Last year while strolling downtown Edmonds with a friend, I stopped in at Gallery North. After chatting with several of the artists I wandered over to the jewelry counter where a particular piece of jewelry caught my eye – and my heart.

It was a bracelet made of mixed metals featuring the face of an over-sized watch. The words “I Love You” were painted on the face of the watch in enamel. The hands of the watch turned, and the design included a French heart – my favorite.

I mentioned the piece to my husband that evening during our, “What did you do today?” dinner conversation; and it occurs to me now that I look back that it must have been February, because the following week I received – for Valentine’s Day – that very bracelet.

Soon I learned my gift was part of the mixed metals collection designed by Eve Ingraham of Evecreate Original Designs and I have been a fan of Eve’s ever since.

So, no surprise when I learned that Eve was exhibiting at Rick Steves Europe, and I knew the time had come for a feature of Eve’s work in “Artfully Edmonds”.

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Faces and Facades: Italy
Rick Steves Europe
130 4th Ave. N.

After she retired from teaching at The Evergreen School, Eve began painting and traveling more. She took pictures, would paint on location, trying to capture the essence of each location.

Eve explains how her interest in Italy first developed, “My older sister, Edna, married into an Italian family. I grew up as Irish as I am, [but] thinking I was Italian.

“I first traveled to Italy on my honeymoon in 1969 where I visited many of my “Italian family.” They enfolded me into their culture. I have been back twice more, painting my impressions of this place so dear to me. It is gratifying to see a show go up and view my style and impressions in one place.

“This exhibit includes 23 pieces of work. I am excited to share this part of me.”

“Faces and Facades” will exhibit through April 9.

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Bill Ball “Fireball”

Artfully Edmonds’  second artist profile for this week’s column is 25/5×5 25 Creativity Challenge participant and Mukilteo artist Bill Ball. Everything about Ball’s style epitomizes the signature on the reverse of his canvases, “Fireball.”

25/5×5 25 Creativity Challenge
Ball is among the artists who has signed up to participate in the 25/5×5 25 Creativity Challenge: Twenty-five works of art on 5×5 canvasses created by 25 artists, which “Artfully Edmonds” mentioned in its January column.

I first met this prolific artist at November’s Northwest School artist exhibit curated by Marni Muir. As a fan of Mark Tobey’s work, Bill was drawn to the Edmonds Art Festival Foundation Gallery, located in the Frances Anderson Center.

He has traveled the world from the Easter Islands to Phuket as both a performing artist and the on-canvas type; and his pieces reflect folk art, primitive cultures and mystical themes. Although self-taught, Ball speaks of the development of trends in the art world with what seems as a graduate level understanding of Art History.

Performing under the marquee “Fireball” he has chosen abstract expressionism and surrealism as the (current) preference for his easel (and floor . . . and wall . . . and . . . in other words, give Bill a surface, a paint brush, and paint – and then move out of the way! More info on his Facebook page.

The piece that “Artfully Edmonds” chose to begin her collection of “Fireball” art is this one:

His recent works reflect a growing interest in Pollock’s style: Big! Bold! Colorful! Energetic! But, as a versatile artist, he is scaling down for the 25/5×5 25 Creativity Challenge.

Bill’s work will show at ARTspot, 408 Main St. on April 16 at 5 p.m.
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Currently Nearby – and Now! for Bill Ball Fans:
Whole Foods Auction for “Whole Planet Foundation”
2800 196th St. S.W, Lynnwood

Bill is also participating in a sponsored silent auction celebrating grocery chain Whole Foods’ 3rd anniversary at its Lynnwood location (2800 196th St. S.W.). The auction benefits the Whole Planet Foundation. Ball has pledged 50 percent of the bid proceeds from “Flower of Rejuvenation” which is part of his series, Psychedelic Mandala.

The mission of Whole Planet Foundation is “poverty alleviation through microcredit in communities around the world that supply Whole Foods Market stores with products.”

Bids benefiting Whole Planet Foundation will be accepted through Monday, March 23.

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Gallery North
401 Main St.

Thursday, March 19
5-8 p.m.

2015 Small Works Show Awards

Gallery North held a reception and award ceremony for its annual invitational “Small Works Show” on Sunday, March 8. Several hundred people attended the event. The 2015 show includes more than 250 pieces of artwork hand-created by more than 70 artists and provides collectors with an exceptional opportunity to view and purchase work by many fine local artists from one location.

Gallery North now invites the community to view the Small Works exhibit and enjoy another reception during this evening’s (Thursday’s) Art Walk Edmonds, March 19 from 5 to 8 p.m.

All items from the Small Works Show will be available for purchase at Gallery North through March 30.

This year, the awards were chosen by well-respected local artists Paula Parks and Ken Turner. With so many works in the show, the awards jurors had to make some tough decisions.

Paula Parks selected the awards for the 2-dimensional artwork. Paula is a Signature Member of the Colored Pencil Society of America, and a member of both the Women Painters of Washington and Seattle Co-Arts. She has been a valuable member of the Edmonds art community for many years.

