ARTBE T
WENATCHEE FIRST FRIDAYS MAP INCLUDED
BOARD POSITIONS OPENING SOON POEM: ‘THE RIVER TEACHES ME...’
BY MEG KAPPLER NCW ARTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
For those of you who haven’t heard NCW Arts Alliance’s origin story, here’s a little background.
In early 2021, a committed group of several local working artists, educators and business owners collectively responded to a seemingly innocuous email posing the question: Would you care to consider the possibility of starting a community group in support of the arts in our region?
At the time, I wasn’t yet involved, but I like to imagine that those first responders felt like they were struck by a bolt of inspirational lightning or perhaps bitten by a radioactive spider. So they couldn’t help but commit to service as local superheroes and the transformational changes such a
group would cause in the DNA of our regional arts scene.
Of course, nothing is ever quite that dramatic, but as far as I’m concerned, the folks who first said YES, formed a steering committee and devoted countless hours to creating this vibrant nonprofit organization should be applauded profusely and given the keys to the city.
As initial board terms are expiring for some, we have the great pleasure of announcing the opportunity to become directly involved with uplifting and connecting artists and communities throughout North Central Washington. You can do that by serving on our board of directors.
NCW Arts is dedicated to equity and representation on our board, and we are specifically seeking those with experience in finance, nonprofit fundraising, organizational development, access and systemic equity and program development. We specifically encourage applications from our BIPOC and LGBTQIAS+ community members to join this team of dedicated artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, educators and community organizers.
We are accepting applications now! You can find the application form on our website: ncwarts.org on the Get Involved page. Please direct all questions to director@ncwarts.org.
Be a superhero! Join the Alliance!
The poet laureate of Ellensburg, Marie Marchand, whose term ends this month, sent NCW Arts a note:
“I have served in this role since June 2022, but I visit Wenatchee often to hang out with the river and recharge. I picked up a copy of ArtBeat and thought you might like to consider featuring a poem I wrote inspired by your beautiful city. It appears in my book “Gifts to the Attentive.” (From Winter Goose Publishing).
Sunrise in Wenatchee
I walk alongside the Columbia to be reminded of non-negotiable truths.
Although life appears to flow in one direction, it’s cyclic.
The USGS says water spends 10 days in the air after it evaporates before becoming rain again.
If I stand still long enough I become a channel— thought forms float through my mind like clouds in a ritual of acceptance and release.
The river teaches me that what I carry can be relinquished with practice.
So I practice.
My exhalations ride the current until the river bends and my burdens disappear.
Co-editors: Mike Irwin & Susan Lagsdin
Design: Ron Evans NCWArts.org | arts@ncwarts.org
ON THE COVER:
Eric Frank, Technical Director for Icicle Creek Center for the Arts and polished
musician, brings harmony to audiences both onstage and backstage. See full story on Page 3 of this issue of ArtBeat.
ON THE UPBEAT: ERIC FRANK
Frank
By kris lahd
If you’ve attended any of the Wenatchee Apple Blossom Festival’s live music events over the last 20 years, chances are your ears have had the pleasure of hearing Eric Frank’s expert sound engineering talents. These days, most of the time, you can find Eric enjoying his enchanting office space, The Snowy Owl Theater at the Icicle Creek Center for the Arts in Leavenworth, where he is hard at work as the Technical Director.
The path to landing such an impactful and fulfilling role can be traced back to his high school days in Cashmere, when in an act of loving support, Eric’s father took out a loan to finance a full sound system for Eric’s band. There is an unwritten rule in bands: whoever owns the sound system becomes the band’s sound person by default. Since then, Eric has diligently honed his craft as a sound and recording engineer.
Your name is synonymous with “sound engineer,” but you are an accomplished musician as well. Currently you play guitar in The Prefunc. You’ve also opened for Styx and toured with the talented Michael Dickes in the ’90s as a bassist. What are you most proud of as a musician?
2. Learn and know your own gear in order to troubleshoot any issues that may arise during setup.
3. If things are going wrong during a performance, don’t let the audience know that there are issues. It detracts from their experience.
You can experience Eric Frank’s sound engineering expertise during Icicle Creek’s Summer Concert Series on the Screech Owl Meadow Stage. And you can catch him performing around the area with his band as well.
Upcoming shows
With The Prefunc
July 7, Walla Point Park, Wenatchee
July 26, Club Crow, Cashmere
As Technical Director for Icicle Creek
Summer Concert Series, Leavenworth
July 27, Clinton Fearon & The Boogie Brown Band
Aug. 3, Aaron Crawford
Aug. 17, Leroy Bell & His Only Friends
Aug. 31, Artemidorus, A Pink Floyd Experience
My favorite moments were when I was in the Michael Dickes Band. I loved playing totally packed shows with fans singing along with our original songs, just totally into it and having a great time. It became this synergy between the band and the audience. We fed off each other, and it elevated the whole experience for me.
