And on the subject of delicious—let’s talk about this week’s episode of Art Zone:

GOOD BOOKS!
SWEET & FUNKY SOUL!
AWESOME PHOTOGRAPHY!
AND HOW TO CUT UP A CHICKEN!

The AZ train leaves the station on Friday, March 12th @ 8:00 pm on Channel 21 and, due to their pledge drive schedule, Wednesday, May 5th @ 7:00 pm on KCTS 9. Tune in, or watch online anytime @ www.seattlechannel.org/artzone

Lots of arty action happening around town—check it out:

ArtXchange Gallery in Pioneer Square presents !SENSE US! 2010”, featuring works from ten outstanding Latino Artists from the Pacific Northwest. Through paintings, photography, documentary and abstraction, the artists balance their personal heritage and culture with the Puget Sound perspective. Runs now through April 30th.

Red Jacket Mine has been named the first artist-in-residence band at the brand new Hard Rock Café in downtown Seattle! Stop in on any Tuesday in March, from 7:30-10:00, for drinks, snacks, and the fabulously fresh sounds of RJM.

Pianist, Singer, Songwriter and Composer, Darrius Willrich, has a brand new CD, “Can’t get enough”, and he’s throwing an open-to-the-public party to celebrate! Happening Thursday, March 25th, Darrius and a few of his very talented friends will heat up The Triple Door stage with a full evening of original tunes. Be there.

And finally, March 18-28, Pacific Northwest Ballet presents a “3 By Dove” program, choreographed by Ulysses Dove (1947-1996), who said of his work, “In every embrace, every second of life (should be) lived so fully that there can be no regrets, no retreats, no looking back.” Amen to that.

That’s it for now. Have fun out there and keep in touch.
Xo, nancy g.

P.S. I recently learned that the secret to making a great piecrust is adding vodka to the dough. More on this topic in next week’s blog.

8:32am: Morning Meeting. Always fun to watch crew’s attempts to stay out of the way of camera and lights. I say this while lurking behind a curtain.

9:51am: Jose Gonzales is in the house, with another list of recommendations destined to drive up ITune bills. Beat-boxing temporarily breaks out.

10:46am: Forced to do another take when a tree starts mysteriously moving in the background. Little Shop of Horrors stuck in head for rest of day.

11:20am: A lamp bites the dust during scenery change. Sad, but nowhere near as upsetting as the nuclear jello lava lamp incident from a while back.

11:22am: What happens when you break a lava lamp, anyway? Seven years of bad munchies? A ferret gets its wings? … Is this thing on? Oops.

1:24pm: Cleaning out fridge in preparation for interviewing guests. If you see a saran-wrapped thing crawling down the street, there’s your answer.

2:10pm: Rehearsing for upcoming improvisational performance. This is one of those jumbo shrimp / forward retreat type of deals.

2:43pm: Woman in improv troupe just dropped and spontaneously started doing pushups while talking in funny voices. This is going to be interesting.

3:01pm: 1st improv session occurs. Topic: The EMP. Veers into discussion of hoses, skulls, and Fluegelhorns. My kingdom for a Flowchart.

3:13pm: 2nd improv. Topic: Waiting for the bus. Baboons, deodorant, and wonderbras. Sound guy Greg declares them better than barrel of monkeys.

3:22pm: Final improv. Topic: panhandling. Old televisions, Goldilocks, pushing old ladies down stairs. Worried Greg may actually laugh head off.

3:43pm: Wrap on the loosest show in quite a while. Will be some time before everyone stops random associating. Purple Monkey Dishwasher.

-Andy

And speaking of– this week’s Art Zone is no dream, but it sure is dreamy!

HATS! MUSIC! ARTSY NEWS! IMPROVISATION! RECYCLED TIN ART!

Blast off happens Friday, March 5th @ 8:00 pm on Seattle Channel 21 and, due to their 2-week pledge drive, on KCTS 9 Wednesday, March 24th @ 7:00 pm.

And now for a few fun things to consider:

New Century Theatre Company presents “Pipeline”—a free and open to the public new play reading series at Solo Bar on lower Queen Anne. This month’s reading, happening Monday, March 8th @ 7:30, is a collaboration with Vancouver, BC’s critically acclaimed theatre company, “Horseshoes & Hand Grenades”, and features Sean Devine’s play “Father Daughter Reunion”, the true story of one man’s stand against the U.S. Government. With John Lang directing (voted best local director of 2009), seats will fill up fast so don’t dawdle!

The 7th annual Moisture Festival is about to take Seattle by storm! Appearing in five venues around the city, including Open Space for Arts & Community on Vashon, this raucous 3-week circus has something for everyone. Runs March 11th thru April 3rd.

Local Seattle artist Jo Moniz has a new show of encaustic works that explore dreams in place and time, along with pattern and color, at Shift Collaborative Studio, located in Pioneer Square’s Tashiro Kaplan Building. This beautiful solo exhibit runs March 4-27, with a “meet the Artist” opening night reception on Friday, March 5th from 5-8.

For those of you who like to plan ahead, mark your calendar for the Seattle Weekly’s “Voracious Tasting Food Awards” happening April 14th at the Paramount Theatre. This evening of culinary celebration includes restaurant samplings, libation tastings, and a local chef showdown with MC Tom Douglas, plus live music and the fourth-annual presentation of the Seattle Weekly’s Food Awards. Mmm, mmm, good!
That’s it for now– see you ‘round town.

