Arts Briefs | February 6 edition | Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber

First Friday

Step out from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6, to check out shows gracing Vashon’s galleries and grab a bite to eat at local eateries.

In Vashon’s town center, Swiftwater Gallery — a place to check out the art of more than 50 local artists — will be open, as will VALISE Gallery. VALISE will continue to exhibit its “Comfy Chair Show” and offer a cozy place to sit by a fake roaring fire, sip tea, and view new island art from 1-9 p.m. on Friday. Regular hours for the gallery are 1-6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays throughout February.

Participating artists are Sharon Shaver, Pascale Judet, Dot Cherch, Rachel LordKenaga, Robert Passig, Stephen Schildbach, Hita von Mende, Bill Jarcho, Jiji Saunders, Lenard Yen, and Gregory Burnham.

See page 10 for articles about two more exhibits with First Friday receptions.

International Guitar Night

International Guitar Night, billed as the world’s premier touring guitar festival, will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, at Vashon Center for the Arts.

For each tour, the festival’s founder, Brian Gore, brings together a new cast of guitar luminaries for a special evening of solos, duets, and quartets, highlighting the talent and diversity within the acoustic guitar world.

The lineup for this year’s 25th anniversary tour includes Lulu Reinhardt, the grandnephew of legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt, playing Latin swing; classical guitarist Alexandra Whittingham, who has a repertoire ranging from classic to contemporary composers; Niwel Tsumbo, who has kept his driving Congolese percussive style alive over the past 25 years while living in Ireland; and Soenke Meinen, a leading contemporary finger-style guitarist.

Get tickets and find out more at vashoncenterforthearts.org.

Norwegian lecture and photos

Finn Brobakken, of Norway, will present a short lecture and photographs titled “Places you didn’t know to visit in Norway” at the Vashon Lutheran Church twice this month.

The first lecture is at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19; the second is at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21.

Brobakken will give impressions of a variety of smaller, lesser-known locations that may be of interest to tourists visiting Norway. He also promises that no lutefisk will be served in conjunction with the event.

Meow Meow

Music fans might remember that at Pink Martini’s 2024 concert at VCA, a performer named Meow Meow made a boisterous guest appearance.

But that was only a glimpse of the topsy-turvy world of cabaret chanteuse Meow Meow.

At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, islanders will get the opportunity to fully experience the post-post-postmodern diva that is Meow Meow — a performer described by the London Daily Standard as “part Joan Collins, part Lady Gaga, and part Liza Minnelli.”

Get tickets and find out more at vashoncenterforthearts.org.

Gruesome Playground Injuries

“Gruesome Playground Injuries,” a modern dark romantic comedy by Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph, will be staged by Drama Dock with four performances taking place Friday-Sunday, Feb. 21-23, at Open Space for Arts & Community.

Shows at 7 p.m. will be offered on Friday and Saturday; with 2 p.m. matinees presented on Saturday and Sunday.

The play, directed by Samantha Sherman, follows two characters — Kayleen and Doug, whose friendship goes way back. According to Drama Dock’s description of the play, “They met in the nurse’s office at St. Margaret Mary’s, but kids grow up so fast these days. From throwing up at the school dance at 13, to shooting an eye out with a firework at 23, to a psychotic break at 33, they’ve always been there for one another — just not at the same time.”

Find out more and get tickets at dramadock.org.

VIVA Spring Studio

Vashon Island Visual Artists (VIVA) is currently taking applications from artists and galleries for the organization’s 2025 Spring Tour, to be held on Saturdays and Sundays, May 3-4 and 10-11. The tour has a maximum of 45 stops that are included on a first-come, first-served basis. Artists are encouraged to team up and showcase multiple artists at tour stops. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28. Artists must be VIVA members to be on the tour, but can join with their applications at VIVArtists.com.

Acrobatic Conundrum

Acrobatic Conundrum, a virtuoso ensemble of circus artists, will present “The Circus of Second Chances,” at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at Open Space for Arts & Community.

Ensemble members Emma Curtiss, Melissa Knowles, and Terry Crane will perform in the show, showcasing their craftiness and ability to perform astounding circus stunts throughout the evening. The 85-minute show, appropriate for all ages, features rope acrobatics, Cyr wheel, hand-balancing, live baking, and clowning.

Find out more about the group at acrobaticconundrum.com and get tickets at acroconundrum.planningpod.com.