Artfully Edmonds

A soundtrack is a critical component of any film. Try watching your favorite movie muted with close captioning, and you’ll see what I mean. I’ve always marveled at the magicians who weave music into each scene, seemingly knowing just how to raise the level of intensity, frighten us, or yank at our heartstrings. Last fall…

Every year, it’s the same thing. Oscar nominations come out, and the rush is on to see as many films as possible before the Academy Awards ceremony. This year the deadline is Sunday, Feb. 24. Personally, this gives me less than a month to see the 12 remaining movies on my list. It’s slightly insane,…

I think a case can be made that Edmonds isn’t just an arts community. It’s much more than that. It’s become an epicenter of arts activity that radiates out to other communities as well. I’ve recently written about Lynnwood’s upcoming The Art of Food and Wine show, organized in part by two long-time Artwalk Edmonds…

Looking for a brief reprieve from the mid-winter blahs? Why not spend the evening listening to jazz, watching local artists demo their work, enjoying small plates, and sampling wines from 15 boutique wineries? Sound fun? All of this is happening at the Lynnwood Convention Center, Friday, Feb. 1 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., when the…

In his “I Have a Dream” speech, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.“ For many of us — I would…

Art Walk Edmonds (AWE) is a free community event held monthly throughout the year, rain or shine. Every Third Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m., galleries, merchants, neighbors and friends join in celebrating the arts and cultivating local vitality by hosting local artists, demos, food and music in downtown Edmonds. I think December‘s Art Walk…

I had just enough time to make it to the Edmonds City Hall for the unveiling of our state’s first creative district (if you missed that story click here) when I stumbled onto an unusual scene: At a space adjacent to City Hall, where I expected to see a law office disgorging an occasional dignified adult,…

About 60 civic leaders and interested citizens filled City Hall’s Brackett Room Monday as the City of Edmonds officially received its designation as Washington state’s first (and thus far only) certified Creative District. Karen Hanan, executive director of the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA), congratulated Edmonds and read a statement from Gov. Jay Inslee, who…

Scottish novelist J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan — the mischievous and free-spirited orphan boy who refuses to grow up, is an icon of children’s literature.  Barrie actually wrote five stories that contain Peter, but did you ever wonder how Peter came to be be stranded on the island of Nevermore in the first place? What’s…

In the fourth grade, enamored by narrative comic books like The Flash and The Brainy Beagle, Mike O’Day would have liked nothing better than to grow up and have his own comic book series. As an avid illustrator throughout his youth, he decided to pursue advertising design in college. He began working at a couple…

A second mural is nearing completion in downtown Edmonds. This one can be found along the back side of the building that houses Cole Gallery, Cline Jewelers, Starbucks and Mar•ket in downtown Edmonds, just east of 5th on Main Street. I often wonder how many great muralists out there began their careers in the dark…

Local author Sarah Cannon is in the middle of launching her new memoir The Shame of Losing. Unlike many authors who can paper their walls with rejection slips, Cannon’s book was snapped up almost immediately by Red Hen Press. Cannon will join the multitude of significant authors who have been published by Red Hen, including…

This Saturday at noon, the Edmonds Theater will be showing two award-winning documentary films (total run time – less than two hours). Admission is free, thanks to the City of Edmonds Diversity Commission, Rick Steve’s Europe, Edmonds Center For the Arts, and the Edmonds Theater. Set during World War II, Honor and Sacrifice and Proof…

Lovers of the arts have their pick of events this weekend, from the opening of Driftwood Player’ Yankee Tavern, to a ribbon cutting for the new Edmond murals, to Music in the Museum featuring Kristin Vogel — and the opening night of Cascade Symphony Orchestra’s 2018-19 season There’s also the Diversity Film series kicking off…

On Wednesday evening, the Cascade Art Museum welcomed about 200 guests to the opening of another remarkable exhibit:  Invocation of Beauty – the Life and Photography of Soichi Sunami will run through early January. This marks the 16th high-quality exhibit shown at Cascadia since they opened their doors a mere 37 months ago. No small…

Most parents and grandparents know about the teachable moment — that time when an event occurs outside of the child’s experience that presents the perfect opportunity for a discussion that leads to a greater understanding for the child. Along with teachable moments, I’ve always relied on books to help educate my children with respect to…

So much going on! Look for my feature piece on Washington State Poet Laureate Claudia Castro Luna to follow shortly. She’s a remarkable woman. In the meantime, browse this selection of goings-on. Deadmonds indeed! ~ ~ ~ ~ Saturday, Sept 29 6-9:30 p.m. DeMiero Jazz Fest Presents: One FanJAZZtic Evening! Benefit Concert and Party Edmonds…

We all have a story to tell. You may not be ready to sit down and write the great American novel, but have you ever wondered what it might be like to have your story told on stage? Imagine sitting in the audience having your words brought to life, your play performed for all the…

Over the last 12 years, Cole Gallery has become known for the high caliber of artists the gallery represents, its swanky artist receptions and parties, and for the hundred-plus art classes and workshops it holds each year. When Denise Cole opened her gallery, classes were not her highest priority. Artist and friend Dianna Shyne toured…

I thought I’d start by sharing (with permission) an email I was forwarded. In it, one artist describes an “art win” with a few of the artists currently exhibiting at the Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation Gallery. Julie Perrine had recently finished teaching a summer art workshop up at the Frances Anderson Cultural Center. Since I…

The Edmonds Art Studio Tour is a remarkable showcase of local talent. Slated for the weekend of Sept. 15-16, this year it features 30 local artists at 15 locations who will open their home studios to the public to view. Much of the work will be available to purchase. This is a great opportunity to…

In 1992, equipped with a bachelor’s degree in art and art history from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Penn., Edmonds artist Jennie de Mello e Souza (née Grimm) was in a bit of a quandary. She had studied the work of women and minority artists and was fascinated with what she had learned. But…

I’ve been off goofing around, visiting family in Boise and McCall, Idaho for the last week. I’m just going to jump right into the plethora of fun art activities happening around town. Hopefully, you’ll find at least one that catches your eye. The city’s summer concert series is almost over. A particular highlight will be…

When Jim Kristian started putting together the current volunteer program for the Edmonds Center for the Arts about nine years ago, the volunteer component of operations was pretty casual. “At this point, it’s running like a well-oiled machine. We’ve got people coming to us now asking for information on how to set up their own…

When I sat down to talk with fine artist Lynn Hanson this week, it was pretty apparent I was lucky to get her to agree to an interview. She was smack in the middle of a three-day workshop she was hosting at her home studio featuring her friend and fellow artist Pamela Beer, just coming…