Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader
Wednesday, January 3, 2018 • A 11
Jefferson COunty
A r t s & E n t e r ta i n m e n t
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Port Townsend’s fortune-telling dancer, anami, whirls amid flames at the Aug. 19 Uptown Street Fair, one of the many festivals and fairs in Port Townsend and Jefferson County in 2017. Photos by Katie Kowalski
Theater ‘The Disaster in Verse’
Port Townsend High School senior Ian Coates brought to life the terrible poetry of a 19th-century Scot named William McGonagall in the play “The Disaster in Verse” in 2017. Coates wrote, directed and produced the musical for his senior project in January. “I wanted to do something that would combine my interests in theater, creative writing and music,” Coates said of why he did the project. “I smiled throughout the whole process,” said one of Coates’ mentors, Patrick Jennings. “I just smiled and smiled and beamed at him.”
A year in review arts & entertainment T
here were festivals that crowded city and county streets, and a plethora of concerts outdoors and in. We experienced new ideas in film and on stage – we questioned, discovered, laughed and cried. Galleries staged shows that celebrated the
past and embraced the present. The following are highlights from the Port Townsend arts scene that The Leader reported on in 2017, from art shows to acrobatics. Look back on some of the stories that shaped our little corner of the Olympic Peninsula.
“Ian has a very, very, very dry sense of humor,” noted Linda Dowdell, another mentor. “The Disaster in Verse” was one of three plays put on by PT High School students last year. Other shows included “The Heart of Robin Hood,” which opened in April, and “The Accidental Death of an Anarchist” in November.
Other shows included “An Enemy of the People” and a reprise of “Spirit of the Yule.”
Nanda RETURNS
A Shakespeare history Key City Public Theatre presented its first Shakespeare history, “Henry IV, Part 1” for its annual summer Shakespeare in the Park last year. Directed by Duncan Frost, the play took place in a pre-apocalyptic world moving toward the brink of collapse. “In our world, this would be the play that is coming on the heels of the current administration
琀愀昀昀 吀栀攀 匀愀氀椀猀栀 刀漀漀洀 䈀甀昀昀攀琀爀漀琀 匀 渀愀最攀⸀ 琀栀愀渀欀猀 礀漀甀 昀漀爀 礀漀甀爀 礀攀愀爀猀 漀昀 瀀愀 椀琀栀 琀栀攀 吀栀攀 爀攀猀琀愀甀爀愀渀琀 椀猀 渀漀眀 挀氀漀猀攀搀 眀 䈀甀昀昀攀琀 挀漀渀挀氀甀猀椀漀渀 漀昀 琀栀攀 一攀眀 夀攀愀爀ᤠ猀 䔀瘀攀
A scene from Key City Public Theatre’s “Henry IV Part 1.”
in the United States,” said Frost. In 2017, Key City Public Theatre also presented the hit musical “Murder Ballad” (sizzling lights, cool costumes, and a good dose of love and revenge) and “The Book Club Play,” which brought many literary laughs.
Port Townsend’s four Nanda ninjas – Misha Fradin, Chen Pollina and brothers Tomoki and Kiyota Sage – presented a feature-length theater show last year, their first in Port Townsend since 2014. The June show, “Omdighaben,” was named after their preshow power-up chant. In the show, the Nanda boys did backflips, juggled and performed a whole slew of comedy sketches, which garnered lots of laughter and applause from appreciative fans. Nanda members also performed as the Flying Karamazov Brothers in the popular December show “Club Sandwich.” Continued on page 13▼
䌀伀䴀䤀一䜀 吀䠀䤀匀 匀倀刀䤀一䜀Ⰰ 樀漀椀渀 甀猀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀
最爀愀渀搀 漀瀀攀渀椀渀最 漀昀 漀甀爀 渀攀眀攀猀琀 搀椀渀椀渀最 瘀攀渀甀攀
吀栀攀 䠀漀甀猀攀 漀昀 匀攀瘀攀渀 䈀爀漀琀栀攀爀猀 䈀甀椀氀搀椀渀最 琀栀攀 䘀甀琀甀爀攀Ⰰ ꀀꀀꀀ 刀攀猀琀漀爀椀渀最 琀栀攀 倀愀猀琀 ꀀꀀꀀꀀꀀꀀ 䄀 一攀眀 嘀椀猀椀漀渀 椀渀 ㈀ 㠀
一攀眀 䐀椀渀椀渀最 嘀攀渀甀攀
䌀漀洀椀渀最 匀漀漀渀℀
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Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader
Wednesday, January 3, 2018 • A 13
During the opening reception for “Crazy Happy” July 1, 2017, the sun shone through the windows at Northwind Arts Center, illuminating whimsical sculptures by Margie McDonald, which cast intricate shadows on the art that inspired them – 25-foot-long paper scrolls by Rikki Ducornet. Gallery-goers Rachel (left) and Doreen Hynd wander amidst the installation. Photos by Katie Kowalski
Bye-Bye, Bach
Bertram Levy performs Sept. 2, 2017 at the Deep Squeeze Accordion Festival.
