These Spindrift Pages

Cee Cee James and her band at Cozy's Roadhouse in Clinton in January.

Hello Drifters,
Langley blues singer has done it again and managed to get her classic blues voice noticed by the Washington Blues Society. (James and her band recently traveled to Memphis, Tenn. where they were sent to represent the society at the annual International Blues Competition Contest. The band played their hearts out there, but James said the judges never cracked a smile.
But now, James is nominated again. This time it’s for Best Female Vocalist by the Washington Blues Society.
James has sent the word out that she needs your vote in order to stand on the podium at the awards show Sunday, May 16 at the Triple Door in Seattle.
You must be a member of the Washington Blues Society to vote. Become a member and vote for James at www.wablues.org/About/joinWBS.html.
So c’mon blues fans and local artist supporters, vote for Cee Cee!
The next show for Cee Cee James and her blues band is Wednesday, March 10 at Engels Pub in Edmonds.
Visit James’ Web site at www.ceeceejames.com.

Denise La Rue's "Peep Show" textile art is at MUSEO in Langley.

Art in the Café features Barbara Mearing
Art in the Café welcomes Barbara Mearing as the featured artist for February at Island Angel Chocolates in Langley.
Mearing paints for the simple pleasure of it, and her subjects are ordinary things: simple objects, flowers, local scenes – anything that appeals to her. Mearing, a mostly self-taught, artist, works in acrylics.
For more information about Art in the Cafe, contact Mona Newbauer at 221-2728 or e-mail her monalynn@Whidbey.com.

‘From Here to There’is at Brackenwood
Brackenwood Gallery proudly presents “From Here to There” through March 1.
The show features artists Anna Mastronardi, Jeff Day, Rich Frishman and Faye Castle.
Mastronardi’s work captures the colorful beauty of Italy, as well as local glorious sunflowers. Encaustics with photos of Venice and intricate seaweed collages draw you into other worlds.
Day’s travels to Istanbul inspired paintings and sculptures that bring to life the daily lives of ordinary Turkish people. His paintings and multi-media pieces from his recent move to Nanjing celebrate the art of Chinese kites.
Castle’s “plein aire” sketches from her journeys around Whidbey and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico are finished as delightful and lovely watercolors.
Frishman joins the show with a photo-montage of a beloved landmark the Doghouse Tavern. He wove together more than 217 separate photographs taken over an 18-month period to create this image. Photographs were shot from various perspectives and at different times of year to produce this great monumental work.
The gallery is at 302 First St. in Langley. Call 221-2978 or visit www.brackenwoodgallery.com for more information.

Fine-art print show on tap in Bayview
More than two dozen local artists and photographers will exhibit work in a unique show at Bayview Corner in Langley, hosted by Fine Balance Imaging Studios.
The Fourth Annual Gratitude Art Show will run through Feb. 28 in the Hub, as well as Feb. 19 – 28 in the Open Door + Coffee Gallery in the Bayview Cash Store.
A catered artists’ reception will be in the gallery from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20. Call 221-2707 for information or e-mail info@fbistudios.com.
Most of the work will relate in some way to tools, houses, construction and, of course, heart, hearth and home.

Island Framery begins with painter Dave Pauls
The Island Framery is dedicating two of its walls solo exhibitions by local artists. The space will give preference to original pieces and artist-made prints. Joy and Chris Dennis, the new owners of Island Framery, say they strive to continue the same personal care to the Whidbey Island creative community for which former owner Lynae Slinden is renowned.
Kicking things off is the recent work of painter Dave Pauls. The work is richly layered with color, pattern, and philosophy.
In high school, Pauls and Chris Dennis participated in a volunteer muraling project in the pediatric department of Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in Oakland, Calif.
“At that age, I was petrified and afraid of making mistakes,” Dennis said. “I was content with playing things safe by projecting tried and true storybook images up on the wall to copy. Dave took risks, and painted his own images of anthropomorphic sunflowers freehand, with total confidence, and everybody loved them. I really looked up to him as an artist back then, and am totally blown away by what he’s producing now.”
Pauls lives in Shoreline, where he works by day planning package design for Nintendo. Pauls has an affinity for patterns, or rather, a deceptive mimicry of pattern, which could be described as chaos in sheep’s clothing.
See a preview of the show at www.islandframery.com.

