Artfully Edmonds caught the Facebook post this week of local muralist Andy Eccleshall alerting the community that he had finished what appears to be a rather expansive private commission. Of course, we thought you’d like to hear more about the newest addition to Eccleshall’s portfolio.

You may be thinking – as I was – that Eccleshall’s private commissions are limited to the rich and famous. It ain’t necessarily so!

Of this particular commission, Eccleshall explains, “The clients are a young couple with their own business. The house is in Broadview. They found and fell in love with this old house. They contend it needs lots of work.”

The home sits on its own acreage, quietly tucked away behind a row of modest mid-century homes, describes Eccleshall.

Artfully Edmonds finds it delightful that one of the first features this young couple wanted to add to the ambiance of their new home is a mural by Eccleshall, who works under the banner, “The Mural Works, Inc.”

So . . . after one dials Eccleshall and he is sitting at your kitchen table, what happens? Andy explains, “Whether you have an idea in mind or you’re not sure what you want, the process begins the same way. Together, we look at the space in question and talk about the kind of environment you wish to create. Through discussion we establish a direction for the artwork and from this a scale rendering is produced for you to view, together with a quotation.”

As their friendship developed, Andy learned that the Broadview couple was drawn to 19th century American landscapes but they are also attracted to the old scenic wallpaper styles of Zuber .

According to Eccleshall, “This particular mural captures both the Zuber style and the 19th century landscape color. The design was created for them to suit the space with the elements allowing room for furniture placement and balancing things like the fireplace and wall of garden windows.”

“They had been looking without success for a period scenic wallpaper they both agreed on. The idea behind the mural was that it gave them the opportunity to have something designed which would incorporate both their tastes,” he adds.

One might imagine being introduced to Eccleshall at a “tony” cocktail party. It’s not really like that. “This couple found me on the Internet, I think.” (Lucky couple!)

You can find Andy Eccleshall on the Internet at “The Mural Works”.

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Thursday, Nov. 12
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cascadia Art Museum
190 Sunset Ave.
The Joy of Vintage Christmas Cards
1900-1990s

Note: The art museum will close at 5 p.m. Thursday for a members-only event.

“The Joy of Vintage Christmas Cards” curated by David F. Martin from a Seattle Public Library collection this exhibit opens Thursday morning at Cascadia Art Museum.

The collection includes:

• Aberdeen artist, Lance Wood Hart, the oldest card in the collection is a self-portrait 1916, and a block print card, circa 1930;
• Colorful woodcuts by Modernist Elizabeth Cooper (1877-1936), circa 1924 and 1925;
• Small watercolors by American painter and collagist, Paul Horiuchi (1906-1999) both from the 50s.
• Wintery, color relief prints of Mt. Rainier, circa 1950-1965, by the internationally known Seattle artist Paul Morgan Gustin (1885-1974);
• Seven works by the Klee Wyk Studio, active in Nisqually, Wa., from 1950 through 1962, originating the study of Native American design into a mid-Modern century aesthetic in the Northwest.
• Danny Pierce (1920-2014) renowned printmaker with the most recent block print card from 1994.

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Thursday – Saturday
Opens Nov. 12
8 p.m.

Aurora Theatre Company at
Phoenix Theatre
9673 Firdale Ave.

Aurora Theatre Company is presenting “This Wonderful Life” at the Phoenix Theatre; script by Steve Murray, directed by Scott Charles Francis.

Imagine! One phenomenally talented actor plays 36 time-honored characters in a clever adaptation of the classic Frank Capra film of the same name.

From the Playbill: “Start the holiday season off with this re-imagined version of the classic film as presented by Aurora Theatre Company.

This one-man tour-de-force production offers a new theatrical twist on this beloved holiday tale. In addition to playing all the people in Bedford Falls, actor Chris Carwithen provides amusing commentary on George Bailey’s journey to discover that the actions of one person really can make a difference in the world.

This humorous adaptation celebrates the warmth of the season and the belief that hard work, fair play and love of one’s family and community is truly its own wonderful reward.”

Donations to Food Lifeline

Aurora Theatre Company will be collecting non-perishable food items at each performance of “This Wonderful Life.” These items will be donated to Food Lifeline. Please consider bringing your donations when you attend your performance.

Tickets for “This Wonderful Life” are available at this link.

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Saturday, Nov. 14
8 p.m.
Driftwood Players
Wade James Theatre
950 Main St.
You’re Invited! One Night Only!
Troubadours – A Fundraiser

Driftwood Players is thrilled to extend an invitation to the greater-Edmonds community to their fall fundraiser – Troubadours. The event will be held at the Wade James Theatre.

You can expect a night of concoctions and verisimilitude, solemnity and whimsy, red herrings and revelations as artists, authors, actors, playwrights, poets, filmmakers, and musicians will share their stories, their scripts and their songs.

The watchwords for the evening are improvisation and embellishment (and hilarity). The stories in Troubadours are told through readings, recitations, classic and original songs, acted scenes, monologues and film.

Expect humor, as well as touching and thought-provoking tales told by many of Driftwood’s favorites, including Terry Boyd, Dawn Cornell, Greg LoProto, Cindy Giese French, Carla Fisher, Asa Sholdez, Boyd Morrison, Laura West, Steve Jaquith, and musicians Michael Fox, Rod Higuchi, Chontel Klobas and Eric Klobas – the core members of STRUM – (Seattle’s Totally Relaxed Ukulele Musicians) plus many others.

