Spring Horizon 2016

Spring

2016

The Arts of Pend Oreille A supplement publication of the Newport and Gem State Miner Newspapers

2 Horizon| 2016 Spring

Advertisers’ Index Academy Mortgage Co...................................21 Aerocet Inc.......................................................7 Alta Forest Products......................................15 Associated Loggers Exchange........................12 Ben Franklin.................................................. 14 Cenex Harvest States.....................................13 Concept Cable..................................................2 Copper Bay Construction...............................13 Create Arts Center......................................... 14 Denise Stewart Law Office...............................6 Du-Mor Recycling............................................5 Fogle Pump & Supply Inc...............................21 Good Samaritan Society..................................6 H&D Diesel, Inc................................................5 Hartill’s Saw and Tractor...............................23 Inland Imaging..............................................22 Inland Power and Light.................................20 Kalispel Tribe of Indians................................24 Kaniksu Village Apartments.........................21 Mike Reynolds Logging.................................16 Newport Consolidated School District...........16 Newport Hospital and Health Services............9 Newport Rodeo................................................2 North 40 Fence..............................................15 Northern Lakes Dock & Barge.......................17 Northwoods Performing Arts........................19 Oxarc.............................................................. 14 Parker & Sons................................................. 14 Pend Oreille County Community Development..............................19 Pend Oreille County Counseling Services.....19 Pend Oreille County Solid Waste...................13 Pend Oreille Playhouse..................................19 Pend Oreille PUD..............................................7 Ponderay Newsprint......................................17 PORTA...........................................................13 Priest River Mini Storage...............................18 Rogers Body and Frame.................................18 Seeber’s Pharmacy.........................................10 Selkirk Ace Hardware....................................20 Sherman Knapp Funeral Home and Crematory.................................................6 Special Mobility Services.................................2 Spokane Community College........................15 Spokane Powersports.....................................10 Spokane Rock Products.................................11 Tri-Pro Forest Products.................................22 Truss Tek........................................................16 Vaagen Bros...................................................23 Varno Construction.......................................11 Wendy Earl Law.............................................16 Wood’s Crushing and Hauling......................10

Editor’s Note: Working wood for art Page 4

Pend Oreille Players Page 6

Open Mic night Page 8

Create Arts Center Page 12

Cutter Theatre Page 15

This edition of Horizon is about the arts in the Pend Oreille River Valley. The area is home to a number of artist and performers, amateur and professional and combinations thereof.

One Friday each month a wide variety of performers take the stage at Pend Oreille Players Open Mic night at the Pend Oreille Playhouse. From first timers to veterans, performers play music, debut original songs, recite plays, do standup comedy and dance, to name just a few things audiences might see.

The price is right, just a $2 donation. We talk with some of the performers and get some of their takes on Open Mic Night.

Create Arts Center is one of the area’s centerpiece arts organizations, located in Newport. We have a story highlighting their activities.

Another of the area’s arts groups, Evergreen Art Association, is the topic of a story, as is the Pend Oreille Players Association. Both groups are very active, Evergreen with visual artists and the Pend Oreille Players with performing art.

Local wood artist Jason Lindberg is profiled in another story. Lindberg, a Newport High School graduate, makes use of more than 22 different kinds of woods with distinctive colors and grains to make his art.

The Cutter Theater, one of the jewel’s of Pend Oreille County, is also featured. We hope you enjoy this edition of Horizon.

-DG

Community Horizon Published: April 2016 Publisher: Michelle Nedved Writers & editors: Sophia Aldous and Don Gronning Design: Brad Thew and Pandi Gruver Advertising: Lindsay Guscott, Cindy Boober and Micki Brass

HORIZON is published quarterly as a supplement to The Newport Miner and Gem State Miner, 421 S. Spokane, Newport WA 99156.

TELEPHONE: 509-447-2433 E-MAIL: minernews@povn.com FAX: 509-447-9222 Reproduction of articles & photographs is prohibited without permission of the publisher. See all issues at The Miner Online: www.pendoreillerivervalley.com Spring 2016|Horizon 3

Horizons photo|Sophia Aldous

Pend Oreille County resident and woodworker Jason Lindburg at his workstation.

