Feel the chill? Last week Artfully Edmonds celebrated the approaching spring, but as a longtime resident of the Pacific Northwest, I can fully appreciate the rejoinder, “The coldest winter I ever experienced was the summer I spent in Puget Sound.”

So we’ve decided to keep it indoors this week with colorful and energetic gallery offerings, laugh-out-loud theatre offerings, and an extravaganza of ECA events. Something for teens, lots for arts lovers, an amazing range of dance performances – a selection to satisfy all of your “arts” senses!

EAFF Gallery
Frances Anderson Center
750 Main St.
Watercolors by Marjorie Bruce

The Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation and the Edmonds Arts Commission are pleased to present watercolors by Marjorie Bruce at the Frances Anderson Center from now through April 24.

As with all artists, Marjorie’s odyssey from child art lover to exhibiting artist is fascinating:

“My childhood toys were a pencil and piece of paper,” she said, acknowledging that art was an integral part of her life for as long as she could remember. Her parents recognized her talent at an early age and encouraged her with lessons and art supplies. During summers, Marjorie attended workshops taught by visiting artists, drawn to the beauty of Door County, Wisconsin.

Marjorie received a scholarship to Layton School of Art in Milwaukee, WI. She credited the school for providing her with the basic principles of design and color, and the underlying techniques necessary for a career in the arts. She took numerous graphic art courses, preparing her for a job in the commercial art field, which then brought her to Seattle to work for Boeing where she met her future husband, Bert Bruce.

While raising a family, Marjorie explored other creative media including wood sculpture and weaving, however she found herself frequently visualizing paintings. In 1972, when her oldest daughter left for college, she decided it was time to begin her painting career in earnest.

In 1973, Nicholas Wyeth juried the Puget Sound Area Exhibition, the annual juried show sponsored by The Frye Art Museum. Marjorie was one of 22 artists selected to be in the show out of six hundred entrants. Her carefully detailed, subtly colored painting of a wasp’s nest had impressed Wyeth, resulting in the first public showing of her work.

Marjorie often chose subjects that were available to her in daily life. The stretch of shoreline fronting her Edmonds home was the inspiration for many of her first paintings; barnacles, wave-smoothed rocks, driftwood and the occasional boat captured her attention for a number of years. “I think of my paintings as a closer, more personal look at nature.”

It was this fascination with the colors and textures in nature that inspired Marjorie to turn her focus to flowers. She became best known for her meticulously rendered watercolors of flowers often arranged in Native American baskets or precisely portrayed antique containers. The flowers have a quality of reality to them that is startling in its effect; they reward close attention. Each petal and leaf; the twisted threads of a basket; the shadow created by light passing through water or the weft of a lace curtain in a summer breeze all convey the artist’s focused attention on the perfection of a moment in time. Reality was captured in a new way in Marjorie’s paintings. Much more than merely photographic in their detail, we experience the essence of the image and feel the energy that went into the creation of such beauty.

She joined Women Painters of Washington in 1979 and has had work in numerous juried group and solo shows. Her work was featured in the Edmonds Arts Festival Juried Gallery exhibits for most of the history of the Festival. She was the second Edmonds Arts Festival Limited Edition Poster Artist, in 1984, and her work “Taking up the Collection” was the Special Purchase in Celebration of the 50th year of the Festival in 2007 for the EAF Foundation Collection. Marjorie graced Edmonds with her continuous love of art.

You are invited to a reception Friday, March 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the EAF Foundation Gallery, Frances Anderson Center, 700 Main St. in Edmonds. Join Linda and Taylor Bruce to celebrate the artwork of Marjorie Bruce. A selection of work is for sale and the exhibit includes work never before exhibited.

The EAFF Gallery

Located in the Frances Anderson Center, Main Entrance – 700 Main St., the The EAFF Gallery hours are: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdat – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For information call 425-771-0228 or 425-771-1984.

For more information about the programs and exhibits of the EAF Foundation, visit www.eaffoundation.org and for the Edmonds Arts Commission, visit www.edmondsartscommission.org.

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ArtWorks
201 2nd Ave. S.
Ahhh! Art Spa

Make this spring the season when you discover ArtWorks with its many classes, community events, rich affiliations, and imaginative studio events. ArtWorks has become the home for Edmonds-area artists-at-heart who wanto to enrich their lives.

Artworks – a studio, a gallery, and so much more!

ArtWorks is a joint project of Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation and Edmonds Arts Festival Association. Opened in February 2004, its mission is to make the visual arts accessible to the local community and to provide a gathering place for artists. ArtWorks provides an on-going schedule of classes, workshops, special events, and arts organization meetings throughout the year.

Art Spa Open Studio is a chance to get some work done in a comfortable space where you have all the room you need, hot and cold running water, air, easels, inspiration and minimal distractions.

Artists In Action will once again take place on the Edmonds waterfront this summer, Sundays from 1-3 p.m. This ArtWorks event is sponsored by the Port of Edmonds, Edmonds Arts Festival and ArtWorks.

Contact Meredith at artworks@artworks-edmonds.org to find out more.

