Artfully Edmonds received notice of a “Call to Artists” from Maggie Peterson this week and we cannot think of a more fitting lead for our column.

Maggie’s invitation was made on behalf of the Edmonds Center for the Arts Gala and Auction for 2015.

As auction chair, Maggie promises, “We’re going to shake it up and do things a little bit differently this year at the Edmonds Center for the Arts Gala and Auction!”

“This is a biggest fund-raiser of the year for our beloved Arts Center – so let’s really make it special.”

Call for Artists!
Edmonds Center for the Arts Gala and Auction
Saturday, July 3, 2015 Deadline

What the auction needs is 10 art pieces which:

Should reflect the greater Edmonds community; and

Should connect to the celebration of Edmonds’ 125th year anniversary.

The gala will be held on Saturday, October 3. The Edmonds Center for the Arts Gala and Auction committee, “is working with a small budget of only $1,000 for these 10 pieces,” Maggie explains. “So we consider your talent and creativity a generous donation, and the money would cover your materials cost.”

Juried-in Artists will receive:

– A one-page Featured Artist biographical sketch in the ECA program;

– A feature story on My Edmonds News in September 2015;

– A designated table at the auction at which their work will be displayed with their complimentary materials;

“In other words – great exposure for your art,” Maggie promises.

If you are interested, contact her at 425-771-3482 or 425-308-4013. She would like to receive from interested artists any sketches, drawings or sample pieces to be shared with her team by Saturday, July 6, 2015.

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Just because downtown Edmonds’ playhouses have gone dim after their just-completed production runs doesn’t mean the theatre crowd should go wanting.

Edmonds Community College Music Department and college thespians are proud to announce:

Spring Musical:
The 25th Annual
Putnam County Spelling Bee
EdCC, The Black Box Theatre
Mukilteo Hall, 20000 68th Ave. W.
Lynnwood

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, with its delightfully catchy William Finn score and hilarious book by Rachel Sheinkin (with additional material by Jay Reiss), is one of the most crowd-pleasing Tony Award winning musical comedies of all time.

Follow six socially awkward youngsters on their hilarious journey to realize their dream – to become a spelling bee champion! [Mild adult humor.]

Presented by Edmonds CC Music and the Black Box Theatre.

Grab your best laugh-partner – and your tickets.

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Fabric of Life
Fair Trade Store
519 Main St.
Saturday, May 16

It’s going to be a grand welcome back-to-the-neighborhood as Carol Schillios (aka, the lady on the roof) and her Malian colleague Kaaba Coulibaly Soumare open the doors to Edmonds’ Fabric of Life Fair Trade Store.

The proprietors tell Artfully Edmonds that hometown artist Mona Smiley-Fairbanks will be installing her newest art piece at the store in celebration.

Mona Smiley-Fairbanks’ connection to Fabric of Life began after being a featured artist at an Edmonds Third Thursday Artwalk. At the event, Fairbanks learned about the West African artisan project, Hèrè Jè, founded by Edmonds resident Schillios.

At the Bamako, Mali skills center, students learn skills to generate income.

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Tuesday, May 19
Red Onion
Mountlake Terrace

A Shout Out goes to the College Place Middle School Music Boosters and their Vice President, Lisa Monke, for letting Edmonds and Lynnwood residents know about this Tuesday’s fundraiser at the Red Onion in Mountlake Terrace.

The students will be there with their instruments performing!

Dinner out for the family? Date night for teens and young adults? Dash in, place your order and drop a Thank you! to Red Onion for supporting the Music Boosters for College Place Middle School.

If you have questions or need additional information about this community event, Lisa Monke invites you to contact her at Lisa.Monke@Coyote.com.

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Faith Community Church
10220 – 238th St. S.W.
Thursday, May 21
6-9 p.m.

Add another stop to your third Thursday gallery visits. Faith Community Church is dedicating art gallery space this Sunday, May 17 to show the work of Edmonds artist, the late Jeannie Darrah and invites Art Walk Edmonds enthusiasts to their church on Thursday, May 21.

Pastor Phil Assink explains the installation: “Jeannie had been a part of the church and community for nearly 50 years. Her artistic talent was frequently at the center of the craft station at Vacation Bible School. Her love for children and her art talent made her the natural ‘go to’ person to create and lead the craft projects. Jeannie also regularly displayed her work in the juried art portion of the Edmonds Art Festival.

