Bravo! Vancouver.

Hot jazz, fabulous wines, fine art, and delicious cuisine…experience it all at the 13th Annual Vancouver Wine and Jazz Festival taking place in the heart of Vancouver, USA, Esther Short Park, on August 27,28, and 29, 2010.

This year’s Festival features a diverse lineup of American “jazz legends”—including blues, fusion, Cajun, straight ahead and contemporary bands. Local and regional jazz bands will also be performing, and the Festival’s Jazz Education Stage will also provide an opportunity for middle school and high school musicians to perform on the same venue as the Grammy winners. More than 20 bands will be featured throughout the weekend!

In addition to the music, the Festival features over 200 wines from around the world. Attendees can sample wines, or purchase a glass to sip while enjoying food from 9 restaurants. The cuisine ranges from Northwest to German, Lebanese and Italian fare. Art lovers can shop the 40 fine artists from California, Idaho, Washington & Oregon. “The Festival is a true arts festival, in that we present American jazz music, fine arts and crafts, premium wines and great food” says Dr. Michael Kissinger, Artistic Director. “Our goal is to create a rich cultural and artistic environment, a palate from which people can sample and hear great music, drink a nice Northwest wine, purchase a piece of art, and just immerse themselves in an arts-rich weekend.”

Bravo! Vancouver produces the Vancouver Wine and Jazz Festival which is “one of the most important jazz festivals on the west coast.” Advance discounted tickets are on sale now, but tickets will also be available at the gate.

Celebrating Our Neighborhood Together.

First Fridays in Felida, where friends and neighbors meet for wine tasting, chocolate nibbling, art viewing, and conversation. Everyone is welcome at this fun and free event, hosted monthly by Barbara Hill Photography and Lakeshore Interior Design. Located in the heart of Felida, in the old fire station, their new studio offers a venue for neighbors and friends to gather on the first Friday of each month from 6-8 pm. Enjoy displays by local artists as well as complimentary wine tasting and chocolate delights.

Each month boasts its own theme for your entertainment. August is a heated month with gorgeous images of Arches National Park in Moab, Utah by Al Krause, as well as playful floral watercolors by SuzyArt. October will feature Young Artists night and an additional Friday for an evening Coffee House performance. Want more information about this event, or interested in participating in the next event? Give either Barbara or Suzanne a call.

Their studio is located at: 12216 NW 36th Ave. 98685. Limited parking is available behind the studio, so they encourage carpooling or walking. Barbara Hill can be reached at 503-314-0302 or online at Barbara Hill Photography, and Suzanne Simon at 360-904-8083 or online at decdens.com.

“We look forward to celebrating our neighborhood together!”

This post: “First Fridays in Felida”
was originally featured at Salmon Creek Live!

For more detailed neighborhood coverage of the People, Places, Activities and Events in Salmon Creek, please visit Salmon Creek Live!

Featuring Works by Isaiah Wyckoff.

Studio Eighty Twenty will be hosting Rising from the Ashes, featuring works by Isaiah Wyckoff, at LSW Architechts (2300 Main Street). There will be a special show opening on Friday, August 6th between 5 and 9 pm, and Saturday August 7th between 10 am and 4 pm. Works will be on display August 9th through the 31st, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4 pm (closed from noon to 1 pm).

Rising from the Ashes is the first in a two part series of recent works by Isaiah Wyckoff that attempts to offer a sense of hope in the face of pain. Whether it’s physical, emotional or spiritual… whether it’s deeply internal or rides on the surface… the landscape of our lives can wrench our hearts. The weight of it is real… but so to is the hope.  Select pieces from this show will be offered for sale with 80% of the proceeds going to local charities for those who need it most.

In fact, at Studio Eighty Twenty, all artists are committed to making a difference to those in our local community with the greatest needs: the homeless, the abused, the neglected. Through the sales of their art, 80% goes directly to local organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to helping those in need. For more information, visit Studio Eighty Twenty.

Ridgefield Art Association Spring Show This Weekend.

With an Artist’s reception and refreshments Friday night from 5-9 PM, and a full show Saturday 10 AM-5 PM, you can satisfy that art craving this weekend at the Ridgefield Community Center.  See the Ridgefield Art Association site for more details.

Studio Eighty Twenty Vancouver.

Do you love making art and making a tangible difference in people’s lives? Then check out Art with a Conscience, a weekly community art series hosted by Studio Eighty Twenty that addresses local and global issues through art.

Studio Eighty Twenty meets every Tuesday at Pop Culture in Downtown Vancouver (1929 West Main Street) from 5:30 to 7:00 pm to create art based around a theme, (which may include homelessness, poverty, hunger, etc.) and is open to the public.  “It will be a time for those that love making art to utilize their talents to make a tangible difference in our community and abroad.”

How can art make a difference?  Several times a year, Studio Eighty Twenty will hold an Art show, where the artist work is sold to collectors. Eighty percent of the proceeds “goes towards helping fund local organizations that have demonstrated a commitment for providing for those in need”, and twenty percent goes back to the artist to help purchase more art supplies.

To more information, including information on this month’s theme, visit Studio Eighty Twenty online.

Watercolor Not Just For Kids.

Washington State University Vancouver in Salmon Creek is currently displaying a group exhibition of selected Watercolor Artists from the Southwest Washington Watercolor Society in the Engineering Life Science Building through November 6.

The Southwest Washington Watercolor Society was established in 1979 to bring fine art to the community and to encourage a higher experience and education for both artists and the community.  WSU Vancouver Art Galleries are free and open to the public 8 am to 9 pm Monday through Thursday, and 8 am to 5 pm Friday.

Title: Graffiti Art Creation
Location: WSU Vancouver in Salmon Creek
Link out: Click here
Description: Graffiti artists creating a large scale work of art. Available for questions and comments.
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2009-09-09
End Time: 4:00

Title: Art Walk Downtown Vancouver
Location: Main Street
Link out: Click here
Description: Browse galleries, dance to music, and enjoy downtown Vancouver. Click link for more information.
Start Time: 17:00
Date: 2009-09-04
End Time: 21:00

Local Artists Shine.

Washington State University (WSU) Vancouver in Salmon Creek is currently exhibiting several local and upcoming artists in different mediums.

The first is a photography exhibit featuring Patty Finch and Rebecca Jensen, who are both  showing their photographs publicly for the first time. Merlinda Sain, human resource generalist for WSU Vancouver, organized this exhibit with the intention of creating an opportunity for emerging artists. Sain looked for artists with no professional experience but with a talent for photography.

The next is a graffiti inspired exhibit featuring both professional and emerging artists.  They include Denario Jenkins, Jeremy Nichols and Josue Rodriguez, who show in Portland-area galleries. Richard Jule, Andre Simard and Stacy Smith collaborated on a glass piece and are associated with Bullseye Gallery. Paul Estrada and Jordan Guy are emerging artists from Grant High School.

The art is on display in the Engineering Life Science Building and in the Administration Building gallery through September 10.

Jenkins, Nichols and Rodriguez will be on campus September 9, from 10 am to 4 pm at the basketball court on Loop Road to demonstrate their techniques and paint an original large-scale work of art. The artists will be available to speak with anyone who stops by to watch them work. The final piece will be displayed at the WSU Vancouver community celebration Connections 2009 on Sept. 10, 4 – 6 p.m. in the Firstenburg Student Commons.

Salmon Creek:  Art Workshop  Three Creeks Community Library will be having a drop in art workshop for all ages, Wednesday Nov 12 from 2-4 pm.  Call 571-9696, or visit the Three Creeks website for more information.