Living with conviction

A Community Gallery Walk will run from July 8 through Aug. 5, showcasing portraits and personal stories of formerly incarcerated individuals, hosted at 14 local businesses. The works highlight fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, and grandparents all struggling to survive and thrive, while also challenging the stereotype of what it means to be a “felon.”

Participating organizations and businesses include Vashon Public Library; SAW – Starving Artist Works; Pure Organic Kitchen & Juicery; Gravy Vashon; Vashon Print & Design; Giraffe; Vashon Bookshop; Gather Vashon; Treasure Island; Zamorana; Snapdragon; Raven’s Nest; Rock It! Consignment and Vashon Island Baking Company.

The show is a preleude to a community conversation, slated for August, with formerly incarcerated individuals. That conversation will focus on “legal financial obligations” (LFOs), which courts impose on criminal defendants at the time of sentencing.

The gallery walk and conversation are organized by the storytelling and advocacy organization Living with Conviction in partnership with community organizations Stand-up for Racial Justice (SURJ), Backbone Campaign, and the participating businesses.

Save the date for gospel

The award-winning Total Experience Gospel Choir will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 14, at Vashon Center for the Arts. The choir was started by Pastor Patrinell Staten Wright in 1973, and this is Pastor Pat’s 45th and final year of conducting the ensemble. The event is a fundraiser for Seattle’s Bailey-Boushay House, which provides care for those with HIV, AIDS and other terminal diseases. Tickets are Youth $5, VCA Members $10, seniors $12, and general $14. All tickets at the door are $18. To purchase tickets in advance or more information, visit vashoncenterforthearts.org.

Poultry in Motion at VCA

Next up in the series of free music shows organized by Vashon Events in partnership with Vashon Center for the Arts, the island group Poultry in Motion will play at 8 p.m. Friday, July 6, at VCA. Band members — who describe their group as “a drinking club with a music problem,” are Wilson Abbott, Steve Amsden, Chris Anderson, Gib Dammann, Bob Kueker and Dave Lang. They play music ranging from country to Cajun, swamp rock and folk.

Summer salons

Vashon Island Visual Artists (VIVA) will offer summer artist salons at Gather Vashon. The meet-and-greet artist salon series will offer opportunities to share casual conversations around various artistic interests. Participants should bring their ideas and dreams for future VIVA classes and events. Salons are organized by discipline, and open to all. No advance registration or membership with VIVA is needed to participate, but attendees are encouraged to bring a beverage, snack or appetizer to share, as well as examples or photos of their recent work. Salons will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. as follows — July 11: photography with Terry Donnelly; July 19: pottery and ceramics with Chris Beck, Lin Holly and Marla Smith; July 24: printmaking and illustration with Jean Echevarria; Aug. 9: paint and watercolor with Jeff Good and Valerie Willson; Aug. 22: woodwork and carving with John Moore.

Call for artists

In September, Open Space for Arts & Community will present “Catch Us While You Can! 25 + Years of Making Art on Vashon,” a show to include visual and performing artists who have lived on Vashon for 25 years or longer. “Catch Us” will open on Sept. 7 with music and art events. Exhibits, artist salons, lectures, discussions and performances will continue through Sept. 30, both inside and on the grounds of Open Space. There is no charge for submission or jurying, and all qualifying artists will be showcased. According to organizers, this is a celebration of “all the artists who grew the arts on the island, paved the way for new artists to emerge and continue to delight and enrich the senses of the Island community through music and visual art.” The deadline for submission is Aug 1. Visual artists seeking information or requesting to be included should contact Christine Beck at cdbeck@yahoo.com. Performers who need more information or want to be included should contact Allison or Pete at vashonmusic@gmail.com.