This troupe will perform original pieces and old favorites including works by Mark Twain, Babs Lindsay, Suzanne Bailie, Herman Melville, and Joe Starzyk.

Days too dark and long? Need a winter yarn? A ridiculous punch line? Lively music? With a ticket price of only $10 – you know you’ll see a lot of your Edmonds-area neighbors supporting Edmonds’ Driftwood Players.

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Trinity Lutheran Church
6215 196th St. S.W.
Monday, Nov. 16
7 p.m. 
Music!

Dave Anderson and Roger Walck present a concert of contemporary music, gospel hymns, and lots of old-time Sunday school songs featuring guitar, piano and vocals.

Dave Anderson has years of music ministry to his credit, having founded Lutheran Youth Encounter. During the concert, he will share from his personal experiences from having traveled millions of miles throughout Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Pakistan, Europe, New Zealand, Australia and more.  He will also share the story of the heroic rescue in 1993, when he and his wife Barbara and five others survived a plane crash into the Bering Sea while returning from a missionary and humanitarian mission in the Russian Far East.

Roger Walck, who joins Anderson for this concert, taught theology at Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, Calif.

The concert will include a free-will offering to benefit the ministry of the Shepherd’s Canyon Retreat Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Trinity Lutheran Church calendar is at this site.

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Tuesday, Nov. 17
8 p.m.
 The Phoenix Theatre
9673 Firdale Ave. SW
Cabaret!
A Fundraiser

The Phoenix Theatre Company, whose motto is, “Comedy without all the drama” is holding a sure-to-be-funny Cabaret Fundraiser hosted by “George Allen” and his lovely (and lively) wife, “Gracie Allen.”

George and Gracie will be joined on stage by “Jack Benny” as they invite the audience to sing, dance, and throw money at the stage for the well-being of The Phoenix Theatre!

Feature some of the PNW’s favorite performers accompanied by Robert Jones including: Larry Albert, Laurie Bialik, Susan Connors, Dan Jacoby, Jasmine Joshua, Laura Kenny, and many more!

Speaking of Susan Connors – watch for this weekend’s interview with Ms. Connors as an Artfully Edmonds brief.

Ticketing options per seat range from $20 to . . . $500 (it will happen!)

All pricing over $20 is tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. Whether you select to pay $20 for a ticket – or more, The Phoenix Theatre is looking forward to having you in their audience.

Make your ticket selection at this link.

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Wednesday, Nov. 18
7:30 p.m. 
Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA)
410 4^th Ave. N.
Sell Out Alert!
Seattle International Comedy Festival

Night 2 of the 36^th Annual Seattle International Comedy Festival Semi-Finals (that’s a mouth full!) will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 18.  It’s down to the wire for this year’s line up.

News this week from the website of Seattle International Comedy Festival is, “After six nights of competition, the first five (of 10) semi-finalists have been chosen for the 36th Annual Seattle International Comedy Competition.

They are in alphabetical order:

Samson Koletkar (San Francisco);

Al Park (Boston);

Andrew Rivers (Seattle);

Owen Straw (Brooklyn); and

Kortney Shane Williams (Seattle).

These five have won a minimum of $500 cash each and the privilege to continue their quest for the grand prize of $5,000 – plus (there’s more!) – an amazing recording deal.

These five will be joined by five more comedians who will be selected as a result of Week 2 shows, which began on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at Seattle’s Comedy Underground.”

People! Get your tickets today for this raucous event through the ECA ticket site.

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Friday, Nov 20
7 p.m.

 Black Box

Mukilteo Hall

Edmonds Community College (EdCC)

Hot Salsa!

“Club Caja” of the EdCC Music Department is hosting a dance – Salsa style. You think this sounds hot, you’d like to warm up your winter nights, but don’t “do” salsa? No problem, lessons begin at 7 p.m.

The music explodes, Latin style at 8 p.m.

Call 425-640-1448 for more information – or grab your tickets right now, right here.

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Monday, Nov. 23
7:30pm
EdCC Jazz Performance
Black Box Theatre

There is so much jazz enveloping the Edmonds-Lynnwood music scene these days! Don’t be left out. Tickets to this spectacular, precision, moody-blue jazz session are at the Music Department website.

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Saturday, Nov 21
7:30 p.m.
Free!
Donations Appreciated!
Roy’s Place at
   Kennelly Keys
   4926 196^th St. SW
DeMiero’s “Seattle Jazz Singers”

The Seattle Jazz Singers, brought together by JazzFest founder Frank DeMiero will present “Tis the Swingin’ Season” at Roy’s Place this month.

Since the Seattle Jazz Singers first appeared on the scene, they have been performing throughout the Northwest. Their appearance venues have included Benaroya Hall and the Vancouver Wine and Jazz Festival as well as performances with Cascade Symphony Orchestra, Everett and Vancouver Symphonies and John Pizzarrelli.

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Sound Check for an
   Edmonds Kind of Summer!

The City of Edmonds Arts Commission is accepting submissions from local and regional band and troupes to join the line-up of the “2016 Summer Concerts in the Park” series.

— 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