posts by Nora Kovacs
by Nora Kovacs for OLY ARTS After releasing its debut album Threes this past February, Oklahoma-based, Americana-and-jazz band Harumph brings its vintage-sounding tunes to Olympia’s Music in the Park. Formed by Olympia native Kate Dinsmore, who leads the group with her effortlessly robust vocals, and composer-pianist David Leach, Harumph is a contemporary twist on old-fashioned …
by Nora Kovacs for OLY ARTS Apple Tree Productions presents four exciting productions this summer, including an adult rendition of the musical Hairspray in July and youth performances of Aida in August. The company prides itself on providing students of all ages with quality afterschool and summertime instruction in drama. During the summer, students of …
by Nora Kovacs for OLY ARTS Sit back and relax with the soulful sound of a modern jazz legend as part of the Lacey in Tune summer-concert series. Award-winning horn player Dmitri Matheny will conclude the series with his smooth charm and masterful form on the flugelhorn. Born in Nashville, Tennessee and raised between Georgia …
by Nora Kovacs for OLY ARTS “Once upon a time, there was a young woman who knew exactly what she wanted out of life.” That woman is Elizabeth Lord, and thus begins her story as an Olympia-based actor, teacher, vaudeville performer and, above all, storyteller. Lord describes herself as a “professional talker” who turned her …
by Nora Kovacs for OLY ARTS Saint Martin’s University will open its doors to 15 local fiction writers for the second installment of its Summer Creative Writing Institute. The small, week-long intensive invites writers of all ability levels to live and work on campus, collaborate with peers, learn from professionals in the field and develop …
by Nora Kovacs for OLY ARTS Sophie Stimson’s work draws inspiration from body and form, both human and animal. Working predominantly with ceramic, bronze and oil painting, Stimson pays respect to the geographic and natural sources of each medium. For the ceramic pieces, Stimson’s clay is mixed along the Puyallup River, while its red tint …
by Nora Kovacs for OLY ARTS The environment is part and parcel of artist Charles M. Willyard’s practice. Using nature as his palette, Willyard drifts between photography, oil and acrylic painting, charcoal, digital media and decorative interiors. From Canada to Michigan and Ohio to Washington, Willyard’s work has encapsulated a wide range of physical landscapes. …
by Nora Kovacs for OLY ARTS Studio West Dance Theatre presents ballet classic Giselle, an adventurous choice for the studio and an emotionally effervescent piece certain to leave audiences filled with joy and energy. From love and the supernatural to vengeance and forgiveness, the ballet spans a multitude of universal themes. Director Stephanie Wood-Ennett spoke …
by Nora Kovacs for OLY ARTS Northwest favorite Tom Rawson is part folksinger, part storyteller and all about bringing people together. Rawson got his start as a peace activist, and that positivity still shines through in his work. Whether he’s singing a classic folk tune, recounting an old story or simply cracking a joke, Rawson …
by Nora Kovacs for OLY ARTS Felt Decoded, the latest exhibition by Olympia-based textile artist Janice Arnold, has been over two years in the making. From working on 75-foot tables to alternating between a dry and wet studio, Arnold’s medium of choice is by no means a simple one. Not only does she navigate her …