Zoe Ballering dances Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017 at a Concert on the Dock.
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reached last year. Birman reported an overall upward trend in terms of ticket sales and participation. The biggest surprise, he said, were jazz ticket sales, which went way beyond the goal – by 19 percent. “That’s a giant step,” he said. “The jazz sales this year were just astronomically good.” Last year was also the Olympic Music Festival’s second year at Fort Worden in partnership with Centrum after 32 years of association with the Concerts in the Barn series, set on a Quilcene farm. The festival’s 2017 season opened with a sold-out concert featuring superstar violinist Sarah Chang. “Our audience knew that the festival’s commitment to really quality, moving, memorable performances would not waver – regardless of where the music was being presented,” said Julio Elizalde, the festival’s artistic director.
Music a neW conDUcTor
In 2017, the Port Townsend Community Orchestra welcomed Tigran Arakelyan as its new conductor and artistic director, to replace the late Dewey Ehling. Arakelyan made his debut as the orchestra’s new conductor Oct. 29. Arakelyan lives in North Seattle and also conducts two youth orchestras. “I want the future generation of young musicians to be supportive of the arts, because that’s the only way the arts survive,” he said.
pT on The map Cellar Door owner Dominic Svornich and Port Townsend musician Jarrod Bramson collaborated to bring Coffin Break, a Seattlebased ’90s punk rock band, to town in January last year. “It’s a huge win for our town,” said Svornich, noting that Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain called the band one of his favorites. Having Coffin Break play in PT represented a step toward placing Port Townsend “on the map” as a recognized music community, Svornich said. In 2017, Svornich brought other popular bands and singers to town, including Grace Love, who sang at Port Townsend Main Street’s Concerts on the Dock in July and also performed at Cellar Door. Many local bars and music venues collaborate to bring in biggername musical acts while also supporting local musicians.
sUccess For cenTrUm Centrum director Robert Birman described the arts organization’s 2017 season as the best ever. “The truth is, we say that every year,” Birman said, but he noted that a pinnacle was
raDio sTaTion airs neW iDeas Following the success of the 2016 soldout Joni Mitchell tribute concert and the popular May 2017 Beatles tribute, KPTZ-FM 91.9 has decided to organize more events that would bring the community together and support the local nonprofit radio station. “I would like to produce a few concerts per year, so that we can have fun while we’re fundraising,” KPTZ concert producer Tim Quackenbush said. In September, KPTZ held its first Party on the Pier, featuring Seattle-based Funk Force Attacks, along with local DJ Silace Amaro. This year, the Jefferson County radio station is looking at the possibility of moving its recording studio and transmitter tower to Fort Worden State Park.
We want your snow photos!
Conductor Karl F. Bach retired in 2017 after nearly two decades of leading the Port Townsend Summer Band. “In a way, I’m ready,” said Bach, who has been the band’s conductor since 2001. “I’ve worked hard to keep the band going since I took over.” Bach passed the baton to longtime member Miles Vokurka. “The band will be in very good hands,” he said. “I’m grateful to the community for its support.”
Visual arts ‘i haVe a name’ In January and February of 2017, a show at Northwind Arts Center gave viewers a glimpse into everyday life at Port Townsend’s Boiler Room, the youth center that shares a wall with Northwind. “I Have a Name: Identity and Belonging in Small-Town America” featured large-scale portraits and photographs by Raymond L. Ketcham. Ketcham observed the youth at The Boiler Room and began to document their life in blackand-white. In his portraits, he captured the young men and women looking directly into the camera, vulnerable. The photos showed unedited human features: a stray eyelash on the cheek, dandruff in the hair, smudged makeup – a single moment in time on their journey to self-identity. “When the photographs arrived, we were all just floored,” said Northwind director Michael D’Alessandro of the series. “There’s such a sense of trust and identify and confidence in these images – it’s just overwhelming.” Ketcham said his show was evidence of finding a solution to the issues facing at-risk youth. “The work that [The Boiler Room] is doing – and the way that they’re doing it – is very unique,” he said.