The third annual “Artists in Love” show at Raven Rocks
The owners of Raven Rocks Gallery, Mary Jo Oxrieder and Windwalker Taibi, consider February — a time focused on love — to be their month, and so are the featured artists this month. In celebration of their love and passion for each other and their art, they are filling their spaces with hearts of all kinds from February to April 4.
Oxrieder will present her latest handmade greeting cards, whimsical “Love Tree” paintings, mixed- media beaded hearts, love poetry plaques and plush fabric hearts. Taibi’s latest “Ravens in Love” paintings will be debuted alongside his new series of mixed-media works entitled “For the Love of Ravens” and his new line of necklaces.
Joining the party will be new heart-themed bookmarks by Larkin Van Horn and the exquisite ceramic “pod” jars of the gallery’s newest artist Denise Krueger.
The gallery will also be extending its January showing of the paintings of Deon Matzen, Stan Gabelein and Richard Engstrom through this month, and as always, featuring the latest and favorite works of all the resident artists.
For information, call 360-222-0102, or visit www.ravenrocksstudio.com.

‘Five Sumi-e Artists’ show in Greenbank
Whidbey Pies Café, Greenbank FarmFive Sumi-e Artists continues its show of Asian ink-and-brush paintings.
Sumi technique is an ancient Asian art form, using brush strokes that are simple, elegant and serene. Paintings feature nature scenes and calligraphy. Jo Finley, Chizue Rudd, Irene Ruiz, Yvonne Palka and Joann Peterson will have their work on display until the end of February.

Rob Schouten Gallery presents: ‘The Body Electric by Ken Hassrick — A Retrospective’
This fundraising exhibition will benefit Whidbey Island Arts Council and opens Friday, Feb. 5 and runs through March 3.
Hassrick’s drawings and paintings reveal the classic subject of the female body, with its neverending variations of form and interpretation.
Whidbey painter, Ken Hassrick (1921-2004) spent more than 30 years exploring this evocative subject. This retrospective of his work will feature figurative compositions that range from realism to the abstract.
In keeping with Hassrick’s wish to have his work benefit the artists of Whidbey Island, his son Matt Hassrick and Matt’s wife Vicky have generously donated a large body of Hassrick’s paintings to the Whidbey Island Arts Council to which proceeds from the show will go and be used for many fine programs including scholarships and the development of arts education in island schools.
For more information call 222-3070 or e-mail info@robschoutengallery.com or visit www.robschoutengallery.com.

MUSEO’s greatest show has arrived
“The Greatest Show” has arrived in Langley, as MUSEO presents a show made of entirely circus-themed artwork.
Witness side-show spectacles, big top performers, fiercely-tamed creatures all wrapped up in amazing feats of art.
Ringmaster Jarvis and her assistant lead audiences through a kaleidoscope of color and imagery revealing extraordinary worlds of fantasy that celebrate the spirit of the circus.
The Greatest Show will run through March 1. For more information, call 221-7737 or visit www.museo.cc.

1504 Coffee Bar has photos
Throughout the month of February 1504 Coffee Bar in Freeland will
show photographs by Goss Lake resident Tanya Schubert.
In her pictures, ranging
from small objects of the natural world, such as flowers and birds, to human structures and landscapes, the artist tries to capture the mystery of the light that illuminates the world.
1504 Coffee is located next to Gay 90’s in Freeland.

