Nikkita Oliver comes to Vashon
Nikkita Oliver, a powerhouse Seattle educator, mayoral candidate, artist, attorney, boxer, musician, mentor and organizer, will speak and perform twice on Friday, June 7. At both appearances, accompanied by two musicians, she’ll tell stories and talk about the transformative power of storytelling, as well as perform passages from her book of poetry, “Pebbles in my Shoes.”
Oliver’s first stop, at 1 p.m. Friday, June 7, at Vashon Center for the Arts, will be a presentation and talk-back called “The Power of Story,” given to students of Vashon’s Harbor School and McMurray Middle School. Home-schooled youth are also encouraged to attend and may do so by reserving a seat at info@vashoncenterforthearts.org.
Oliver’s second presentation will take place at 6 p.m. Friday, June 7, in the Fellowship Hall of the Vashon Presbyterian Church, and will be more focused on the content of “Pebbles in my Shoes.” Admission for the evening performance is $15 for adults and $5 for youth, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Advance tickets are available at nikkitaoliver.brownpapertickets.com.
Oliver became a household name in 2017, with her newsmaking bid for Seattle mayor, but she has long been acclaimed for her creative and impactful work in the intersections of the arts, law, education and community organizing.
Folk icon Claudia Schmidt will play
Claudia Schmidt, a celebrated singer-songwriter and player of 12-string guitar and mountain dulcimer, will perform at a house concert on Vashon at 7 p.m. Monday, June 10. To find out the location, make a reservation for the show with kat@kateggleston.com. The show is presented by Tip the Scales. Schmidt has traveled the world with her music, appeared regularly on “A Prairie Home Companion” and released 14 albums during her four-decades-long career. Her music explores folk, blues and jazz idioms, but concert organizer Kat Eggleston said almost anything, really, can be expected at a Schmidt concert — even hymns, poems, bawdy verse, torch songs and satire.
“Her musicality is astonishing, and her joy and love of performing are contagious,” Eggleston said.
Ara Lee James and Beth Wood at VCA
Singer-songwriters, poets and authors Ara Lee James and Beth Wood will appear in concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 14, at Vashon Center for the Arts. The show, presented by Debra Heesch and VCA, will also feature special guest Kathryn Claire. As a duo, Woods and James play soul and gospel-infused folk music informed by their Texas and Appalachia roots, as well as their prolific work as poets. For more information and tickets, visit vashoncenterforthearts.org.
‘Oh Brother!’ at VCA
“Oh Brother,” a new musical play by Jon Whalen based upon music made famous in the movie “O Brother Where Art Thou,” will debut at 7 p.m. Sunday, June 16, at VCA. Numerous island musical artists will join Whalen in this performance full of classic old songs and Vashon whimsy. For more information and tickets, visit vashoncenterforthearts.org.