‘collecTors anD paTrons’ The Jefferson Museum of Art and History hosted a six-month show titled “Pat and Peter Simpson: Collectors and Patrons” in 2017, which opened in March. The show featured works from the collection of the late Peter and Pat Simpson.
Pieces from the mid-1980s were shown alongside newer works by the artists whom the Simpsons supported. By displaying more contemporary art alongside older pieces, the exhibit demonstrated how the artists’ works progressed over the years, and how encouragement engenders more art, said curator Ann Welch. “This exhibit reflects – once again, even after Peter’s passing – his encouragement of the arts and what he continues to add to the cultural landscape of art,” said Welch.
20 years oF local arT Port Townsend Gallery turned 20 in 2017. “Generosity and support is what’s keeping us going,” said Barbara Ewing, one of the original members of the cooperative local gallery. There’s an ongoing joke as to why Port Townsend Gallery is a popular place to attend during Art Walk. “It’s the food,” said Ewing. Whether food has anything to do with it or not, the gallery has remained a “Obviously we’re prominent feature of the downtown doing something Port Townsend right – we’ve been arts scene for years. “Obviously around for 20 we’re doing something right – we’ve years!” been around for 20 years!” said another original Will kalb member, Will MEMBER PORT TOWNSEND GALLERY Kalb.
caFe arT In August of last year, Áine Sandford, 24, had her first art show in Port Townsend. Sandford, who has been in and out of art and graphic design schools since high school, moved to Port Townsend from Boulder, Colorado, and started working at Better Living Through Coffee. When she wasn’t behind the counters of one of the busiest coffee shops around, she found herself on the other side, alongside coffee-drinking customers, painting watercolor cards. “I really love painting in front of people,” Sandford said. “Hearing life happen around me is really inspiring.” Over a few months, she completed the chalkboard art that graces the hallway at Better Living Through Coffee. “She’s a very gifted individual,” Better Living Through Coffee owner Ben Cook said. “She’s incredibly detail oriented; the longer you look at the [chalkboard] painting, the more you see.” Continued on page 15▼
East Jefferson County’s
Marine Corps reserve
Thank you to all the individual and businesses that made the 2017 Christmas Programs a success. We also helped Washington DSHS Foster Kids, Christmas for Children, Dove House and Veterans through Elks Lodge 317. A very special thank you goes out to: All the volunteers who help collect information and toys, putting together the requests and with the distribution and cleanup. Special recognition also goes to:
Email to news@ptleader.com or bring them by the office!! – 226 Adams Street, Port Townsend WA 98368 – Be sure to include your name and the general area the photo was taken. We are hoping to publish a photo page.
Celebrate our rare White Christmas!
Blue Heron Students Port Townsend Kiwanis Club Trinity United Methodist Church Port Townsend Elks Lodge 317 Jefferson County Sportsmans Assoc. Jefferson Transit Coldwell Banker Best Homes Offices Edward Jones Offices Silverdale USMC Recruiters Hadlock Building Supply Mo-Chili BBQ
Paella House U-Haul Moving & Storage Highway 20 Roadhouse Kitsap Banks Hilltop Tavern UpTown Theatre Farmers Reach Cafe Cape George Families Kala Point Families Port Townsend Les Schwab Tires
Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader
Wednesday, January 3, 2018 • A 15
20 17 Karen Allen is all smiles as she shakes Joey Pipia’s hand after stepping out of a red Corvette in the 2017 Port Townsend Film Festival parade. This is Allen’s third year at the Port Townsend Film Festival. Photo by Katie Kowalski
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Dance Shooting stars Ling Hui presented her 21st student dance show, “Shooting Stars,” the first weekend of June. Learning to dance is a gift, said Ling Hui. It’s a lasting one that encourages growth into healthy women. Though Melanie Bakin, 13, rehearses Friday, May 19 in preparation for Ling Hui's 21st Ling Hui is happy to have seen annual dance performance, which took place June 2-3. Photo by Katie Kowalski some of her dancers continue on through college, training professional dancers is not her goal. Rather, she said, she’s creating artists, no matter what Finding her words their future brings. Whether that profession is a doctor or a Julie Christine Johnson teacher, “they’ll have beautiful celebrated the release of her posture,” she said, “and people second full-length novel, will trust them.” “The Crows of Beara,” last September. Johnson first writing in 2010. NEW DANCE PIECE Community Read started “When the time came, when I had something I