Artworks Gallery Presents ‘Hearts & Flowers’
Artworks Gallery highlights the Valentine month with new heart-themed jewelry by Deborah Hulsey and Maren Metcalf, and larger than life floral photography by the gallery’s newest member, Marie Plakos.
If you are looking for a unique gift, Artworks Gallery features original artwork of 17 local artists in a variety of mediums.
February features John Olsen’s black and white photographs of old cars; Valerie Moore’s creatively enhanced coastal photographs; Mark Lucero’s hand-carved acrylic on wood paintings; Dan Freeman’s woodcuts and elemental statues; northwest scenic paintings by Judith Burns, acrylic, Rainy Lindell, oil, and Gaylen Whiteman, watercolor; Maggie Lancaster’s hand-painted silk scarves, banners and braided rugs; Marcy Johnson’s hand woven scarves, rugs and hammered jewelry; and Zia Gipson’s mixed media, fiber and jewelry art.
The newest member Plakos, is a native of California who came to love the Northwest and particularly Whidbey Island by coming to the Coupeville Arts Center in the 90s.
She is a member of the Whidbey Island Surface Design group, Pacific Northwest Art School, and the Photographic Society of America. Plakos and her husband travel to photograph interesting places and cultures around the world. For local photography, she looks for wonderful gardens and colorful flowers.
For hours and other info, call 360-222-3010, or visit artworkswhidbey.com.

Creative Moves has variety in Langley
Enjoy Creative Moves Gallery’s framed and unframed photos by Les Dunner, who brings in new work weekly.
Also featured is the work of Sheila Mohn and her student Tianna Brennan, who have Northwest landscapes at affordable prices, framed and unframed.
Creative Moves is at 107A First St. Call 221-5989 for more info.

A great time was had by all at the 2nd Annual Arts, Hearts & Hammers Benefit Auction at Open Door Gallery in Langley.

The folks at Open Door Gallery + Coffee in the Bayview Cash Store in Langley would like to thank everyone who joined in at the 2nd Annual Arts, Hearts & Hammers Benefit Auction.
A total of 40 artists contributed more than 70 pieces for the auction.
There was much laughter, bidding and, best of all, money raised for Hearts & Hammers.
The Open Door Gallery wants to thank the following volunteers who donated their time, energy and food for the event:

Barbara Phillips
Anne Smidt
Debbie Torget
Mary Tauscher
Chris Whitney
Mary Willis
Ginger Miller
Molly Shoup
Nikki Coyote
Linda Schwarz
Ronni Levin
Special thanks also goes out to Taste 4 Wines, Swede Hill Cellars, and Blooms Winery for their donation of wine.
Finally, thank you to everyone who attended and contributed throughout the evening. Each one of you played a role in allowing us to have such a great event.
Bidding on the remaining pieces will be open until Sunday, Feb.14. Stop by the Open Door Gallery + Coffee, place your bid and show your support.
Hearts & Hammers receives one third of the gross sales, the artist receives one third, and the gallery receives one third. At the close of this year’s auction we expect to have raised over $3,000 for Hearts & Hammers.
Visit www.opendoorwhidbey.com or the blog at www.opendoorgallery.blogspot.com.

Hello Drifters,
Get ready to pencil a little murder into your schedule with “Deathtrap,” opening Feb. 12 at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in Langley.
Deathtrap has found its cast
Ira Levin’s wickedly funny who’ll-do-it “Deathtrap” is directed by Chris Fisher and features Ed Cornachio as washed-up playwright Sidney Bruhl, Shelley Hartle as his wife Myra with Sean Brennan (Clifford), Phil Jordan (Porter Milgrim) and Katie Woodzick (Helga Ten Dorp) filling out the ensemble.
Comfortably ensconced in his charming Connecticut home, Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers, is struggling to overcome a dry spell that has resulted in a string of failures and a shortage of funds. To make Sidney’s slump all the more painful, Clifford, a student of one of Sidney’s writing seminars, has recently sent his mentor a copy of his first attempt at playwriting for Sidney’s review and advice. The play, “Deathtrap,” is a five character, two-act thriller so perfect in its construction that, as Sidney says, “A gifted director couldn’t even hurt it.”
Using his penchant for plot, and out of his desperate desire to be the toast of Broadway, Sidney, along with Myra, cook up an almost unthinkable scheme: They’ll lure the would-be playwright to the Bruhl home, kill him, and market the script as Sidney’s own.
But shortly after Clifford arrives, it’s clear that things are not what they seem. Indeed, even Helga Ten Dorp, a nosey psychic from next door, and Porter Milgrim, Sidney’s observant attorney, can only speculate where the line between truth and deception lies.
Go to www.WICAonline.com for tickets.

