Bellingham Alive | Fall Arts Feature

AGENDA Fall Arts · Listings · The Scene · Final Word

Fall Arts WRITTEN BY MERI-JO BORZILLERI, CATHERINE TORRES, & KATE GLAMBOS

T

he fall arts season is still underway, just as the holiday shows kick into high gear.

That’s fine, because as nature’s curtain drops on our daylight, we appreciate the bright lights of showtime, and the intellectual exercise that a museum or art gallery can provide. The draw of theater, dance and music can make the long nights of November and early winter seem less gloomy. Here are our picks for entertainment around the North Sound.  … continued on the next page

art © Michael Peterson, Costal Stack | San Juan Islands Museum Salutes the Forest

AGENDA Fall Arts

Sculpture, Glass Art, “Hidden” Narratives THROUGH JANUARY 7, 2018

The Museum of Northwest Art is hosting three inspiring exhibitions. First, peruse Portland-based sculptor Mel Katz’s crossover from painting to sculpture in “Choices.” The collection is filled with bold, colorful abstract pieces. A combination of painting and sculpture, “Choices” examines a way for art to evolve and be freed from definition. Also being shown is Raven Skyriver’s “Submerge” exhibition. It’s a collection of glass art in the form of Pacific Northwest animals. Skyriver will be hosting a discussion panel on November 4 at 2 p.m. Then, learn more about artwork in the “Hidden Narrative” exhibition. The works have been pulled from the museum’s permanent collection for their extra meanings. The exhibition is being shown using Visual Thinking Strategies, or VTS, to deduce extra meaning from the artworks. There will be a VTS curator tour on November 17 at 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Check out the museum’s website for additional educational opportunities.

Museum of Northwest Art 121 South First St., La Conner 360.466.4446 | monamuseum.org art © Raven Skyriver, Apex

San Juan Islands Museum Salutes the Forest UNTIL NOVEMBER 6

If you haven’t visited the San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA), do so if just to walk around the modern, spacious building. SJIMA’s current exhibition,”Dialogues From the Forest: Part 3,” explores and honors the Northwest’s natural resources. Featured artists examine what it means to live as one with nature and how humans rely on various natural resources for survival. Featured local artists include Jean Behnke, Michael Peterson, Peter de Lory, Kathy Gore Fuss, and Lee Imonen. See how the artists transform their personal statements on the relationship between humans and nature in the form of abstract sculptures made with wood, paintings, and more. The artists will also be hosting workshops — contact the museum for more information.

Admission to the museum is $10 for adults, children under 18 years are free. Mondays are pay what you can.

San Juan Islands Museum of Art 540 Spring St., Friday Harbor 360.370.5050 | sjima.org

86 NorthSoundLife.com

“Anne of Green Gables” by the Anacortes Community Theatre NOVEMBER 24–DECEMBER 16

The Anacortes Community Theatre (ACT) will be showing a production of the 1908 novel “Anne of Green Gables” from famed playwright Joseph Robinette and directed by Willow McLaughlin. The adaptation of the beloved novel follows the adventures of an imaginative and dramatic orphan girl named Anne. Local talent appears on stage and works behind the scenes for a memorable, community-focused performance.

The ACT has been putting on high quality performances since 1964. The non-profit organization strives to showcase local talent and instill a love of acting and creativity in future generations. Tickets are $20 and are available from the box office, Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and two hours before every performance.

Anacortes Community Theatre 918 M Ave., Anacortes 360.293.6829 | acttheatre.com

Fall Arts

“Tales of Hoffman” by Pacific Northwest Opera

AGENDA

The “Olga Symphony, More or Less” Goes to Good Cause on Orcas

NOVEMBER 3, 7:30 PM AND NOVEMBER 5, 3 PM

NOVEMBER 24 AND 25, 7:30 PM

Enjoy a night at the opera with a classic performance, “Tales of Hoffmann” by noted French composer Jacques Offenbach.

The Pacific Northwest Opera garners exceptional talent in our region and presents fully staged, professional operas, and this one is no exception. The storyline is actually three fantastical stories following one protagonist. It’s based on three tales written by German Romantic poet E.T.A. Hoffmann .

Hoffmann is well-known for his seasonal favorite tale, “The Nutcracker.” “Tales of Hoffmann” is an entertaining combination of wit and drama, serious yet funny. The performance is sung in French with English subtitles and will be performed in McIntyre Hall on Friday. Tickets range from $25–$59. If you can’t make “Tales of Hoffmann” check out the PNO’s upcoming performances!

