Part of the large cast who play multiple roles in “The Kentucky Cycle,” which opens Friday, April 9 at WICA, are Jennifer Zisette, Jameson Cook, Tom Churchill, Ethan Berkley (in back), Jim Scullin and Daniela Rose.

Hello Drifters, This month in Langley you might feel the urge to hear some fine Appalachian bluegrass music, or attend a downhome, foot-stompin play party, or find out if you have any ancestors that came out of Kentucky or maybe even have a rollin’- in-the-mud good fight with one of your cousins over who owns the land.
Blame it on the Kentucky Project.
Whidbey Island Center for the Arts presents an all-encompassing cultural event with the Kentucky Project, a series of events which kicks off with “Simple Gifts: The Music of America,” a WICA Conservatory Choir concert on March 14; entertains the family with “Play Party: Songs and Stories of Appalachia,” on March 19; and builds to a crescendo with the Pulitzer Prize-winning play “The Kentucky Cycle,” opening April 9.
The project also features partnerships with community events such as the WICA lobby exhibit of the Genealogical Society of South Whidbey Island’s “Ties that Bind: The Biggs, Rowen, and Talbert Families.” This visual exploration of the ancestry and relationship of the fictional families of “The Kentucky Cycle,” hones in on the real events that shaped the lives of the people of Appalachia.
Another community-partner event is “Our Lives, Our Land: The Kentucky Cycle Stories in the Good Cheer Garden,” at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 17. This event includes prologues (30-minute educational programs with audience participation), a community discussion led by AmeriCorps volunteers, a sampling of food from Good Cheer’s garden, and a performance by the WICA Chamber Singers, an advanced group of local vocalists.
The arts center has stepped out of its singular theater season role and extended the reach of its next theatrical production to include history, genealogy, food, music and stories along with all the drama. It welcomes the community to explore the conversation that a play such as “The Kentucky Cycle” can spark.

The Kentucky Stories
“Play Party: Songs and Stories of Appalachia” celebrates the fine art of storytelling with Jill Johnson and musical guests at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 19.
Share a rollicking good time with storyteller Johnson and her special guests Steve Showell, Judy Magidson, Bruce Rowland and the Shape Note Singers.
Together, they will evoke an older, simpler time and invite the audience to participate in some “old-timey” fun.
Johnson will work her storytelling magic and spin the yarns while the musicians add the songs of America’s first frontier. Bring the whole family for this “play party” to listen, sing, stomp, clap and play.
“Play Party: Songs and Stories of Appalachia” is a WICA Family Series presentation.
Tickets range from $12 to $15 and are available at www.WICAonline.com or call 221-8268.

The Kentucky Chorus
The WICA Conservatory Choir will sing it’s Kentucky-influenced heart out with “Simple Gifts: The Music of America” at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 14.
With director Robert Prosch leading them, the voices of this ensemble will take audiences on a historical harmonic ride through the great American West, celebrating the nation’s musical traditions through classics such as Aaron Copland’s “Old American Songs,” “Down by the Riverside,” “Water is Wide,” “Shenandoah,” and “Amazing Grace.”
Tickets are $10 and available at www.WICAonline.com or call 221-8268.

The play schedule
What: “The Kentucky Cycle.”
Where: Whidbey Island Center for the Arts.
When:
Part One — 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 9 and Saturday, April 10; 2 p.m. Sunday, April 11.
Part Two — 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 16 and Saturday, April, 17; 2 p.m. Sunday, April 18.
Part One — 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 23.
Part Two — 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 24.
Tickets:
Part One or Part Two single performance — adult $16, senior/military $14, youth $12.
Cycle Pass (both Part One and Part Two) — adult $28, senior/military $24, youth $20.
Get tickets at www.WICAonline.com or call 221-8268.

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.

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.

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?”

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."

Hello Drifters,

That veritable font of acting and singing talent and Whidbey native, Amy Walker, will perform LIVE! on the internet  at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. This global event  that the whole family can enjoy features selections from Walker’s solo stage show “Amy Walker: Inside Out,” and will include songs, dramatic pieces, and random fun for all ages. Viewers will even be able to interact through a message board and win prizes.  

 

Visit http://www.AmyWalkerLive.com for more info and to register a question for the Q&A following the performance.

 

Amy Walker

 

 

 

If you want to brighten up your weekend then run down to the South Whidbey High School auditorium with the whole family and take in “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” You won’t be disappointed. This show has everything from the funny, doesn’t-take-itself-too-seriously-script to the bright period costumes, well-sung playful songs, showstopper tap-along choreography and the cast of 40 teenagers who deliver the goods. This show deserves to be seen and, in this age of bad flus, bad wars and bad money, “Thoroughly Modern Millie” is one show that reminds you that — in a world where we still get to see a bunch of people up onstage having the time of their lives dancing and singing — it ain’t all that bad. Go see this one.

Some of the cast of "Thoroughly Modern Millie."

