TAO Revives The HEAD That Wouldn’t DIE!

Theater Artists Olympia’s “The HEAD That Wouldn’t DIE!” at Lakewood Playhouse is a takeoff on one of the worst B movies ever, “The Brain That Wouldn’t Die,” with additional dialogue and lyrics by the TAO collective. It is two hours of camp and insanity, not recommended for children younger than 13 according to a warning posted in the theater and not recommended for people who don’t get satire according to this reviewer.

South Sound Studio Tour: Two Days of Wonder

by Alec Clayton The South Sound Studio Tour is a free self-guided tour of artists’ studios throughout Olympia, Tumwater and Lacey with more than 75 artists in more than 25 studios where you can see their recent work and talk to them about their art. Here are four artist studios not to be missed: Joe …

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Critic’s Corner: Best Visual and Performing Arts of 2024

Many of the South Sound’s best theater and visual arts critics write for OLY ARTS. We asked six of them to highlight some of their favorite visual and performance art shows from 2024, and we congratulate and celebrate the Olympia and Tacoma-area artists selected. Due to the limitation we put on the critics of no more than two or three shows, we are aware of and acknowledge that many great shows and artists were not picked. We are lucky to live in such a vibrant creative community.

Make Way: Queer Photography, Identity, and You

Steven Miller is a local artist and photographer with work in Tacoma Art Museum’s collections. The museum approached him about creating a workshop on queer photography. “As part of his practice, he’s been experimenting with cyanotypes, and we wanted to host a workshop about this unique photographic process,” said Rachel Ervin. Director of Marketing and Communications at TAM.

Form & Pose: Joint Show of the Works of Gabi and Alec Clayton

In Rex & Rose, a new coffee shop located in the beautiful and historic Security Building on 4th Avenue, you will see the works of two of the most prolific artists Olympia has to offer, Alec and Gabi Clayton. The art there until the end of October was chosen by co-owner Jay Michael Becker who curates the shows. This is the first time the Claytons have shown together other than in their home, and it is engaging to see how the two bodies of work interact with each other in such a beautiful setting.

Community, A Storefront Exhibition in the Goldberg Building

The theme of the latest exhibition at the Goldberg Building windows in downtown Olympia is a celebration of our local community featuring works by China Star, Kelly Watson, Daisy Curley and Aaron Zonka. It is beautifully executed and displayed in a variety of styles and media. It will be on view now through the month of July in the windows at Fourth Avenue and Capital Way.

The King in Yellow, a Review

Theatre Artists Olympia’s The King in Yellow, a world premiere play by Olympia playwright and actor Xander Layden, runs through May 26 at OlyTheater in Capital Mall. The first act is an intelligent and funny comedy of manners with hints of something else beneath the surface. Act Two is an edge-of-your-seat horror show.

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