wanted to Port Townsend’s Phina The Port Townsend Public Pipia choreographed an Library selected Olympia say, I just said it,” she said. Her debut short story was original dance piece that she author Jim Lynch’s novel performed with fellow dancer “Before the Wind” as its 11th published the following year. Rachel Campanoli April 1. annual Community Read title More stories followed. In 2012, “It’s been years since I cho- in 2017. Community Read is a she began working on her first reographed anything,” said monthlong program designed novel, “In Another Life,” which Pipia, who danced profes- to promote closer ties among she finished in 2013, when she sionally in New York City. In community members through moved to Port Townsend. Johnson also attended the duet, she and Campanoli the communal experience of culinary school and is a wine danced in unison and in coun- reading, sharing and discussenthusiast. She said she terpoint, as soloists and in a ing ideas and topics generated pair, complementing each by a book. The family saga, writes the way she cooks. It’s other. “Rachel has this really set in Seattle, offers poignant part inspiration, and part fluid, lyrical way of moving,” characters, rich descriptions of improvisation. Her first book Pipia said. When I’m dancing, sailing and boatbuilding, and is was fantasy; her second was I have a controlled, very out- sprinkled with magic realism, published by a press in Oregon of-the-box, very wild, sparkly said library director Melody that specializes in “eco-lit” and “cli-fi.” She recently submitted kind of moving.” Sky Eisler. her third novel for publication.
Books & film
Editor’s note: As you head into the new year, make a commitment to experience more art and support local artists. Attend more concerts; see more live theater. While you’re running an errand, pop into one of the galleries downtown and see what catches your eye. As Ann Welch, who curated the “Pat and Peter Simpson” exhibit at the Jefferson Museum of Art and History, said, “Even if you can’t buy any artwork, you can tell an artist that they’re doing well. Tell artists over and over – in whatever way you can – that their work is valuable.”
Neville & Allen Port Townsend Film Festival artistic director Janette Force said the 2017 festival’s special guest, Morgan Neville, represented what the festival is about: creativity,
originality and pushing the boundaries of film. Neville, the director of the Oscar-winning documentary “20 Feet from Stardom,” attended the 2017 festival, which also welcomed back Karen Allen for a third year. Force said building the three-day festival for September begins in January, when festival staff and volunteers embark on seeking out and watching films to curate a program that balances documentaries with narratives, and also features a diverse array of subjects. Every year also brings myriad more details, from ensuring that a high-school-age guest can attend a late-night Saturday screening and make it back to New Orleans in time for school on Monday, to figuring out if it’s OK to deepfry a tarantula downtown. (It turned out that what Force thought of as a “delightful and spooky” spectacle did not happen. However, intrepid insectivorous festivalgoers had the opportunity to try free fried crickets and a few other delicacies as part of an insect-cooking demonstration associated with “Bugs on the Menu,” a documentary featured in the festival.) “No matter how much you think you know how a year is going to go, you really have no idea,” said Force. At the 2017 festival, “No Man’s Land,” won Best Documentary Feature, and “Life Hack,” won Best Narrative Feature. The 2017 Spirit of Port Townsend Film Festival award went to Rocky Friedman and The Rose Theatre.
Of note Farewell, Best The Port Townsend arts community lost Jeanette Best, who died Nov. 30, 2017 at the age of 79. Best was the cofounder of Northwind Arts Center and an avid supporter of the arts. “Her contribution to the arts in this area and this region is immense,” said Michael D’Alessandro, Northwind executive director. Northwind is renaming its artists showcase the “Jeanette Best Gallery,” with a ceremony scheduled for February.
Angel, Patron In 2017, Germaine Arthur and Steven Scharf were named the 2016 Angel of the Arts and Patron of the Arts, respectively. “These are really wonderful winners, embodying what we look for,” said Stan Rubin, Port Townsend Arts Commission chair. He noted that Arthur and Scharf both represent the selflessness and dedication that enable the arts to thrive. Arthur has devoted herself to the growth of the Community Chorus of Port Townsend and East Jefferson County since its founding. Scharf is a dentist who has transformed his Uptown District office into a gallery. “We are honored to recognize their sustained contribution to our community,” Rubin said.