JP and Jess Dowdell pulled out all the stops again this year for their annual Black Cat Ball. A goodly number of costumed Halloweeners showed up to mingle and dance at the Freeland Hall on Saturday night in what was a parade of creativity and hobgoblin cheeriness. The Western Heroes kept the various fortune tellers, one-night-stands, gangstas, scissorhanded, flappers, masked exotics and the evenings endearing “sweeping guy,” moving their feet all night long on the dance floor. DJ, “the Kettle” Denis Zimmermann  helped keep up the pulse in between the band’s sets. A decidedly Happy Halloween it was for everybody!

Amy Whitcomb photo

JP and Jess Dowdell as Ancient Scots Warrior and Delectable Cat at their annual Black Cat Ball, Halloween night at Freeland Hall.

Photo by Jimmy and Deana Katz

Maureen Girard said she will join this Saturday’s concert at 88 Keys Piano Studio as a special guest performer.
The headliner, of course, is jazz great Jessica Williams.
Williams is a two-time Grammy nominee, and, to quote Rolling Stone, “a vibrant force on the contemporary music scene.” She has recorded more than 70 CDs and has performed with Tony Williams, Airto and Flora Purim, Stan Getz, Eddie Harris, Big Nick Nicholaus, Charlie Rouse, John Abercrombie and others. Reservations are $35 are available by calling 221-0362 or by visiting www.maureengirard.com.

Artists are needed for a theater gallery show and women are called to a first read of “The Vagina Monologues.”
WICA seeks art inspired by sci-fi
Whidbey Island Center for the Arts has issued a call to island artists for art that can be displayed in an exhibition entitled “Planet-Schmanet.”
The show will be held during the run of “The Rocky Horror Show.” The production will be presented Friday, Oct. 30 through Saturday, Nov. 14.
WICA is looking for artists who are fans of sci-fi, fantasy, animé, kaiju, pop culture or technology and have created an original piece of art that can be displayed. Both flat and 3-D artwork will be accepted.
Artists should submit digital images of their work — or work in progress — to WICA by Friday, Oct. 16.
For more information, visit www.WICAonline.com or call 221-8262.

Women needed for monologues
The directors of the Whidbey Island community production of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues” are looking for local women who want to participate to join them at a first reading.
There will be no audience, just a circle of women reading. The group will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15 in the activities room at Maple Ridge in Freeland.
For details, call Beverly Rose at 331-1110 or Allan Ament at 331-7971.

Norman Walker became the new Mr. South Whidbey last Saturday night at Freeland Hall. “Upon being the recipient of the most prestigious award of Mr. South Whidbey, I am elated and feel very privileged to accept this honor. I am willing to participate in any events related to my title,” Walker said. The contest is held each year in a benefit for Friends of Friends Medical Support Fund. Check the print edition of the Record next week for more on the benefit.

Norm Walker accepts the crown of Mr. South Whidbey.

Do you know who will be the next Mr. South Whidbey and raise the most money for the Friends of Friends Medical Support Fund? To cast your vote and lay down some cash online for your favorite candidate, go here. You can also buy your ticket for the pageant at any of the locations listed on that site for the 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 event at Freeland Hall. Have fun!!!

And the hunky candidates are:

Tom Harris

Scott Mauk

Rob Mattern

Norm Walker

Dick Guise

Dan Lennon

This poem by the Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas, never fails to reach the deepest part of my heart. If you only scratch the surface of Whidbey Island, you will find a collection of poets who are writing daily. Find them at poetry slams, readings and festivals. Listening to good poetry revives the spirit. Enjoy.

“In My Craft or Sullen Art” 

by Dylan Thomas

In my craft or sullen art

Exercised in the still night

When only the moon rages

And the lovers lie abed

With all their griefs in their arms,

I labor by singing light

Not for ambition or bread

Or the strut and trade of charms

On the ivory stages

But for the common wages

Of their most secret heart.

Not for the proud man apart

From the raging moon I write

On these spindrift pages

Nor for the towering dead

With their nightingales and psalms

But for the lovers, their arms

Round the griefs of the ages,

Who pay no praise or wages

Nor heed my craft or art.

For all you dance lovers out there, here’s a bit of ballet brouhaha for you. Juliana Brielle Nolen just found out that she will play Clara in this year’s Whidbey Island Dance Theatre’s production of “Nutcracker.” Her proud mom
L Bennet Nolen said of her daughter’s coup, “It’s sort of like being elected homecoming queen on the local dance scene!” The “Nutcracker” plays the first two weekends of December. Congrats Jules!

Juliana Nolen has been cast as Clara in Whidbey Island Dance Theatre's production of "Nutcracker."

Gypsy jazz island favorite Billet-Deux returns to DjangoFest Northwest at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sep 27 at Langley Middle School.

Hello Drifters,

DjangoFest Northwest kicks off Wednesday with it’s mad lineup of jazz musicians from all over the place. Langley will be djamming, singing and dancing its head off, so get ready. Everything starts at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 at WICA and wraps up on Sunday, Sept. 27 with the final
7 p.m. show. Check www.WICAonline.com for the schedule and ticket info.