The Olga Symphony annual performance has become a tradition on Orcas Island. The group came together in 1983 on the principles of making non-symphonic music with friends while raising money for charity. The members have never kept any of the monies raised from performances and CD sales. The Olga Symphony members have changed over the years. Currently the group is comprised of Melinda Milligan, Gordon Koenig, JP Wittman, and Anita Orne.

Expect to see them perform with a variety of instruments including guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and a saw. This year their performance, “The Olga Symphony, More or Less” will take place in Orcas Center and include additional musical acts like Mandy Troxel, Tom Rawson, and Mel Urbanozo.

Tickets are just $5, and proceeds go to a good cause.

McIntyre Hall 2501 East College Way, Mount Vernon 360.416.7727 | mcintyrehall.org or pnopera.org

Orcas Center 917 Mt. Baker Rd., Eastsound 360.376.2281 | orcascenter.org

Allied Arts of Whatcom County Holiday Festival of the Arts NOVEMBER 17–DECEMBER 24, 10 A.M. (CLOSED THANKSGIVING DAY)

Over the course of five weeks, 100 regional artisans gather to show off their talents through art, handmade products, and performances. The festival will feature products like jewelry, paintings, wearable art and specialty foods, all at affordable prices. It is a perfect stop for a fun holiday shopping experience. The festival has run for 38 years, making it a staple for the holidays. Beyond just a good stop for your holiday shopping, Allied Arts of Whatcom County aims to connect local arts with the community and support the growth of original arts in our area. Guilt-free shopping plus quality products make for an easy choice for spending this holiday season.

Location and program schedule can be found online.

4145 Meridian St., Bellingham 360.676.8548 | alliedarts.org

November 2017 87

AGENDA Fall Arts

Art of the American West SEPTEMBER 30–JANUARY 7

The Lightcatcher Museum will host artwork on loan from the Tacoma Art Museum. The threemonth exhibit will display works from the Haub Family Collection of Western American Art, which features 19th-century artists. These historical pieces shaped much of the way the American West was perceived as settlement moved further west.

Work by artists like Henry Inman, Paul Kane, and John Mix will be featured. In addition, works by Robert Henri and Georgia O’Keeffe move the exhibit into the 20th century. These pieces offer a look into the minds of Western settlers of the twocentury time period. From landscapes to Native American portraits, the collection shows the difference between the reality and the imagined elements of the American West.

Lightcatcher Museum 250 Flora St., Bellingham 360.778.8930 | whatcommuseum.org art © Joellyn Duesberry

The Met: Live in HD — Adès’ The Exterminating Angel NOVEMBER 26 AT 1 P.M.

The Orcas Center will live-stream The Exterminating Angel for those of us who can’t hit Broadway, but don’t want to miss this beautiful performance. The show will be debuting at The Met as its American premiere. The show was inspired by Luis Buñuel’s film of the same name, which follows a group of high-society friends attending a dinner party that they, inexplicably, can’t leave. The plot aims to uncover the absurdity of the endless rituals of the upper class. Sit back, relax, and enjoy a high-end experience for a lowerticket price.

917 Mt. Baker Rd., Eastsound 360.376.2281 | orcascenter.org

88 NorthSoundLife.com

AGENDA Fall Arts

Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn NOVEMBER 26, 3 P.M.

The Grammy Award-winning folk musician Béla Fleck will pair up with singer-songwriter and wife Abigail Washburn to give their audience a singular experience from likely the most talented banjo pairing in music today. The duo won the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Folk Album and while they have played for years, that album was their debut as a duo. The show will be filled with songs from their album and the follow-up EP, in addition to each musicians’ vast personal catalogs. While the 2016 album fell into the folk genre, Fleck, the 16-time Grammy Award winner, is adept at multiple genres of music and brings that variety to each show. Audiences will be pleased by the vastness of the duo’s musical abilities.

Mount Baker Theater 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham 360.734.6080 | mountbakertheatre.com

Michael Kaeshammer NOVEMBER 18, 7:30 P.M.

Get ready to boogie-woogie to some old-fashioned New Orleans tunes with pianist, vocalist, composer, arranger, and producer Michael Kaeshammer. Known for getting his audience grooving, Kaeshammer will surely have you keeping the beat throughout his set. German-born and now a Vancouver B.C. resident, he has gained an international audience with his unique musical blends. The performance will include compositions that bring jazz, boogie-woogie, and classical together at a remarkable tempo. Kaeshammer has been heavily influenced by the stride piano styles of Meade Lux Lewis and Albert Ammons. His timeless style has earned him two Canadian JUNO Awards and West Coast Music Awards for Musician of the Year and Entertainer of the Year.

Mount Baker Theater 104 N. Commercial St., Bellingham 360.734.6080 | mountbakertheatre.com 90 NorthSoundLife.com