“Her passing has inspired yet another expression of art at the church. The church had been talking about converting a hallway into a mini art gallery. Her husband, Tom, seized the opportunity and began the transformation; using the color pallet that Jeannie had picked out before her death . . .”

Folks who participate in the Art Walk Edmonds are invited to finish their downtown stroll with a little drive over to Faith Community Church to join church members for free refreshments.

Since many of Jeannie’s works were purchased by local residents, neighbors are invited to bring their art by to share or bring a picture of them with their art. The gallery is open most weekdays, Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and always open on Sunday mornings from 8 to noon.

The church’s plan is to invite local artists to share their work with the community in the gallery.

For further information, contact Pastor Phil Assink at 206-542-8883 or phil@faithedmonds.org.

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Jazz Jumps Onto the May Calendar

The following events are mentioned as reminders, and brought forward from last week’s Artfully Edmonds column:

Saturday, May 16
7 p.m.
One Night Only!
Overton Berry and Friends
Wade James Theatre
950 Main St.

If it sparkles, dazzles and bewitches musically, then it’s the smooth jazz sound of the Overton Berry Ensemble. Wouldn’t you like to partake in an intimate evening with a Jazz Legend as he banters and tickles the ivories?

Be among friends on Saturday, May 16th for this special One Night Only! Performance.

Tickets at www.edmondsdriftwoodplayers.org

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Saturday, May 16
6 p.m.
Swing Dance!
Edmonds-Woodway High School
at
Edmonds Senior Center
220 Railroad Ave.

Put on your dancing shoes! The EWHS Jazz ensembles as well as bands from Madrona and College Place Middle School will perform hot, snappy, swinging tunes in a fun, boisterous Let’s-Have-Fun environment that invites participation from the whole family!

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Saturday, May 23
Edmonds Jazz Connection
Free!

The 15th annual Edmonds Jazz Connection is set for Saturday, May 23 at three venues in downtown Edmonds. Promoter and jazz enthusiast fills us in on the details here. 

– – –

Saturday, May 30
7:30 p.m.
Basie Bash
By Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra
Edmonds Center for the Arts
410 4th Ave. N.

Once again the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra is welcomed back to Edmonds’ main stage. Follow the Orchestra’s news here and details of their performance here in Artfully Edmonds.

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Artists and Poets Podium

Cole Gallery
107 5th Ave. S.

The work of watercolorist Ron Stocke has been selected for the cover of Watercolor Artist Magazine for the month of June 2015.

Cole Gallery represents the artist, who lives in Everett. His award winning paintings have been exhibited in international shows, featured in Watercolor Artist Magazine multiple times, the Splash book series published by Northlight Books, and on product labeling throughout the United States and Canada.

This prestigious honor is bestowed to only six artists a year, and is in recognition of his success in the industry. Featured in an article about painting plein air along with many other internationally recognized artists, Ron gives readers tips to painting outdoors, selecting the correct equipment and benefits to painting on location.

Stocke tells Artfully Edmonds, “Painting on location in watercolor can be a challenge for any artist, however it is one of the quickest ways to improve ones’ technique. I enjoy painting in the Pacific Northwest because it offers a variety of subject matter through which I have honed my skills in painting wet scenes, landscapes, cityscapes and more.”

Stocke holds Signature Membership with the American Watercolor Society, as well as the Northwest Watercolor Society, and is an elected member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolor. He also is a member of the Puget Sound Group of Northwest Painters and the National Watercolor Society.

He teaches workshops throughout the United States and Europe including a “destination painting holiday” to the south of France that will be offered in 2016. More about his work and classes are available at https://www.RonStocke.com

Issues of this popular magazine can be ordered from Edmonds Bookshop (111 5th Ave. S.) and at supply stores or online here.

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Happening Nearby

Shoreline Community College presents
Big Fish – The Broadway Musical
Fridays-Saturdays, May 15-16 and May 22-23, at 7:30 p.m.
Sundays, May 17 and May 24, at 3 p.m.

Direct from Broadway, Shoreline Community College presents the Pacific Northwest Premiere of the new musical, “Big Fish,” in a production that will
knock your socks off. Based on the popular novel by Daniel Wallace and the Columbia Pictures film directed by Tim Burton, “Big Fish” is overflowing with passion, humor, and dazzling special effects.

General admission $18; seniors, non-SCC students $12; SCC students, children 14 or under $10. Tickets available through Brown Paper Tickets — call 800-838-3006 or visit www.brownpaperticket.com/event/880353 — at the SCC Cashier’s Office and at the door

 

— 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.