Randall J. Hodges Fine Art Photography Gallery
317 Main Street, Edmonds, WA
Saturday, March 1 ~ 10 a.m.
Gallery Grand Opening

Attesting to how picture-perfect our city is, internationally known nature photographer Randall J. Hodges is moving his production studio and gallery to downtown Edmonds, with a grand opening planned for Saturday, March 1, 2014.

The Randall J. Hodges Fine Art Photography Gallery will be located at 317 Main Street.

The veteran photographer ”researched 42 Northwest cities over a five year period” before winnowing his search for a new gallery site to three arts-magnet locales: La Conner, Cannon Beach and Edmonds.

Hodges selected Edmonds because of its “art loving public” as well as the annual Edmonds Arts Festival, where he has showcased his work over the past several years. Additionally, Mr. Hodges exhibited at twenty-four shows last year.

Hodges, whose work has been published over 3,200 times in magazines, calendars, and books, has had his work selected for the covers of more than 300 periodicals including Nature Photographer, Hawaii Magazine, Outdoor Photography, and NW Travel.

“Most of my work comes from times I spend hiking and backpacking in the West where I have hiked and photographed over 19,000 trail miles.” He explains, “a big part of who I am is being a hiker, with hikes of over 1,000 miles a year”.

“A good photo shoot is a year in the making,” he elaborated in a recent interview. Asked if he has ever gotten lost while hiking he admitted that it happens – on rare occasion. One time he was unable to return to his camp by nightfall and told of sleeping on the bare ground. As it turned out he was one mile from his campsite. Almost without exception, however, his sense of direction prevails and he returns to his studio to begin the process of sorting out the results of his “power shoots” that may result in as many as 10,000 panoramas and nature shots.

Every professional photographer has one image in mind where the angle, the lighting, the composition, and the weather conditions have to be in total alignment to achieve perfection. Hodges is no exception. Capturing one particular image on the Oregon coast became such an obsession that Hodges returned 22 times over a 10-year period. The site? The Heceta Head Lighthouse near Florence, Oregon, featured above.

The gallery will feature a gallery for his photographs, image rich note cards, calendars, and prints—matted and framed—as well as metal prints and gallery wrapped canvas. Additionally, the studio will include production space, and commercial-size printers. Once the doors open, the community will be welcomed and classes will be offered. Hodges will conduct seminars for photography enthusiasts including a monthly Edmonds beach photography experience that, he promises, “will be fun”.

You can find additional information about the artist’s work at his online studio or contact him at randall@randalljhodges.com.

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Plaza Room ~ Frances Anderson Center
650 Main St., Edmonds
Thursday, Feb. 13 ~ 7 p.m.
Early Music From The Silk Road

Take a musical journey along the Silk Road with Tomoko Sugawara, playing the Asian kugo harp and August Denhard on the Lute, as they blend musical colors creating new sound portraits from the varied cultures along the ancient trade route.

Denhard and Sugawara each bring perspectives from different musical worlds as they create seamless connections of song, rhythm, and improvisation.

The Asian kugo harp (often called the angular harp) arose in Mesopotamia around 1900 BC and soon spread to other regions of the Near East, eventually becoming a favorite instrument in local Islamic cultures where it survived until 1700 AD. In this YouTube video Sugawara performs “Along the Silk Road” on the Asian kugo harp at New York’s Ippodo Gallery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjgsA3RI1Os

Sugawara was born in Tokyo, Japan, and began playing the Irish harp at age twelve. For this evening’s performance she will play two harps – one from the East and one from the West – she informs her Facebook followers.

Denhard, a performer on lute, the orbo, and Baroque guitar has appeared with Baroque Northwest, Seattle Baroque Orchestra, and many other ensembles specializing in early music. He performs regularly in a lute song duo with tenor Eric Mentzel, with whom he is currently recording a CD of songs by the English Cavalier poets.

Presented by the City of Edmonds Arts Commission and the Edmonds Library, the concert is free and open to the public.

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Black Box Theater
Edmonds Community College (EdCC), Lynnwood
Friday and Saturday, Feb. 14 -15 ~ 8 p.m.
50 Shades of Unexpected

Love adventure? Love life? Love the unforeseen? Then you will want to join the Unexpected Productions North Improvisers as they present “50 Shades of Unexpected”, a Valentine’s Day romp through “love, lust, and everything in between”.

The popular troupe asks the question that swirls through our minds every February 14th, “Do you dare?”

General admission is $10 with discounts for EdCC students and staff, youth, seniors, and military. You can find event details, theater location and more information here.