Another memorable moment from that band was playing a show in Portland, Ore., at noon, then having to rush to play a 6 p.m. show in Spokane that same day. We had to stop at a gas station to get an atlas to find the most efficient route . . . there were no smartphones or GPS in those days, you know. And we were all piled in Todd Kenaston’s carpeted van, playing Uno sitting in captain’s chairs. The comradery of a group of people with a common goal all choosing to be together is what I loved. We played so many gigs together that during jam sections in songs, we were so connected that we knew what each other were going to do musically before we did it. That type of connection is what I want to see when I’m watching other bands on stage.
What advice do you have for musicians to improve their live performances?
1. Educate yourself and your band on how to conduct a proper and efficient sound check.
EXPLORING ‘IN A LANDSCAPE’
Eric Frank sometimes gets a rare break from the sound engineering booth. For Icicle Creek’s upcoming “In a Landscape: Classical Music in the Wild” event on July 19, a classical music ensemble sets up outside and their music is routed through wireless headphones so attendees can listen and walk around to explore the grounds.
Icicle Creek’s Executive Director Phil Lacey shared his excitement about the event. “The experience of attending an ‘In A Landscape’ performance is truly unforgettable. World-class musical artistry performed in these gorgeous but unexpected locations creates a wonderfully informal evening full of inspiration and natural beauty. That is exactly what Icicle Creek Center for the Arts aims to do — create powerful art experiences that are connected to and draw inspiration from the place we live: the rivers and rocks and trees of the Cascades.”
“In A Landscape” begins at 6 p.m. Friday, July 19, in the Meadow at Icicle Creek Center for the Arts. For more info, visit icicle.org
— Kris Lahd
In what local venue might you have seen these 2023 productions? See answers below.
1. The intriguing whodunnit (they all did it) “An Inspector Calls” 2. A spring musical production of the movie “Legally Blonde” 3. “Shrek,” based on the animated DreamWorks movies 4. A modern take on Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” 5. The traditional Cinderella story a la Rogers & Hammerstein
“Footloose” with forbidden dancing, just like the movie
Eric
7. Epoch 3-11:30 PM Dandelion, mixed media. $2.00 off all house cocktails. 8. Hilton Garden Innn 5-10 PM Stupid Stitch, upcycled fashion. $2.00 off glass pours.
1. Wells House 5-7 PM Columbia River Community Flute Choir. Free guided tours.
2. LynnArt Gardens 3-7 PM Kelly Hough, whimsical art. Complimentary food and beverage.
9. Pybus Art Alley 5-10 PM Sierra James, artist. Rylei Franks, live music. 10. Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center 4-8 PM Juried Art Show Sale & Exhibit. Free admission.
3. Visit Wenatchee Tasting Room 5-7 PM Daugie, live music. Wenatchee First Fridays maps available.
4. Lemolo Café & Deli 4-6 PM Aaron Black-Schmidt, photographer.
5. Two Rivers Art Gallery 5-8 PM Barry Benbow, artist. Mike Bills, guitarist. Local wines.
6. Mela 5-8 PM “220 Now (and again),” group exhibition. Good Cause Coaster Art Project making session.
5. Steam Panda 4-9 PM Buy one noodle soup, get 2nd noodle soup $5 off. Dine in only when you mention First Friday. 6. Cave Noire 4-10 PM Enjoy a complimentary
1. Horan Estates Winery 3-7 PM $2 off glass pours.
2. Crayelle Cellars 3-6 PM $2 off glass pours.
3. Stones Gastropub 3-9 PM
Enjoy a complimentary glass after any wine tasting flight.
$10 specialty cocktail.
7. Owl Soda Fountain & Gifts 3-8 PM 16 oz. milkshake for $5. Extended hours.
4. Watermill Winery On The Ave 3-8 PM Appetizers and wine specials.
SHOP DOWNTOWN
4. The Original Children’s Shop 5-7 PM 10% discount on all merch when you mention First Fridays.
5. Woody’s Classic Man 3-8 PM Happy Hour pricing on all beers and ciders. Extended hours.
1. American Shoe Shop 5–7 PM Extended hours 2. Tumbleweed 4-7 PM Callie Zimmerman, Rose & Grace Candle Co. Featured for the month of July.
