The recent Beachcomber article about Vashon Allied Arts’ curator Janice Malman’s heartfelt, impromptu words at the final gallery show in the “old” Blue Heron struck me as a partial benediction for a space that holds as many memories as the intricate time lines of an ancient, venerable tree (“Curator marks transition from old to new,” March 23).

Indeed, during the final musical offering on Saturday, March 20, Azula graciously reminded the full house that the Heron, built in 1917, was constructed with Vashon trees. Azula sang Edith Piaf songs accompanied by pianist Joe Baque. Piaf was born in 1915, just two years before the Heron was built. Joe Baque, at 94, still brilliant on the piano, was born in 1922, only five years after the Heron was built. It was as if Azula’s piercing and wistful Piaf songs, with Baque’s well-seasoned piano, represented all the years of breathtaking intimacy with performing artists of every kind that year after year has occurred in the old tree-built space.

An off-islander curious about the new and imposing arts center with its plethora of glass and grandiosity asked me about it. When I wrongly informed him of the amount of the donation that made it possible, a woman turned around to correct me. She seemed put out that I under-quoted the amount by millions of dollars. I wanted to tell her that those millions could not and would not buy the intimacy and warmth that was about to be retired — that for years, Vashon audiences have had the rare opportunity to touch the essence and heartbeat of live performances in an “up close and personal” way, something most people never experience. I wanted to say that if the walls of the Heron’s performing arts spaces could talk, they would sing. That they do. And that it would be a long time before the new walls could hold the tune.

— Merna Ann Hecht

*Editor’s note: The Blue Heron will continue to exist next to the new Vashon Center for the Arts and is scheduled to be renovated to continue to serve as an education space.