The Whidbey Open Studio Tour gets under way at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. Choose from the studios of 92 artists island-wide to visit, chat and pick up a fine new piece of art. The tour ends at 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27. Go to the Open Door Gallery + Coffee in the Bayview Cash Store in Langley for tickets and info or visit www.whidbeyopenstudiotour.org.

Gather the little ones and head over to South Whidbey Community Park for Children’s Day for free, free, free activities, music and food for the whole family. It all happens 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26.

Don’t miss the Kite Festival from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 and Sunday, Sept. 27 at Fort Casey in Coupeville. The free festival will feature two days of sport kite competitions, single-line kites and activities, a raffle tent, a kids’ kite-making tent, beginning sport kite lessons, food and coffee stands and parachuting teddy bears for kids 10 and younger. The Whidbey Island Kite Festival is presented by the Whidbey Island Kite Festival Association and the Whidbey Island Kite Fliers. For more information  visit www.whidbeykites.org.

Have fun!

Theater

“The Wind in the Willows” opens tonight (Friday, Sept. 18) at 7:30 p.m. at the Whidbey Children’s Theater in Langley.

Art

The preview exhibits for the Whidbey Open Studio Tour open tomorrow (Sept. 19) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Open Door Gallery + Coffee in the Bayview Cash Store and at the Crockett Barn in Coupeville. 

Chickens!

Learn about raising chickens at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 at the South Whidbey Tilth Farmers Market. Rufus Rose will describe his own chicken-raising experiences and answer questions. The market is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is located on Highway 525 at Thompson Road in Langley.

Director Jason Dittmer is busy with rehearsals for the opening production of Whidbey Island Center for the Arts 2009/10 theater season with “The Rocky Horror Show.”  But, who will play Rocky? Find out on opening night Friday, Oct. 30. “Damn it, Janet!”

"The Rocky Horror Show" rock musical is coming to WICA.

Got a tip this week that Whidbey’s own fashion design genius, Lynn Mizono, had one of her pieces spotted by the iconic Bill Cunningham of the New York Times. Check out Mizono’s “origami vest” that turned Cunningham’s head in his “On the Street” column:  http://video.nytimes.com/video/2009/08/14/style/1247464011974/on-the-street-boiling-point.html.

Max Cole-Takanikos as Toad and Katie Woodzick, the thief, battle it out in the Whidbey Children's Theater production of "The Wind in the Willows."

Catch Toad and his friends on stage!

The Whidbey Children’s Theater adult troupe, Stories on Stage, will treat audiences to a musical production of “The Wind in the Willows” from Friday, Sept. 18 through Sunday, Oct. 4 on the theater’s Martha Murphy Mainstage. Don’t miss this sure-to-be-a-crowd-pleaser that brings one of the best loved children’s stories to life.

Feel like singing? 

The Open Circle Community Choir starts its fifth fall season on Monday, September 21 with Steve Motenko joining Peggy Taylor as co-director. Open Circle is a non-audition choir open to everyone regardless of singing experience. Rehearsals are Monday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the Langley Methodist Church at the corner of Anthes Avenue and 3rd Street in downtown Langley. Also looking for singers is the Conservatory Choir at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in Langley. Led by Robert W. Prosch, this choir will start its second year and will begin Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. The Choir will meet Tuesday evenings through Dec. 1. The choir is open to all ages regardless of experience or training.

Artists, get cracking!

Artists, have your work immortalized as a permanent part of the public art installation at the new Coupeville Library. There are two ways to submit. The first is 3D sculptures in a durable medium (metal, glass, wood or other) that are appropriate for outdoors to be incorporated into the overhead signage for the library entrance. The second is artwork of a suitable medium for the entranceway to the children’s section in the interior of the library. Visit the Sno-Isle Libraries Web site at www.sno-isle.org/page/?ID=3657 (see “Call to Artists”) for submission instructions and timeline, and to view the architect’s drawings of both the outside entry arch of the library and the interior. The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25. For more information, contact Becky Bolte bbolte@sno-isle.org or at 360-651-7080.

That’s a little skinny for today. Bye!

Likewise, Whidbey Children’s Theater, which teams up with South Whidbey High School this year for the school’s mainstage production of “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” has finished casting for the musical which opens Oct. 30.

Stay-tuned to the Island Life page of The Record for more stories about theater in Langley.

Art lovers are anticipating the upcoming 13th Annual Whidbey Open Studio Tour which happens Saturday, Sept. 26 and Sunday, Sept. 27 and features more than 90 island artists. Don’t miss the preview exhibits starting Saturday, Sept. 19  at Open Door Gallery + Coffee in the Bayview Cash Store and at the Crockett Barn in Coupeville. Patrons can pick up their $10 ticket and 15-month art wall calendar at these locations before the tour.

Look for my yearly Whidbey Open Studio Tour series featuring some of the artists in several Record editions before the start of the tour.