When art and work come together Jason Lindburg shares with

a room that is utilized often.

intricacy and precision of the

its and pieces of dif-

his neighbor. A fine drift of

Rightfully so, since Lindburg

process of installing a hard-

ferent types of wood

sawdust covers the counters

has been into carpentry since

wood floor, building a coun-

lay clustered and

and the wood clusters, giv-

his early twenties.

tertop, or doing a design,”

By Sophia Aldous

B

grouped around the workshop ing the impression that this is 4 Horizon| 2016 Spring

“I’m always surprised by the

Continued on page 5

Continued From page 4

Lindburg says. “I don’t mean to sound pretentious, but there’s a purity to the mathematics of it that always leaves me impressed over what you can actually do with this medium.” A graduate of Newport High School, Lindburg used to travel from town to town around the Pacific Northwest installing gymnasium floors for Northern Hardwood Company of Deer Park. It’s a time in his life he remembers fondly. “It was a nomadic existence and it was a blast,” he says.

“Work hard, play hard; from one town to the next. I learned a lot and had a good time.”

Lindburg’s earning a living from his woodwork may seem perfunctory, as most jobs do, except not many can claim that their day job actually leaves a lasting impression on a home or business.

There are many houses and establishments in Pend Oreille and Spokane counties that have Lindburg’s unobtrusive stamp on them, whether it’s inlay in a wooden floor or a counter top at a Courtesy photo|Jason Lindburg

Continued on page 14

A wooden cutout based on Dream’s castle from the graphic novel series Sandman by Neil Gaiman.

Courtesy photo|Jason Lindburg

A scenic made entirely from unvarnished wood pieces.

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Courtesy photo|Chris Demlow

The cast of the Pend Oreille Players’ February youth show, Little Red Riding Hood (and The Power Mutants).

Pend Oreille Players: Encompassing talent

By Sophia Aldous

“It takes a village” is not just a phrase that can be ascribed to child rearing, but to any volunteer community endeav-

6 Horizon| 2016 Spring

or, and that includes the local

“It’s amazing how much it

playhouse, home of the Pend

takes to keep us up and run-

Oreille Players Association

ning, and the community has

(POPA).

Continued on page 7

Continued From page 6

been splendid at providing that,” says POPA Secretary/Treasurer and board member Kristi Bell. “It encompasses so many different kinds of talents and gifts. Theatre is a very valuable thing, and we depend on the community to support every aspect of that.”

POPA produces plays and musicals for all ages, by participants of all ages. POPA also holds a drama day camp for kids ages 5 to 18 every summer, and workshops for teens and adults covering several aspects of theatre. There’s also an annual One Act Play Festival and a New Play Workshop, July 8-9, for new, unpublished works.

Located at 236 S. Union Ave., the Pend Oreille Playhouse season begins in July with the selection of a production for elementary and junior high aged children, one for teens and college students and another for adults. The playhouse also Courtesy photo|Chris Demlow

Continued on page 18

The cast of the classic play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

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Music, performance, camaraderie at Open Mic

By Don Gronning

The first Friday of ev-

Pletsch, a paraprofes-

ery month is Open Mic

sional educator at

at Pend Oreille Players

Stratton Elementary

Playhouse in Newport.

School in Newport, says

People who have never

he’s been coming to

performed in public

Open Mic about a year.

before take their turns

He play slide guitar at

with professional musi-

Open Mic.

cians – entertaining a

Pletsch is a guitar

cheerful and supportive student of Mila Javier, crowd.

the person who started

“What I like is that it

Newport’s Open Mic in

is warm, welcoming,

the early 2000s. When

people friendly,” says

Open Mic first started it

Jim Pletsch of Diamond

was at Create.

Lake.

Continued on page 9

Horizon photo|Don Gronning

Open Mic is for all ages. Ezran Swanson, 10, and Mia Shutz, 11, performs last summer accompanied by Mila Javier on guitar.

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Horizon photo|Don Gronning

Bill Betz of Newport recites Shakespeare ’s Macbeth. He recites some of the play at most Open Mic nights. He says it may take him years to finish it and invites others to perform it with him.

Continued From page 8

“When it was first starting at Create, it was kind of magical,” Javier says.

Javier, who grew up in Germany, the son of an American intelligence officer, found his way to Newport via Spokane.