Local ceramic artist Ken Turner selected the awards for the 3-dimensional artwork. Master craftsman, Ken Turner has been a respected teacher of ceramic techniques at Universities, Colleges and Art Centers since 1994 and has toured and lectured across China. The artist is currently a Senior Lecturer, instructor of ceramics and Director of the “Plastic Arts Lab” at DigiPen Institute of Technology in Redmond. Ken’s work has been shown and collected internationally and is included in many permanent museum collections.

Winning Artists in the 2-dimensional category are:
1st Place – “Grapes in Silver”(Oil Painting) by Susan McManamen
2nd Place – “Alhambra Afternoon” (Watercolor Painting) by Beverly Fotheringham
3rd Place – “Tree on the Trail” (Pastel Painting) by Vicki Johnson

Winning Artists in the 3-dimensional category were:
1st Place – “Bamboo Lidded Jar”(Porcelain and Bamboo Jar) by Paddy McNeely
2nd Place – “Tea Set” (Clay Pottery) by James Miller
3rd Place – “Hidden” (Clay Sculpture) by Janet Still
Honorable Mention – “Scrollwork Beaded Basket” (Japanese Delica Beaded Basket) by Julia Henry

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Art Walk Edmonds

For more on what’s lined up by Art Walk Edmonds artists go to: www.edmondsartwalk.com
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Trinity Lutheran Church
6215 196th St. S.W.

Saturday, March 21
3:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Sno-King Community Chorale under the direction of Frank DeMiero presents “Musica da Coro Requiem” by Gabriel Faure’

Also featuring “Return to Innocence” by David Gillingham with the Cascade Percussion Ensemble; Ian Alvarez, Conductor.

For ticket information, visit www.sno-kingchorale.org, or call 425-530-8133.

For further information, call Norma Aamodt-Nelson, Minister of Music at 425 778-2159, ext. 2203. Directions on the web site at: www.trinitylutheranchurch.com

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Sunday, March 22
7:30 pm

The Northwest Boychoir along with members of Men Vocalpoint! present Duruflé Requiem Op. 9 (Dedicated to Dr. Stephen Petersdorf and Mozart’s Missa Brevis in the new “Choral Tradition”. Joseph Crnko will conduct the presentation.

Tickets available at www.nwboychoir.org or by calling 206-524-3242.

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Edmonds Center for the Arts
410 4th Ave. N.

Saturday, March 21
7:30 p.m.

Ain’t Misbehavin’: The Fats Waller Musical

Five Pacific Northwest performers are taking “the show on the road” and their tour includes Edmonds!

Broadway Center for the Arts produced “Ain’t Misbehavin’: The Fats Waller Musical” rolls into town this Saturday.

“Ain’t Misbehavin’” is a musical revue with a book by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby, Jr., and music by various composers and lyricists, as arranged and orchestrated by Luther Henderson. It was originally performed on Broadway in1978.

Directed by Tyrone Brown, Broadway Center’s production will transport audiences to the Harlem Renaissance during the Roaring Twenties for a rowdy evening filled with the evocative music of jazz great Fats Waller. Darrius Willrich is responsible for the musical direction of Ain’t Misbehavin’. The production is choreographed by Seattle native Stanley Wesley Perryman who toured the United States and the world as a principal dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Dance Theatre of Harlem between 1975 and 1983.

Tickets to “Ain’t Misbehavin: The Fats Waller Musical” are available here.

ECA is a proud member of TeenTix, and offers $5 tickets to teens at the Box Office on the day of the performance, pending availability.

To become a TeenTix member, register at www.teentix.org.

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ECA Ticket Grab!

One Night of Queen

Thursday, April 9
7:30 p.m.

“One Night of Queen” performed by Gary Mullen & The Works is a spectacular live concert, recreating the look, sound, pomp and showmanship of arguably the greatest rock band of all time.

And tickets are flying out the door! See?

Gary Mullen & The Works have been hailed as the World’s Premiere Queen Tribute Band and have received rave reviews from over 500 Performing Arts Centers in the USA since 2008.

Return to the days of David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, Barry Mitchell, and all of the other Queen members as Gary Mullen and his crew rock it with such greats as “Seven Seas of Rhye”, “A Kind of Magic” and more.

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Sunday, March 28
2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Olympic Ballet Theatre (OBT)
Performs at Edmonds Center for the Arts

Olympic Ballet Theatre has one slippered foot in the alluring world of traditional ballet and the other in the thrilling world of contemporary dance.

This year’s Spring Program showcases two premieres for OBT. The program begins with “Nyman” an exciting new contemporary work by OBT co-artistic director Oleg Gorboulev.

Then the program moves gracefully to “Paquita grand pas classique”, a major hallmark of traditional classical ballet repertoire choreographed by the great Marius Petipa featuring lively music by Ludwig Minkus. Performing will be guest artists Batkhurel Bold and Elizabeth Murphy of Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) plus Alex Crozier and Madelyn Koch both of Spectrum Dance Theatre.

