‘CATCH US WHILE YOU CAN’ CONTINUES

Islanders came out in droves for the opening of “Festival 25: Catch Us While You Can” at Open Space for Arts & Community last Friday night. The show, which celebrates the achievements of more than 70 local artists and musicians who have lived on the island for 25 years or more, continues all month, with the exhibition open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, except for Sept. 14 to 16. Free artist salons coming up soon include one with photographer Peter Serko, taking place at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, and one with Don Cole and Joan Wortis at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19. A salon with artist Valerie Willson will take place at 7 p.m. Sept. 26. During the show’s closing weekend, on Sept. 29 and 30, there will be five hours of music by longtime Vashon musicians each day.

PUT YOUR MASK ON FOR VCA AUCTION

Do you have your tickets (and Venetian-style garb) yet for “Masquerade,” this year’s art and experience auction to support general operations and scholarships at Vashon Center for the Arts? The auction will take place over the course of two evenings, Sept. 21 and 22, giving islanders the chance to purchase work by many local artists. For complete information and to purchase tickets, visit vashoncenterforthearts.org.

DANCE IT UP WITH BILL BROWN

Bill Brown and the Kingbees, a well-traveled band that is also well known on Vashon, will play a free show at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at the Red Bicycle Bistro & Sushi. Band leader Brown traveled earlier this year to Mexico, where he played with several blues and rock bands in the Zihuatanejo area. Now back on Vashon, he’s ready to bring his Kingbees (John Gaborit, Leslie Shelton, Steve Minzel and Tony Handy to the Bike to play music meant to get audience members up on their feet and dancing. The show is for all ages until 11 p.m. and for ages 21 and older after that.

MUSIC TO HEAL BY

Rafe Pearlman will perform a solo concert using voice, bronze bowls, drums and rattles at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at Spoke. Pearlman, who has roots in Seattle and Los Angeles, where he also performs, offers vocal coaching, leads workshops, collaborates with other musicians and composers. He also presents what a press released called “soundhealing events.” Pearlman, the release added, is “committed to spiritual uplifting, healing and wholeness through the transformational power of music and the creative arts.” The concert on Vashon, said organizer Abby Enson, is designed to relax, balance and revitalize its listeners with music that synthesizes cultures from around the world. Tickets for the event, $15 to $25, will be sold on a sliding scale.

CALLING KIDS TO SING

New choral programs are coming to Vashon this year, thanks to efforts by island-based soprano and vocal teacher Holly Boaz and the Vashon school district, with support from Vashon Choral Boosters, The Vashon Island Chorale, Windermere Vashon, the Beardsley Family Foundation and individual donors.

Starting on Sept. 12, there will be free after-school choirs for students in third and fourth grades at Chautauqua and sixth and seventh graders at McMurray Middle School. Both groups will meet on Wednesdays afternoons. For McMurray students, the theme of this fall’s session is “Broadway,” and there will even be a selection from “Hamilton” in the program. No auditions are necessary to participate, and both groups will perform in concerts. Boaz is also heading up a new free, community-based program, Vashon Youth Chorus, which will launch in January. For more information, or to support these efforts, contact Boaz at holly@hollyboaz.com.

ISLAND ARTIST IN SEATTLE

Local artist Ann Leda Shapiro will have work included in the exhibition, “Group Therapy,” at Seattle’s Frye Art Museum, opening at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14. The show includes works by an international roster of artists that comment on and/or adapt strategies of alternative medicine, psychotherapy and wellness practices.

VASHON OPERA

Vashon Opera will present La Bohème at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, and 7:30 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, at Vashon Center for the Arts. For ticket information, see vashonopera.org.