6. Firehouse Pet Shop 3-6 PM Mention First Fridays and get a free Firehouse Pet Shop Tote with your purchase.
3. Mercantile All Day $10 day pass for First Fridays.
Fridays Summer Concerts
First Fridays Summer Concert Series continues with Umami Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Centennial Park. Beer garden by The Taproom by Hellbent Brewing.
EXPLORE YOUR ARTISTRY AT ANY AGE
North Central Washington pops with talented artists of all kinds making top quality theater, visual art, and music — and fortunately they’re willing to share their expertise. Anyone with a hankering to nurture and hone their creativity should be able to find a workshop, camp or class in July that offers not only expert instruction but a cohort with whom to enjoy the endeavor.
Here are three very different arts adventures to explore:
ICICLE CREEK CENTER FOR THE ARTS, long a center for fostering musicianship, has a mix of offerings for other young artists.
• Music Tech Camp gives high school students hands-on experience setting up recording sessions, mic’ing up a band, sound mixing, lighting and more. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., July 15 to 19.
• At Storytelling Beyond the Page, campers in grades 7-10 tell their own tales by creating original works of art including writing poetry and short prose, illustrating mini publications (zines) and roleplaying games. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., July 22 to 26.
• And for first, second and third graders, there’s Icicle Creek Kids, a class that uses the natural beauty of the ICCA Campus to inspire creative movement as well as visual art and music. 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., July 22 to 26.
ICCA Summer Camps are at 7409 Icicle Road, Leavenworth. The tiered cost ranges from $250 to $400. Full-day camps include lunch and snacks, and buses pick up and drop off from Eastmont, Wenatchee and Cashmere high schools. For information and registration: iciclecamps.org.
GRÜNEWALD GUILD: For adults seeking an immersive week-long arts experience grounded in Christian ecumenicalism, the Grünewald Guild, now in its 24th year, offers a wide variety of workshops. The mission of the Guild is “to welcome and inspire all who seek to explore the relationships between art, faith and community.” The wooded campus near Plain offers a variety of residential bed and board options, from camping to dorm to yurt to private rooms, all with full meals, but it also welcomes commuters. Fees for the five-day classes are on a selfselected sliding scale from $150 to $450. Here’s a sampling of the 13 different classes offered this month:
• July 7 to 13, Hanging Clay and Watercolor Cosmos
• July 14 to 18, Pine Needle Basket Weaving
• July 21 to 27, Storytelling Through Movement and Interpreting Mud: Demystifying Functional Pottery
• July 28, Fork, Knife & Pen: Reading and Writing Our Relationship with Food
The Grünewald Guild campus is at 19003 River Road, Leavenworth. For information and to register for classes, go to grunewaldguild.com.
THE ART CART: For a second summer, artist and teacher Terry Valdez and his team will offer an afternoon arts experience in Wenatchee City Parks. The much-anticipated Art Cart will be loaded up with all manner of supplies and trundled to a chosen city park for a two-hour arts class on figure drawing, open to anyone age 5 to adult. There, a guest artist offers a fun and fast-moving introductory lesson at the cart, materials are distributed, and students are encouraged to imagine and create at their own pace.
Last year, said Valdez, they averaged 50 participants of all ages, including
many kids accompanied by grandparents. Thanks to generous community sponsors, all materials and professional instruction are provided free of charge.
Art Cart classes are held from 2 to 4 p.m. The first one this month is Wednesday, July 10, at Kiwanis Methow Park, 420 Methow Street, with leader Martha Flores. On Thursday, July 25, Kasey Koski will be the lead teacher at Pennsylvania Park, 219 Pennsylvania Avenue.
The Art Cart continues into August. Questions, email Valdez at terryvaldezstudios@msn.com.
Clay artist Alexander Kamola will teach at Grünewald Guild. Art Cart instructors will offer lessons to all ages.
A featured summer class at Grünewald Guild will be pine needle basket weaving.
ARTBIZ
HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?
by jamie howell
Kicking and screaming — that’s how I came back to the Wenatchee Valley. I’d bolted while the ink was still drying on my high school diploma for a reason, I thought. I mean, how was I supposed to become a famous writer, a chart-topping musician or maybe even an award-winning filmmaker? The big dreams rattling about in my 20-something head required some major metropolis — L.A., New York, Paris, Hong Kong — I believed, not some desert backwater posing as the “Apple Capital of the World.”
But my then-wife had landed her dream job back here without me even realizing she was looking in the area. Determined to be supportive, I loaded up the moving truck and hauled us back to the Pacific Northwest, stifling to the best of my ability a creeping certainty that my own dream was vanishing into vapor with each tank of gas.