Hello Drifters,
Well, good news: local treasure Amy Walker will present her live show once again through the magic of technology. See Walker at 1 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) Saturday, Jan. 23 on a screen near you.
Walker performs a one-woman show of songs, dramatic pieces, and interactive fun for the entire family at www.AmyWalkerLIVE.com.
Another global event for Walker who, since December of 2007, has reached more than 4.2 million YouTube viewers in more than 105 countries and about 65 different languages.
This past November, viewers tuned in to Amy Walker: LIVE at a Screen Near You from countries that included the United States, Iceland, Thailand, Portugal, Greece and the Bahamas, to name a few.
Viewers have tuned in from their computers, iPhones, portable laptops, and even their Playstation 3s.
Walker invites everyone to connect for Amy Walker: LIVE! and even interact with her and each other via an on-screen chat feature.
For more information, and to register your personal question for a Q&A with Walker following the show, click on the link above.

Amy Walker, singer, actor, YouTube performer extraordinaire.

Hello Drifters,

Hope everyone is having a happy winter solstice season. And if you are into poetry — particularly Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass” — which happens to be one of my all time favorite tomes, check out the sunset to sunset straight-through reading of every poem in the collection at Woodland Hall on Maxwelton Road starting today, Dec. 28 at sunset (4:23 p.m.) and ending tomorrow, Dec. 29 at sunset (4:24 p.m.)

Here is a homage to Walt. What better way to end one year and ring in another? Come in to listen to Whitman’s sensorial and rhapsodic songs, or join in to read one or two, or thirteen. Everyone is welcome. Woodland Hall is located at 3631 E. Woodland Hall Lane off Maxwelton Road just south of Campbell Road. 

On another note, here’s a story I enjoyed writing for the Record’s print edition.

I’ve always had a place in my heart for the dance world, having dabbled in dance myself.  Certainly, “The Nutcracker” is one of those holiday traditions that remain a part of the canon of Christmas events, no matter what your age or where you live. After 17 years of producing the famous ballet, the Whidbey Island Dance Theatre’s production is on par with the larger, professional shows and the dancers who come back to revisit a part of their youth, give it their stamp of approval.

Here’s the story:

The thing about traditions is that their significance becomes deeper with years. 

Considering that the Whidbey Island Dance Theatre has just completed its 17th annual run of the famous Christmas ballet, it makes sense that many of the dancers who grew up on Whidbey Island and who were an instrumental part of creating the island’s “Nutcracker” are now returning as young adults to see the show that has had some part in shaping who they’ve become.

Former company dancer Chelsea Matthews-Jensen even came home to help choreograph a piece of this year’s production, and several alums have been spotted after performances with their arms around ballerinas, showering them with congratulatory hugs.

“All of these girls were inspirational in some way to the girls you see onstage now,” co-director and company co-founder Charlene Brown said.

“Chelsea’s coming onboard as a choreographer, being an alum, is a great testimony to her love for dance and for the organization. She did an amazing job.”

The word tradition comes from the Latin “traditio” meaning handing over; passing on. The word is actually a perfect way to describe how dances are kept alive in the ballet tradition. It is most likely a rare thing, for instance, that a ballet mistress or choreographer who is teaching a Faerie Queen, Snow Queen or Clara her steps in “The Nutcracker” hasn’t danced those steps onstage at some point in her own life.

Brown recalled the year Karla Gilbert played the Rat King.

“After that all the girls in the company wanted to dance that role because she made it a role worth dancing,” Brown said.

For the young dancers onstage each year, the dancers of Christmases past act as an inspiration. 

Juliana Nolen, 14, played Clara this year and was thrilled to have former company members congratulate her on her performance.

She was visited after the show by several former “Nutcracker” stars, several of them having danced the role of “Clara,” too. Some of those seen included Brittany Falso, Michela Mattens, Amy Berto, Jacquie Cerra, Andrea Burr, Amanda Burr, Jamee Brown Pitts, Katelyn Candelario, Hailey Way and Alexis Daly.

