Art Beat: Ring in the New Year with an art exhibit, an author talk and an audition
I’m waking up from my post-Christmas, pre-New Years haze to share some art-related events to look forward to in 2023.
Cole Gallery hosts Washington Plein Air Artists exhibit
Opening reception – Friday, January 6, 4-7 pm
Art Walk Celebrations – Thursdays, January 19 and February 16 (People’s Choice Award will be presented during the February Art Walk)
Cole Gallery
107 5th Ave. S.
Edmonds
Plein Air Washington Artists (PAWA) is sponsoring a juried exhibit themed Plein Air to Studio for their annual winter exhibition scheduled for January 6th through February 26th. The French term “en plein air” means out of doors and refers to the practice of painting a complete finished piece outdoors. This year’s PAWA Winter Show will take place in a new location in Edmonds with a new host, Cole Gallery.
The juried exhibition will feature some of this year’s best work from PAWA. In 2022, PAWA artists painted in many locations in Washington State. Paint-outs included Nisqually and other areas near Olympia, Lake Crescent, several locations in and around Seattle, Whidbey Island, Bainbridge Island, Dosewallips, and other parks on the Olympic Peninsula.
During the opening ceremony, awards will be given for outstanding studio and plein air paintings by the selected juror, Aaron Schuerr, one of the world’s leading plein air painters. You can learn more about PAWA here.
Open to the public.
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The author talks to Namina Forna, author of “The Golded Ones” series.
Saturday, January 7, 11:00am
Join an action-packed online chat with Namina Forna, New York Times best-selling author of The Fugitives series. The Sno-Isle Libraries Author Talks event is a discussion for its second installment in the series, The Merciless.
In the first of Forna New York Times best selling book, The Fugitives, readers are introduced to 16-year-old Deka, who lives in fear and in anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. But on the day of the ceremony, her blood turns gold, the color of dirt – and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.
Knowing the dangers that lie ahead, but desperate for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she’s ever known—uncovering the mysteries surrounding herself and the kingdom of Otera along the way.
The exciting second half, The Mercilessbegins six months after Deka freed the goddesses in the ancient kingdom of Otera and discovered who she really is… but the war is raging across the kingdom and the real battle has just begun.
Sign up for the Author Talk here.
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Audition for Edmonds Driftwood Players’ next show, “The Spitfire Grill”
Thursday, January 5, 7-10pm
Saturday, January 7, 10am-1pm
Edmonds Driftwood Players Rehearsal Annex
200 Dayton St., Edmonds
The Driftwood Players are holding auditions for their next show, Grill Spitfirebased on the hit 1996 film. Spitfire grilll is an emotional and inspiring musical tale of redemption, perseverance and family. A parolee follows her dreams, based on a page from an old travel book, to a small town in Wisconsin and finds a place for herself working at Hannah’s Spitfire Grill. The Grill is up for sale, but there are no takers for the only restaurant in the depressed town, so newcomer Percy convinces Hanna to put it in the lottery. Entry fees are $100 and the best essay on why you want the Grill to win. Soon, the mail arrives by wheelbarrow and things really start cooking at the Spitfire Grill.
Book an audition time and learn more about requirements here.
– By Elizabeth Murray
Elizabeth Murray is a freelance writer grateful to call Edmonds home. When she’s not busy wrangling her two kids (and husband), you can find her playing the ukulele and singing with The Band LeLe.