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Sunday, March 29
7 p.m.
Trinity Lutheran Church
6215 196th St. S.W.
Artists at the Organ
Annual All Bach Concert

The Trinity Lutheran Church Artists at the Organ annual Bach concert will take place on Sunday, March 29 at 7 p.m. with the distinguished organist, Dr. Annette Richards, Professor of Music and University Organist at Cornell University, performing a program of works by Johann Sebastian Bach and his most famous son, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach.

Dr. Richards is a laureate of international organ competitions at Dublin and Bruges, and gives concerts frequently in North America and Europe.

She has a particular specialty in the music of mid- to late-18th century Germany, and especially C. P. E. Bach. With her husband, David Yearsley, she has edited the complete organ works of C. P. E. Bach for the new C. P. E. Bach: Complete Works edition. Prof. Richards was educated at Oxford University, (BA, MA) Stanford University (PhD) and the Sweelinck Conservatorium Amsterdam.

Masterclass

Richards will also give a masterclass on Saturday morning, March 28, 10 a.m. -noon at Trinity Lutheran Church. All are welcome.

Trinity Lutheran Church’s organ, opus 4, is a stunning 2 manual, 30 stop mechanical action instrument, noted for its glorious sound. It is housed in an Italianate style case of black walnut, in a fine acoustical environment. Every part of the instrument was built by Martin Pasi especially for this space and was installed in 1995 shortly after the new sanctuary was completed. This year celebrates 20 years since the organ was installed.

Suggested donation for the program is $15 for adults, seniors and students $10 – or pay as able.

For further information, call Norma Aamodt-Nelson, Minister of Music at 425-778-2159, Ext. 2203. or Penny Lorenz, Chairman of the Concert Committee at 425-745-1316.

Directions on the website at: www.trinitylutheranchurch.com

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Theatre On Our Stages!

Saturday, March 28, 2-5 p.m.
Monday, March 30, 7-10 p.m.
Auditions for Young People!
Cast: 13-19 years old
Ignition Theatre Company With Driftwood Players
Les Miserables!

Auditions for Ignition Theatre’s production of “Les Miserables” will be held at the Driftwood Players Training Room, 306 Main Street, Ste. L101 (underneath Bank Of America on Main St.). This production features a large cast with many featured and exciting roles, ideal for learning about the art of performance.

Please direct your questions to Morgan Heetbrink, Director (morganheetbrink@gmail.com ) or the producer, Dutch Heetbrink (heetbrink@gmail.com)

You can learn more here.

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Phoenix Theatre’s April Offerings
7396 Firdale Ave.
Wednesday
April Fool’s Cabaret
One Night Only!! (of course!)

Hosted by The Phoenix Theatre’s very own George Burns & Gracie Allen and Jack Benny . . .

Plus exciting appearances from the likes of Larry Albert, Susan Connors, Dan Jacoby, Laura Kenny, Michael McFadden, Eleanor Moseley-types this intimate, wine-serving, reserved-seating theatre is waiting for a reservation from You!

When is April Fool’s Day this year? Next Wednesday!

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An Opening Night
Coming Soon to The Phoenix!
Friday, April 10
Fridays & Saturdays 8 p.m.
Sunday 2 p.m.
Over the River and Through the Woods
by
 Joe DiPietro

Christine Mosere directs The Phoenix Theatre’s spring production, “Over the River and Through the Woods” in which Nick, a grown man living in New Jersey, still sees his Italian grandparents every Sunday for dinner; in spite of the fact that his parents and sister have already moved on to other parts of the country.

One Sunday he arrives at his grandparent’s home and proceeds to tell them that he has been offered a promotion that requires he move to Seattle. The decision looms on whether or not he will take the promotion, and move away. Thus begins a series of grandparent-driven schemes to keep Nick in New Jersey, including inviting the lively and single Caitlin O’Hare to dinner as bait.

Seeing the cast, its antics, and Dipietro’s almost guaranteed mis-pairings of characters (played by local talents J. Woody Lotts, Larry Albert, Michael McFadden, Susan Conner, Rebekah Dawn) will surely be worth the price of admission.

Make your ticket arrangements by calling 206-533-2000 or phoenixtheatreedmonds.org

Produced with permission by Dramatists Play Service

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It’s Happening at the ECA!
Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA)
410 4th Ave. N.
Saturday, March 28
2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Olympic Ballet Theatre (OBT)

Paquita & Nyman

Classical & Contemporary

Join artistic directors Oleg Gorboulev and Mara Vinson for the close of OBT’s 2014-15 Performance Season at the Edmonds Center for the Arts

The performance features dancers of Olympic Ballet Theatre in two premieres: “Paquita grand pas classique” and Gorboulev’s new contemporary work, “Nyman.”

Led by world-class guest artists: Batkhurel Bold, principal dancer Pacific Northwest Ballet’s (PNB); with Elizabeth Murphy, soloist PNB; and Alex Crozier, with Madelyn Koch, both of the Spectrum Dance Theater.

