubes.

Peggy Strong developed a significant reputation as a painter and muralist despite being paralyzed in the lower half of her body as the result of an automobile accident in 1933.

One of her crowning achievements was winning the mural commission for the Wenatchee Post Office sponsored by the US Treasury department in 1940.

Strong produced several other murals in the region and had briefly relocated to San Francisco before her untimely death in 1956.

– – – –

Cascadia 2

Northwest Paintings & Studio Ceramics:

A Regional Perception

For this iteration in the museum’s Gateway Gallery, works offering a different perspective on style, subject matter and intent.

Additional information about these two provocative exhibitions are available at the Cascadia Art Museum website.

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Phoenix Actors in a row
24-Hour Festival actors all in a row on the Phoenix Theatre stage last year. (Photo courtesy of the Phoenix Theatre)

 

Theatre District News
Saturday, Sept. 10
8 p.m.

2nd Annual 24-hour Theatre Festival
Produced by J. Woody Lotts

The Phoenix Theatre
9673 Firdale Ave.

Around the world this time of year, in theatre districts from France to Firdale, troupes of producers, directors, playwrights and casts are cracking their knuckles, singing musical scales and doing their barre stretches as the clock ticks toward the “Start!” signal of the 24-Hour Phoenix Festival and the adrenaline and caffeine driven excitement mounts.

At the sound of the starting gun 4 playwrights, 4 directors, and 16 actors will write, stage, and perform 4 original shorts Phoenix Theatre plays – all in just 24 Hours.

Will they all make it as the stage lights are switched on for their production? You will only know if you purchase a ticket. Do the click! click! to the Phoenix box office through this link.

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Wait Until Dark

Friday, Sept. 16
8 p.m.

Wait Until Dark
Driftwood Players at
Wade James Theatre
950 Main St.

Celebrating its 58th Season!

Edmonds’ 2016-17 theatre season will officially open with the Driftwood Players production of Wait Until Dark by Frederick Knott. Directed by Ian Stewart, who takes advantage of his University of Oregon education and Pocket Playhouse, Mad Duckling Children’s Theatre and Caspian Mediterranean Café experience, the 1967 play opens on Friday, Sept. 16 and runs through Sunday, Oct. 2.

Synopsis:

Classic noir suspense. A fortune in smuggled heroin hidden in a doll. Murder. A blind woman who must use her cunning to survive a break-in. Desperation sets in as night falls.

For tickets to Driftwood’s season opener call 425.275.9595 or buy your tickets online at www.edmondsdriftwoodplayers.org.

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Wednesday, Nov. 2
7 – 9 p.m.

2016 Dessert and Laughter Gala
The Phoenix Theatre at
Edmonds Center for the Arts
410 4th Ave. N.

An on-line ticket link has just been added for the upcoming Phoenix Theatre 2016 Dessert and Laughter Gala featuring wine, Perrier and delectably decadent desserts.

Enjoy shtick and stand-up from some of the funniest actors in the Seattle-area, plus silent and live auctions that promise to be both boisterous and silly — interchangeably.

The social hour and silent auction begin at 7 p.m. with entertainment. The live auction gavels in at 7:30 p.m.

Ticket purchase deadline is Friday, Oct. 28

https://www.phoenixtheatreedmonds.org/gala-fundraiser.html

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Audtions!
Driftwood Players Call to Actors!

Imagine a steampunk version of Scrooge – that is what Driftwood Players has up their sleeves for their performance mid-season – so be prepared!

December comes early for the Driftwood Players – it’s not even the end of summer and already Artfully Edmonds has received an audition call for the troupe’s holiday show.

Who will be cast as “Steampunk Scrooge”? Or Marley? Tiny Tim? The Players of course will be looking for the best in show for Mrs. Fezziwig and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

Sign up now for an audition appointment and maybe you’ll be on our stage in Mr. Scrooge.

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Miss Sadie Calderwood, newest member of the Phoenix Theatre troupe, shown here before the fitting for her tiara.
Miss Sadie Calderwood, newest member of the Phoenix Theatre troupe, shown here before her tiara fitting.

The Phoenix Theatre
“A Starlet is Born!”

The Phoenix Theatre announces this month an addition to its talented cast – Miss Sadie Calderwood (Yes, of the famed Calderwood line of thespian talent.)

Miss Sadie will make her first stage appearance in the February production,  Last Romance.

Miss Sadie was born in California and moved to Lynnwood at 4 weeks of age after a very brief stay at PAWS. The diva’s hobbies include chasing her brothers, convincing the cat to like her and chewing – on everything. The Phoenix is thrilled to have her prancing the boards!

— By Emily Hill

14 Emily-2015

Emily Hill is the author of two novels and a short story collection. Emily is retired from a career in public information and news media relations. If you would like your event listed, or featured, in Artfully Edmonds, Emily invites you to contact her at info@myedmondsnews.com.

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