“Everybody was telling me what a beautiful Clara I was and that was nice,” Nolen said.

They also had a new perspective on the production.

“We talked about how much the show has changed and progressed. Some told me they thought the dancers have become stronger all around and in their relationships with each other onstage, which is a big plus in performance,” Nolen said.

Just as Brown (who helped start the island’s “Nutcracker” tradition) and co-director and choreographer Susan Sandri noted before the performances began, it is an emotional feeling when the dancers take the stage each year on opening night. “The Nutcracker” represents, not only their passion for dance, but their love for a community who embraces such passion.

“There is a story behind all of the dancers,” Brown said. “And what is sure is that they loved their experience and always come back to share that with us.

For both the current and the former dancers and choreographers of Whidbey Island Dance Theatre’s “The Nutcracker,” the passing on of this Christmas ballet continues and the 17-year-old tradition is one year deeper.

Hello Drifters,

I’ve been out of town for awhile, but am glad to be back in time for the merry, jolly, happy season of giving and celebration on Whidbey. What better place to come home to for the holidays? 

Speaking of the holidays, the SWHS Choir entered the “High School Stars of Christmas” competition through KAFE radio (104.3 FM) and have been selected as a finalist. The choir needs votes in order to win the $1000 to be used for the music program. Go to the KAFE Web site and click on the Christmas ornament in the scrolling “Sounds of Christmas” box on the top left and cast a vote. You can listen to their Christmas recording of “Holly Jolly Christmas,” as well.

Remember, shop local and support all the excellent merchants and artisans on the island. Happy Holiday shopping!

 

Cee Cee James belts out the blues at Choochokam Arts in 2008

 Hello Drifters,

Local blues singer Cee Cee James made the top 10 list of the “Bluesville Picks to Click”  for the week of Nov. 7.
Bill Wax, Proprietor of Sirius/XM Satelite Radio’s Low-Fi’s Bar/Pool Room in the heart of B. B. King’s Bluesville on channel 74, lists top 10.

1.   Tommy Castro, Hard Believer – Alligator Records

2.   The California Honeydrops, Soul Tub – Tub Tone Records

3.   Robert Cray Band, This Time” – Nozzle Records

4.   Honey Island Swamp Band, Wishing Well – ORYX

5.   Johnny Bassett, The Gentleman Is Back – Mack Avenue Records

6.   Walter Trout, Unspoiled By Progress – Provogue

7.   The Wiyos, Broken Land Bell – Self Produced

8.   Eddie and Vaan Shaw, Naked – North Atlantic Blues Records

9.   Carl Weathersby, I’m Still Standing Here – Magnolia Records

10. Cee Cee James, Lowdown Where The Snakes Crawl – FWG Records

James said it’s important to keep the requests coming. ”Your requests have helped get me into this position,” she said.
To make a request call 866-484-BLUE (2583) or  at  www.xmfan.com and link to “request a song.” Type in Cee Cee James, one of her songs and the rest is easy. 
Two James’ songs that have been spinning a lot are “Love Makes Change” and “I’ll Ask The Questions. ”To find out more about James’ music visit her Web site, www.ceeceejames.com.
“My thing is, in all my writing, singing and performance, is to make the songs come alive for people,” James said.  
“To open up the mind, heart and soul with the fire of an intense gut wrenching performance full of vulnerability, honesty and truth.  What else am I up on that stage for?”

Hello Drifters,

Sometimes the Artists of South Whidbey invite guest artists to its meetings. Accomplished artists such as Deon Matzen, who currently has a show at Whidbey Pies Cafe in Greenbank, reveal the techniques of the trade at ASW meetings. Don’t miss your chance to explore the painting opportunities open to artists of all levels of skill and media at the first meeting of the season. Artists of South Whidbey meets at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, in the Brookhaven meeting room in Langley. The group begins with a sack lunch at 11:30 a.m. The meeting will begin at noon; bring artwork to share or for a gentle critique. For more information, call Wendy Lambeth at 321-2150.

Deon Matzen's "Self Portrait of the Artist Painting a Sliverstreak."