In its 32nd Season, OBT has become a mainstay of the Snohomish County arts scene. While their emphasis remains on classical ballet, Artistic Directors Mara Vinson and Oleg Gorboulev, former Pacific Northwest Ballet leading artists, bring fresh new works to OBT. Their critically acclaimed premiere of Coppelia in 2011 was warmly received by audiences with standing ovations. Other choreographic works include the second act of The Nutcracker, Highlights from The Sleeping Beauty, plus contemporary works set to live musical accompaniment.

Under Vinson and Gorboulev’s direction, OBT pre-professional dancers have been accepted into and have attended prestigious national schools such as Boston Ballet School, San Francisco Ballet School, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, Los Angeles Ballet School, and others.

Go online for ticketing.

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Wednesday, April 1
7:30 pm
The Koresh Dance Company

Renowned for their powerful stage presence and high-energy style, Koresh Dance Company will take to the stage at Edmonds Center for the Arts on Wednesday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m.

Founded in 1991 by Israeli choreographer, teacher and collaborator Roni Koresh, the Philadelphia-based Koresh Dance Company’s unique blend of ballet, modern and jazz leaves audiences dazzled by the raw passion of its highly technical and emotionally charged work.

The company’s eloquent and explosive program features Koresh’s choreography set to classical favorites juxtaposed with contemporary and world music in an exploration of common rhythms.

Edmonds Senior Center workshop

As part of ECA’s Education and Outreach programming, Koresh Dance Company artists Jessica Daley and Asya Zlatina will lead a free workshop for the Enhanced Fitness Class at Edmonds Senior Center, the morning of their scheduled performance at Edmonds Center for the Arts. Koresh’s “Stretch & Strengthen” program will include breathing exercises and weight–bearing movements that create greater mobility and muscular support.

Tickets to Koresh Dance Company are available online at www.ec4arts.org, or call 425-275-9595. You are also invited to visit the ECA Box Office at 410 4th Ave. N.

Take advantage of the ECA’s special 2-for-1 deal at this performance by using the code 2FOR1 online or through the ECA Box Office. Please note that this discount is not combinable with any other offer. Group discounts are also available for groups of 10+.

Teens!

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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Thursday, April 9
7:30 p.m.
One Night of Queen
By Gary Mullen and The Works

Celebrate the music of Queen. Timeless anthems that ruled the charts including the iconic “We Will Rock You”, “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Another One Bites the Dust” and “We are the Champions,” will be performed in this memorable show.

Over the last decade, One Night of Queen performed by Gary Mullen and The Works have toured the world performing in theaters, arenas, and festivals to sell-out crowds in the USA, UK, Germany, France, Holland, Belgium, New Zealand, South Africa and more!

Gary Mullen and The Works have been invited twice to perform at BBC’s Proms in the Park event in London’s Hyde Park alongside Andrea Bocelli, Katherine Jenkins, and legendary Barry Manilow. Their performance was described as the “highlight of the day” in front of 45,000 screaming and adoring fans. This performance cemented their reputation as being much more than a tribute band.

Need a peek as you get ready for a nostalgic return to Queen’s heyday? Do the click! click! to scoot on over to the YouTube stage:

One Night of Queen is a phenomenal spectacle rock ‘n roll show that pays tribute to one of the greatest bands of all time. Purchase online, call 425-275-9595, or visit the ECA Box Office at 410 4th Ave. N.

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Museums and Lectures Nearby
Future of Flight Aviation Center
8415 Paine Field Blvd., Mukilteo
April 3-June 14

“Black Wings: American Dreams of Flight” will be presented by the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), at the Future of Flight Aviation Center

This exciting and vibrant exhibition examines the contributions of some of the most important African- American aviators from the past and present who helped make the dream of careers in flight and space exploration possible.

Divided into six sections, “Black Wings” chronicles the evolution of aviation through the stories of African Americans who dreamed of flight, left their mark and helped pave the way for those who would follow. Two of the many figures presented in this exhibition are Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to obtain her pilot’s license, and aviator William J. Powell who led an ambitious program to promote aviation in the African American community. Other aviators whose contributions are explored include the Tuskegee Airmen—the first military division of African American pilots who fought in World War II—and Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman to fly in space.

The exhibition is based on the book Black Wings: Courageous Stories of African Americans in Aviation and Space History (HarperCollins, 2008) written by exhibition curator Von Hardesty of the National Air and Space Museum. Copies of the book can be purchased at the Boeing Store located at the Future of Flight.

Free admission with proof of residency (driver’s license or utility bill) April 3-5.

The facility is open daily from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Parking is free. Admission to Black Wings is FREE for members and included in Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour admission with advance purchase, $18 adult, $12 youth* (age 15 and under). Admission for the exhibit also is included in Gallery/Strato Deck only admission (no Boeing Tour), $10 adult, $5 (ages 6- 15), children under 5 receive free admission.

For tickets and information visit www.futureofflight.org/black-wings or call 425-438-8100, Ext. 240.

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Black Box Theatre
Mukilteo Hall
Edmonds Community College
Conversations in the Humanities:
David Fenner – “Islam 101”

David Fenner, the former Assistant Vice Provost for International Education at the University of Washington, will facilitate a conversation encouraging greater understanding of Islam, its history and its place in the modern world.

You can reserve your spot by going to “Fenner” here.

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.