The dream: to make my living in the creative arts. The youthful assumption: fortune would follow fame, and fame was a big-city item. The current reality: I do make my living in the creative arts. I do it
right here and, in the absence of fortune, fame or a population that can support a subway system, it feels an awful lot like success.
What did I have wrong back in my 20s? It took a few decades of self-torment, but I finally figured it out.
Defining success
This morning I reported to my downtown production studio and greeted the brilliant young creatives who work for me before sitting down at my desk to bang out this short article for the ArtBeat, a publication I helped found. After I put this to bed, I’ll dive into editing a new podcast episode aimed at improving education in America before taking a stab at the first draft of a script for a newly commissioned commercial.
Twenty-year-old me would be pleased.
I don’t have any songs topping the charts, but I’ve had the good fortune to put out three original albums with a band that locals of a certain age seem to recall affectionately.
My film projects have earned a few accolades over the years, heralded by a mish-mash of trophies on the shelf and the occasional framed certificate — none of
which gratify me one iota compared to the gratification I feel when a project of mine actually impacts our community for the better.
And I’ve made millions doing this, right here, no lie. Sure, it took 25 years, and I didn’t get to keep much of it, but enough to provide. More importantly, I’ve been able to offer creative, rewarding jobs to other young dreamers along the way, some of whom run their own arts centered businesses today right here in our Valley.
What I had wrong in my 20s was the way I defined success. It hinged on recognition instead of impact; cold hard cash instead of contributions to community; the accolades instead of the Art itself.
Success in a small town doesn’t require downgrading your dreams. But it does take more careful attention to the deeper question: What do you really want out of your Art?
I’m guessing that ultimately it’s not to be trending on social media or being stalked by paparazzi. Not red carpets, NPR interviews or mugshots on magazine covers. I’m guessing it’s probably something closer to what I’ve found — the simple privilege of being a creator, a place to call home and a life I truly love.
Howell started Howell at the Moon Productions in Wenatchee in 1999.
Are you a working artist who’s hit a bad bump in the road this year? Are you struggling with unforeseen expenses? If it’s tough to meet your basic needs, the Artist Trust has got your back. Their Endurance Grants offer $2,500 in emergency funding to artists working in all disciplines
who fit one or more of these categories: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, LGBTQIA+, immunocompromised, with immigrant status, living with a disability and/or low income.
According to their website, the nature of your need may stem from, among other things, “natural disaster, theft, or serious illness or injury,” that may cause housing, food or health instability. (Sorry, financial distress from the uncertainties of being an artist is not considered an emergency.)
Applications for the 40 available grants just opened and will close at the end of July. If you or a friend are eligible for assistance, go to artisttrust.org for guidelines.
Jamie
NORTH FORTY WALKS AWAY WITH AN EMMY
Wenatchee-based film company
North Forty Productions recently won an Emmy Award for their documentary, “Saving the Icicle,” from the Northwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The half-hour film, nominated in the Environmental Science-Long Form Division, aired last December in the Puget Sound region on PBS affiliate station KBTC. North Forty has been nominated for awards eight times since 2021.
Director Jeff Ostenson and Charles Atkinson, the host/producer, created the film with the Icicle Work Group over the last four years. Ostenson said of the group, which seeks collaborative solutions for water management within the Icicle Creek drainage, “I’m so impressed with how long and hard they’ve worked on ensuring that there’s enough water in the Icicle for everyone, including fish, and that everyone has a voice at the table.”
You can watch “Saving the Icicle” and learn more about North Forty’s other productions at hellonorthforty.com.
FEATURED EVENT:
SOAP LAKE FOOD & FOLK FESTIVAL
Lots of music combined with kids’ activities, raffles, nonprofit booths, a beer garden, food trucks and an art exhibit on the tennis courts — it all means Soap Lake is doing it up big on July 13 for what could easily become an annual event.
The Soap Lake (SoLaWa) Food & Folk Festival will feature music
under the big gazebo presented by a six-pack of musicians with coulee-land connections and regional roots: Tejano Skyz, Myra Pearce, Billy Stoops, Leif Totusek, Carl Tosten, and the Delta G Blues Band.
The festival’s location, Smokiam Park, is described on its website as “nestled in the heart of downtown, along the banks of one of the most unique mineral lakes in the world.” Ruthann Tobiason and Kim Anderson, two prime organizers, expect between around 1,500 people to attend.
The inaugural SoLaWa Food & Folk Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 13, at Smokiam Park, 239 Second Ave. S.E., Soap Lake. For more information about the festival go to friendsofthelowergrandcoulee. org/solawafff.html
VISIT NCWARTS.ORG FOR MORE EVENTS
Jeff Ostenson
Charles Atkinson