He says Newport didn’t really have a place to perform so he started one. “I use it for my students.”

Javier has about 15 music students.

He attended Berkley College of Music in Boston when he first came back to the States, studying jazz guitar for a time Chuck Morel of Usk says Open Mic fills a need people have to perform.

“It gives people a place to fill the need to get up in front of people and perform, even though it’s terrorizing,” Morel says. “It’s an interesting phenomenon.”

Morel, a retired registered nurse, performs with Skookum Creek Music Company.

Morel is a singer songwriter. He has Horizon photo|Don Gronning

Continued on page 10

High school student Wyatt Hamblen moved to Newport from Alaska. Here he performs at a recent Open Mic.

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Horizon photo|Don Gronning

Mike Moudy performs on his 12-string guitar.

Continued From page 9

just finished copyrighting 25 songs.

He says he has recorded some at home and would like to get them professionally recorded.

He says the need to perform is by no means confined to musicians.

There have been stand up comics, dancing and poetry readings.

Continued on page 11

Horizon photo|Don Gronning

Singer songwriter Chuck Morel of Usk performs original music, but also music from the 20s, 30s, and 40s at Open Mic. 10 Horizon| 2016 Spring

Continued From page 10

Bill Betz of Newport recited Macbeth at Open Mic. “It’s one of the greatest stories ever told,” Betz says of the classic by Shakespeare. “You don’t realize that until you have to memorize it.”

Betz says he and his wife Gail Cory Betz like coming to Open Mic. “We try to make it every month.”

He says you never know what you’ll see.

“It’s a good forum for people to try new things,” he says. “I would never have thought I could memorize all of Macbeth.”

He has seen it in others. He remembers a young girl who was fearful of singing in public ended up performing onstage before the night was over.

“Every time you go there, you see someone trying to do better,” he says.

“It’s a magical time.”

He has seen some memorable performances.

Howard Wildin of Howard’s Folly’s fame performed one night.

“He sang some funny songs,” Betz says. All agree that the Open Mic is truly a welcoming place.

“It has the friendliest, most forgiving audience,” says Javier. “It’s a wonderful venue.”

Horizon photo|Don Gronning

The sign says it all.

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Create Art Center: Where the arts come together

By Sophia Aldous

Create are fostering – a place

When the subject of art is

where children and adults can

brought up at Create Art

come to learn and enhance

Center, it’s a word that en-

their creative skills, whether

compasses varied mediums:

it’s drawing, textiles, dancing,

fine arts, performing arts,

painting, gardening---as long

literary arts, culinary arts, an

as there is someone willing

individual can take their pick.

and able to teach a class, the

That’s the environment the

options are endless.

board and volunteers behind

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Continued on page 13

Horizon photo|Don Gronning

A little girl shows off her drawing so far at a recent drawing class at Create Art Center.

Horizon photo|Sophia Aldous

Ballroom dance classes for adults on Friday nights are another sample of Create’s offerings.

Continued From page 12

“The people who started Create knew that there was a need and desire for something like this,” says Create Board President Kathy Dady-Youngs.

According to the Create website www.createarts.org, Create is “a community organization creating opportunities for expression, enjoyment and appreciation of the arts and humanities through individual and community participation.”

Established in 1998, Create depends on volunteers to keep operations up

and running. Collaborating with other organizations, including the Kalispel Tribe, Pend Oreille Players, Master Gardeners, and others, Create serves as a polestar for the arts and crafts, as well as bringing in acts like the Spoon River Anthology to Sadie Halstead Middle School, or an African drumming group that taught a class at Create.

“Right now, we’re focusing on a lot of kids classes, but we would love to have more volunteers to teach adult classes too,” Dady-Youngs says. There is a free Continued on page 19

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Courtesy photo|Jason Lindburg

Lindburg has similar pieces at the Cork and Barrel Arts Gallery in Newport.

Continued From page 5

brewery.

“The hands-on physicality of it is a big draw for me,” Lindburg says. “Admittedly, I think I’d go crazy if I had to sit at a desk all day.

This helps me get out my energy and I get to be creative in the process.” He stops, seems to think about it, then laughs, adding, “If you’re not sweaty, or dirty or bloody at the end of the day, what are you doing?”

