posts by Alec Clayton
VISUAL ARTS REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Salon Refu owner Susan Christion posted this on Facebook: “I have an art gallery, Salon Refu. This evening we finished installing a quiet, enticing, initially mysterious show of works by Shaw Osha, my friend and an important artist. Sometimes I don’t understand what Shaw is doing …
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Olympia Family Theater’s “Let’s Play Daytime Shows” are interactive shows for young children, performed on the first Monday, Wednesday and Friday of every month. All shows this season are adapted and directed by Kate Ayers. They’re performed by local actors and are generally about 30 minutes long. “We have …
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS The downtown Olympia Timberland Regional Library now has a child-size, handmade bookmobile built by local woodworker Jay T. Scott, with a painting of otters on the back by artist Nikki McClure. On the side is an aphorism hand-lettered by Ira Coyne–“You Otter Be READING!”–and a poem, also lettered by …
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Keeping with a long-standing tradition, Music in the Park’s season ends with a live concert from The 56th Army Band. Based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the band plays many local and regional venues. Recently, for example, it appeared at Seattle’s Rock and Roll Marathon and performed a concert at …
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS The classic-rock band Blind Facsimile, aka Blind Fax, is Deb Rutter (vocals), Lorraine Stensager (vocals, keyboards), Tim Stensager (vocals, keyboards), Brian Ferris (guitar, backing vocals), Evan Ogden (drums) and Vince Chavez (bass). Chavez says the band “captures the heart and soul of classic rock, playing music which defined generations. …
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS On Aug. 5, Music in the Park moves to the Port Plaza at Percival Landing for a show from old-style-blues band Blues County Sheriff. Band members say they live to have fun and put on a great show. “Forget the myth that blues is sad music,” they say. “Our …
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS The gypsy-jazz band Swing 49 performs for Olympia’s Music in the Park this summer. Self-described as offering soulful vocal jazz, virtuosic guitar solos and funky horn lines, Swing 49 is Jacqueline Schafer, vocals; Tovi Newman, guitar; Forest Wilson, guitar; Logan Bean, trumpet and Joe Eunice, bass. Calling Olympia home, …
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS EDITOR’S NOTE: This event was cancelled by the venue on Aug. 4. — Olympia painter Barlow Palminteri graces the walls of Salon Refu with a series of paintings of his backyard. “Everything was within 500 feet of the house,” Palminteri says. The gallery will be filled with paintings and …
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS This summer marks the 36th season of children’s theater programs and performances by Creative Theatre Experience at Olympia High School. The program is run by Kathy Dorgan, drama director at OHS. Classes are offered in art, drama, music and other aspects of the performing arts. “CTE’s mission,” said Dorgan, …
by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS The Olson Brothers, Luke and Isaac Olson, are a country band from Olympia. They won the 2013 Capital Lakefair Battle of the Bands and a national songwriting contest with “Sunrise,” the original song they got to play at the Grand Ole Opry. Drummer Seth Bowman, bassist Milo Mullen and …