Purchase tickets to what promises to be a dazzling showcase of dance here.

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Phoenix Theatre
9673 Firdale Ave.

Wednesday, April 1
8 p.m.

Life is a cabaret! ‘Life as it should be – especially if you are a cast member of the Phoenix Theatre, or among its many loyal supporters.

This intimate wine-serving theatre, located in Firdale Village, is throwing its second “Cabaret Fundraiser”. When? You ask? Why April Fool’s Day, of course.

This promises to be a hilarious ask for financial support and will be hosted by in-house personalities “George and Gracie Allen”, “Jack Benny”.

The stage antics will feature some of the PNW’s favorite performers accompanied by Robert Jones including: Larry Albert, Susan Connors, Dan Jacoby, Jasmine Joshua, Laura Kenny, Michael McFadden, Eleanor Moseley . . . and many more!

The Phoenix Theatre box office notes, “All seats begin with a $20 ticketing price. However, there are ticketing options from $20 to $500–hey we can dream can’t we?”

All pricing over $20 is tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. Whether you pick $20 or more, the Phoenix gang hopes you’ll throw in some bucks, pick your seats, and join the fun.

Celebrate Life Generously. Tickets to the Cabaret are available online.

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Happening Nearby

Friday, March 20
7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Starbucks Hot Java Cool Jazz
And Our Kids are Performing!

The Paramount Theatre
911 Pine St.

From the playbill: Year after year, Seattle-area jazz fans are enchanted by a great night of music at the annual Hot Java Cool Jazz show. This weekend the region’s top young musicians from Edmonds-Woodway High School as well as other area high schools will come together for a dynamic evening in the spirit of true Seattle jazz tradition to perform at the famed Paramount Theatre.

Last year over $55,000 from the evening’s ticket sales went directly to the music programs of the participating schools. Since 1995, Starbucks Hot Java Cool Jazz has raised more than $400,000 for local school music programs.

Tickets for what promises to be a memorable evening in the lives of these young musicians are available here.

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Saturday, March 21
1 p.m.

Edmonds Choir and Orchestra Performs
At Benefit for the Community and Survivors
Of the Oso Mudslide

One year ago this month, the Oso mud slide tragically changed the lives of many in this area. It will be remembered the weekend of March 20-22 with various events around the Oso community. On Saturday, March 21, at 1 p.m. there will be a benefit concert featuring the Mosaic Arts Northwest Choir and Orchestra from Edmonds’ North Sound Church. Mosaic is a performing arts community of over one hundred musicians from throughout the Puget Sound region. Freewill donations for the Oso Fire Department and Firemen’s Association will be received at the door. Victims of the slide will be remembered, and firemen and first responders will be honored at the concert.

The benefit concert will be held at Rhodes River Ranch, which is located at 22016 Entsminger Road, Oso.

For further information contact: Allan Skoog, Director of Northsound Church Mosaic Arts Northwest 425-776-9800
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Opens Saturday, March 21

King’s Players Theater at
Shorecrest Performing Arts Center
15343 25th Ave. N.E., Shoreline

The Music Man

Classic story line: Harold Hill (no relation to this columnist) poses as a boys’ band organizer and leader and sells band instruments – including trombones (also, no relation to this columnist’s husband) and uniforms to the naive Iowa townsfolk, promising to train the members of the new band.

But that’s not how the story ends.

Music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, with Franklin Lacey.

Times and ticket information are available at kingsplayerstheater.org
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Nearby For Younger Kids!

Thursday-Sunday, March 26-29
Performance schedule is detailed below.

Madrona Children’s Theatre at
Mountlake Terrace High School
21801 44th Ave. W.
Mountlake Terrace

School House Rock Live!

Can you recite the Preamble of the United States Constitution? For those who watched Saturday morning cartoons in the ’70s or ’80s, it’s as easy as humming a little tune. If that’s the case then odds are good you can also easily recite the definition of a noun, explain what is takes for a legislative bill to become a law and count by threes.

This production is sure to have you singing along to many of your favorite Saturday morning tunes with talented casts of 4th to 8th graders from Madrona K-8 school in the Edmonds School District.

One of the great things about this particular production is that the children themselves helped to build the show through improvisation and providing their creative input. Two casts have shaped the staging of the production according to their ideas, and every child who wanted a prominent role in a song was given that opportunity. The core message of the show is “learning can be fun,” and the students illustrate this through their vocals, their freestyle movements and a boundless energy which is certain to engage and entertain audiences of all ages.

Performance times for School House Rock Live!
Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m.* (Inventor cast), Friday, March 27 at 7 p.m. (Explorer cast), Saturday, March 28 at 2 p.m.* and 7 p.m. (Inventor cast), Sunday, March 29 at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. (Explorer cast). *ASL interpreted performance

For tickets contact Kerry at madronatickets@gmail.com or call 425-772-1421.

— By Emily Hill

Emily Hill is the author of two novels and a short story collection. She also writes the “Lynnwood Lifestyle” column for Lynnwood Today. 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 arts@myedmondsnews.com.