His wood cutouts carry the same attention to detail and craftsmanship,

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making use of over 22 different kinds of woods with distinctive colors and grains (Lindburg doesn’t stain or varnish any of his pictures). Hence the small huddles of wood that resides around his shop: if he doesn’t use it now, he’ll find a way to use it later. Nothing goes to waste.

“All my stuff is here,” Lindburg quips when asked about why he set up shop around Newport. “Really though, there’s a great bunch of people here.

They enable me to do what I do, which I love. I could ask for more, but why?

What I have and I’m able to do is pretty spectacular.”

Courtesy photo|Cutter Theatre

Now: Renamed the Cutter Theatre in 1991, the building also houses the Metaline Falls Library as well as event and office space for rent and an artists’ gallery.

A county jewel in Cutter Theatre

By Sophia Aldous

Nestled in North Pend Oreille

Theatre Board Secretary and

County is a jewel of a building

Mayor of Metaline Falls. “It

that not only serves as a histor-

really is a community building-

ic marker of the area, but also

--not just Metaline Falls, but

a theatre, a library, an artists’

Metaline and Ione. It’s a strong-

haven and a gathering place.

hold of arts and culture

“This theatre has seen a lot,”

for the whole county.”

says Tara Leininger, Cutter

Continued on page 16

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Courtesy photo|Cutter Theatre

The building has a long history o providing entertainment to the community and surrounding areas. Here, the cast from a 1913 production of Snow White poses for a picture.

Continued From page 15

Constructed in 1912 and named after its designer, architect Kirtland Cutter, the Cutter Theatre was originally the Metaline Falls School. It served in that capacity until 1972, then as the Selkirk School District office. After being retired from use, the building remained unheated and uninhabited for over a decade, Springing into a state of disrepair.

In 1990 Eva Gayle and Al Six of Ione, Van Whysong, Erin Kinney, Dave Daniel and a slew of volunteers from Metaline Falls and the surrounding region decided to restore the structure to its former glory. Organized since 1987 as a nonprofit performing arts

16 Horizon| 2016 Spring

group, these individuals went about the task of purchasing the building and putting in over 14,000 hours of restoration, maintaining the building’s unique structure and style.

“It would have been really easy to cut corners and “modernize” the building in an effort to save money, but it would have lost so much of its beauty and character,” says Executive Assistant to the Board, Chelsea Doerschlag, who grew up participating in plays and events at The Cutter. “The people who brought it back to life were very aware of its history and it shows. It’s a wonderful place to have in our community.”

Continued on page 17

Continued From page 16

The former gymnasium in the old schoolhouse was converted into what is currently the theatre portion of the building and it was officially named The Cutter Theatre in 1991. The theatre has 158 permanent seats and is also utilized for public meetings, lectures, conferences or private parties.

There are several upcoming events at The Cutter Theatre, including a Princess Tea Party April 23 and the Cutter Clutter Rummage Sale May 7. For more information about upcoming events, including plays and auditions, rentals, classes and more, visit http://cutter. povn.com/. Check out the theatre’s Facebook page.

Courtesy photo|Cutter Theatre

Then: An older photo of The Cutter, back when it was a schoolhouse for many children in North Pend Oreille County.

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Courtesy photo|Chris Demlow

Celtic band Broken Whistle, complete with Irish dancers, has played twice at Pend Oreille Playhouse, bringing their musical talents to the area.

Continued From page 7

serves as host to out-of-town musical acts “We try to have something for everyone when it comes to performances,” says Bell.

“We want to bring in people of all ages and different tastes. The kids’ programs are a wonderful way to introduce young people to theatre, because it’s not just about getting up on stage, which is fun, but there’s so much learning experience that goes along with being involved in theatre—whether it’s costuming,

18 Horizon| 2016 Spring

technology, even ushering, there are so many elements to learn from.

How you take that knowledge into your every day life is up to you.”

Upcoming events at the Pend Oreille Playhouse include A Fine and Pleasant Misery (May 13-14), Clue: The Musical (June 10-19), the 7th annual One-Act Play Festival (July 8-9), the musical Next to Normal (Aug. 19-28) and Choices (Oct. 1423).

For more information about Pend Oreille Players, visit www.pendoreilleplayers.org/, check out their Facebook page, or call (509) 447-9900.