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Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA) ~ 410 4th Ave. N., Edmonds, WA
On the ECA Cabaret Stage
Friday, Feb 14 ~ 8 p.m.
Letters Aloud: With Or Without You ~ Valentine’s Day edition

Join host and curator Paul Morgan Stetler and some of Seattle’s most accomplished actors as we explore the many facets of romantic love through the intimate, and often fiery, letters of such luminaries as Henry Miller, Frida Kahlo, Virginia Woolf, Elizabeth Taylor, and former Guns ‘n Roses guitarist, Slash. Performers and audience will share the ECA stage in the ECA’s first cabaret-style production. For behind-the-scenes information about the performance see the Feb. 5 edition of Artfully Edmonds.

Tickets are $25 per person and include the performance, coffee, a light dessert buffet, plus a no-host bar. Tickets are available online at www.ec4arts.org, through the ECA Box Office at 410 Fourth Ave. N., or by calling 425-275-9595.

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Red Petal Cakes
321 Main Street, Edmonds
Friday, Feb. 14, 2014 ~ 6 – 8 p.m.

You and your sweetheart can expect torch songs and love on Valentine’s Day as local singer-songwriters serenade from the intimate stage at Red Petal Cakes. Between each music-set expect stand-up from “Funny Valentine”, and local comedian, Jeff Stilwell.

Cupcakes and Coffee, Crooners and Comedy!

(The every-Friday night line-ups for Café Louvre and Red Petal Cakes are booked through Edmonds Tunes at edmondstunes.org )
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Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA)
410 4th Ave. N., Edmonds, WA
Saturday, Feb. 15 ~ 7:30 p.m.
Lúnasa ~ Celtic Music

Celebrate with Lúnasa as they show off their blend of innovation, talent, and a passion for their Celtic music heritage.

“Internationally acknowledged as being the finest Irish instrumental band of recent times, their flair has brought them to the forefront of Celtic music.”

Honored by Ireland’s Livies music awards in 2010 as “performers of the decade”, Lúnasa has shared their incredible sound with audiences around the world. We catch up with the five-member band in this RootsWorld feature https://www.rootsworld.com/interview/lunasa.html

Tickets prices for Lúnasa are priced at $22/ $27/ $32 and are available online at www.ec4arts.org, through the ECA Box Office at 410 Fourth Ave. N., or by calling 425-275-9595.

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Currently Showing:

Phoenix Theatre
Firdale Village ~ 9673 Firdale Avenue, Edmonds, WA

“Beyond Therapy” by playwright, Christopher Durang, continues its run through Sunday, March 2, with Friday and Saturday shows at 8 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. General admission is $18.50; juniors/seniors/military admission is set at $15.50. Tickets are available by calling 206-533-2000 or online at www.brownpapertickets.com.

See My Edmonds News Jan. 25 coverage of this production here.

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Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation Gallery
Frances Anderson Center
700 Main Street, Edmonds
Tuesday, Feb. 4 – Mar. 14

The Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation and the Edmonds Arts Commission are pleased to present “Collaboration: an exhibit by members of ArtistsConnect of Edmonds” at the Frances Anderson Center.

The Collaboration Project emerged from ArtistsConnect, a group of Edmonds-area artists that receives support from the Edmonds Art Festival Foundation and ArtWorks. The exhibit will showcase the collaborative pieces of 19 artists. Artists worked in pairs or trios to create both two and three dimensional works. Many will add an individual piece to the show, so the viewer can compare the artist’s usual style with what emerged from the collaboration.

The EAFF Gallery is located in the Frances Anderson Center, Main Entrance – 700 Main Street, Edmonds. Gallery Hours: Mon – Fri 9 to 7, Sat – 10 to 1. For information call 425.771.0228 or 425.771.1984.
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Mark Your Calendars for Mardi Gras!

Edmonds Senior Center
220 Railroad Ave., Edmonds
Thursday, Feb. 20 ~ 5-7:30 p.m.
Murder at the Mardi Gras
Dinner & Show

Mardi Gras in New Orleans is known for beads, booze, music and good times.

Unfortunately, Bourbon Street can add one more word to that list: MURDER! Help solve the murder mystery and find the killer! Guests are encouraged (but not required) to come dressed in costume. Dinner will be a Cajun style menu of gumbo and jambalaya.

Tickets: $20 for Edmonds Senior Center members; $30 for non-members. Please call the Admin office at 425-774-5555 ext 104 for more information or to RSVP.

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Reminder: Edmonds Arts Awards
Feb. 18 Nomination Deadline Approaches!

The deadline for nominations for the 2014 Edmonds Arts Awards is Feb. 18 (less than one week away). Awards will be made in four categories: Business, Leadership, Creative Collaboration, and Volunteer. As artful as Edmonds is, we know that you have someone in mind for nomination. The on-line nomination form, and additional information, is available at www.edmondswa.com/awards

— By Emily Hill

Emily Hill is an author and long-time resident of Edmonds. She is retired from a career in public information and news media relations. If you would like your event listed, or venue featured, in Artfully Edmonds, Emily invites you to contact her at arts@myedmondsnews.com