Horizon photo|Sophia Aldous

Colorful creations at the Wednesday spinners group.

Continued From page 13

painting class for children ages 7-16, Friday, May 20, 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. There is also a free drawing class for ages 7-18 from 3:30 p.m. -5:30 p.m. (call for dates).

For adults, there is spinning group on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

The group also does crochet and knitting. The group is made up of beginners and experienced spinners. There is a $3 donation to Create for the use of the building. There is also a Quilting Basics Class where beginners can learn hand or machine piecing the

second Saturday of each month. Participants should bring a sack lunch. A suggested $3 donation to Create is not required, but much appreciated. For more information on other classes for children or adults, including upcoming events, and how to become a member of Create, and/or volunteer, call (509) 447-9277 or stop in at Create, located at 900 W. 4th St., (4th and Fea) in Newport. Office hours are Tuesday, 10-2, Wednesday, 9-4, Thursday, 12-4 and Friday 12-4. Check out the website at www.createarts.org or Create’s Facebook page.

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Courtesy photo|Evergreen Art Association

Silk moose painting by Sharon Smith

Evergreen Art Association: Promoting people

By Sophia Aldous

Courtesy photo|Evergreen Art Association

Channin Manus’s painting, “Sunset.”

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Seasoned artists, new artists, people thinking about dipping their toe in the creative waters, so to speak, or just those who advocate the arts, Evergreen Art Association (EAA) can help with that calling. Established in April 1981 by a like-minded group of innovators in Pend Oreille County, EAA has expanded to include a bevy of artists from neighboring Idaho communities in West Bonner County as well.

The goal of the non-profit is to further members’ education, knowl-

Continued From page 20

edge, and appreciation of art, provide fellowship, promote original fine art, and furnish opportunities to display members’ art and programs for artists to participate in.

“Getting art out to the public is certainly part of our mission,” says EAA President Robert Karr. “That is reflected in the type of events we plan.”

Those events include Art Walks, where local businesses in the community will display an artist’s work for the public to see, enjoy, and possibly purchase. The EAA also offers an annual $750 scholarship to a graduating senior from House of the Lord Christian Academy, or Priest River, Newport, Cusick and Selkirk High Schools, who plans to pursue continuing education in an artistic field.

There are currently 30 members in EAA, but more are welcome and wanted. The organization meets once a month at Create Arts Center in

Courtesy photo|Evergreen Art Association

“Huckleberry Bear” by Diane Maslonka.

Continued on page 22

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River Arts Alliance encourages partnership of art and economics NEWPORT – The River Arts Alliance (RAA), established in 2003, is a nonprofit group that supports culture by promoting communication, coordination and cooperation between artists’ groups and local government, including county, city and chambers of commerce. RAA also advocates for the arts and humanities throughout the Pend Oreille River Valley, including West Bonner County in Idaho.

The RAA meets every second Thursday of the month at Create Arts Center, 900 W 4th St. Newport, at 10 a.m. The public is welcome to attend any of the meetings.

For more information about River Arts Alliance and how to be involved, call (509) 671-0295 or RiverArtsAlliance@live.com

Continued From page 21

Newport, the second Monday of each month at 10 a.m. Meetings are always open to the public. Annual fees to join EAA are $25 per year.

“We really do have a vibrant art community that crosses the border of our respective states and counties,

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and I truly enjoy promoting people who want to have their art seen,” says Karr. “People in the arts need to support one another, and it is our hope that the Association continues doing that.”

For more information about Evergreen Art Association, check out their Facebook page or call 509-671-1539.

Teens wanted for juried art show PRIEST RIVER – The Artisan Gallery is holding a juried art show for high school students from West Bonner and Pend Oreille Counties.

There will be a reception for the artists Saturday, April 30, at the gallery, located at 53 Wisconsin St. at the corner of High Street in Priest River.

Artwork submitted has to have been created during the current school year and must be student’s original creation; no reproductions of copyrighted material and no photography.

Prizes include art supply gift certificates to retailer of choice for first ($100), second ($50), and third ($25) place categories.

First Place Winners will also have the opportunity to display their winning artwork in the gallery for the summer season.

Registration forms can be obtained through Newport, Priest River or Blanchard Libraries, or by stopping in at the gallery, open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

For more information, call the gallery at 208-304-4656.

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