Xo, nancy g.

P.S. Just bought a new lipstick at Sephora, and I think I’m starting to look like the model on their website. I have a good feeling about this one…

8:32am: Somber mood at the opening meeting, as it’s the last day for The Amazing Sonja. Mitigated slightly by amazing assortment of parting gifts.

9:20am: Nancy reveals severely spooky-cool self-portrait of Graham Nash for upcoming segment. “Almost Cut My Hair” lyrics suddenly make more sense.

9:43am: Over the past 24 hours, we’ve had both a camera and a mixing board go south. Scared to touch anything, to be honest.

9:55am: Robert Horton is in the house, wearing a tie that beggars description. Man’s got style. Creepy photo of Graham Nash seems to approve.

11:05am: Brief discussion in control room over how best to describe Nancy’s sweater. Consensus seems to be “Shingled.”

11:12am: Cameraman Bob gads about the studio with Sonja’s feathered boa. This is fairly restrained for Bob. Hope he’s not coming down with something.

11:37am: After nearly 3 hours in the studio, featured art has yet to attack anyone. Knock on wood.

12:08am: Nancy delivers a huge mouthful of dialog about the featured art, while standing perilously close to the fan blade. Sure, provoke it.

1:42: Erin Jorgensen arrives with her marimba, a beautiful instrument which contains at least 11 billion separate parts. Assembly required.

3:44: The marimba may be the best instrument in the world, boasting both a gorgeous sound, and a really fun name to say. Tough break, Flügelhorn.

4:12: Wrap on what feels like one of our best musical segments ever. Group hug with Sonja follows. For first time, wish show had run longer.

-Andy

What is heavenly to me is this week’s episode of Art Zone! ANIMATION! ART WITH HEART! FILM! AND GRAHAM NASH!

We flip the fun switch on Friday, February 26th @ 8:00 pm on Channel 21, and Wednesday, March 3rd @ 7:00 pm on KCTS Channel 9.

And now for a few recommendations of fun stuff to do around town:

Women Seeking… a theatre company West, presents the classic, “Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean”. Running now thru March 14th at Richard Hugo House, this equity member project is directed by Christine Mosere and features a cast of powerhouse actors, including, Laura Kenny, Eleanor Moseley, Kate Szyperski and Rebecca Olson.

Check out “36 Views of Mount Rainier”, a beautiful show of Japanese Woodblock Prints by Kristina Hagman. The show runs now through March 19th at the Kinsey Gallery, which is located in the A & A building on the Seattle University campus. While on the campus, make sure you take a stroll through the St. Ignatius Chapel it’ll blow your mind.

The great Vusi Mahlasela hits the UW’s Meany Hall stage on Saturday, February 27th. An influential voice during the struggle to overthrow apartheid, this South African guitarist/singer-songwriter/poet-activist draws from blues, world, soul, and folk music to create a unique musical style that has enchanted and inspired listeners worldwide.

Have a terrific week and, until we meet again, drink plenty of water, breathe deep, and pick up a bag of Tim’s.
Xo, nancy g.

8am: Morning meeting. Director Travis mentions that today’s guests include one of the 12 sexiest bald men in the world. Uneasy silence follows.

8:20am: Trays of cupcakes, muffins, and other goodies everywhere. Office looks like the site of peace accords between Keeblers and Oompa Loompas.

9:09am: Shooting of the open begins. Nancy is wearing her awesome barbarian vest, which bodes well for the day. As long as she doesn’t hurt me.

9:35am: Orville Johnson Trio performs. Lots of amazing pickin’, moderate amount of grinnin’, a few unearthly yelps from Orville.

10:28am: Playing air guitar in front of camera as lighting stand-in for upcoming sexy bald performer, Andre Feriante. Never felt hairier.

10:59am: Andre performs. Exceeds expectations. Deity-level guitar playing seems to be becoming an Open Studio tradition. Dude must have 28 fingers.

12:28pm: Markeith Wiley is performing. Nice guy, superb dancer, accompanied by a way-cool replica of old-school video game music. I need quarters.

12:41pm: Nancy briefly breakdances. I’d say more, but, you know, barbarian vest.

1:55pm: Post-lunch; crew is momentarily distracted by glitterball that’s been kept in the office freezer for six days. Probably should delete this.

2:23pm: Band Speak transforms studio into cross between 40’s film noir and David Lynch outtake. Really eerie stuff, in a really, really good way.

4:10pm: 2 Things I’ve learned from Monica Schley: 1) Harps have foot pedals. 2) She has enough talents to legally be considered a superhero.

4:42pm: End of shooting. Cut, wrap, print, pass out. Not necessarily in that order.

-Andy

1 carrot
3 tiny slices of yellow bell pepper
23 Ritz Crackers
15 milk duds (that I stole out of an open box on a fellow employees desk)
1 Twix Bar
2 frozen waffles w/butter and syrup
¾ of a Nestles Crunch Bar

Now, I’m no Nutritional Scientist, but I’m wondering if this menu had anything to do with my middle of the night, “I’m a horrible person and a failure and nobody likes me” crying jag?

Okay, that’s it. Tomorrow I’m going gluten free and Vegan!

And speaking of gluten free… This week’s Art Zone is our delicious and nutritious “Open Studio” episode, where we give five local performers three minutes each to strut their stuff, and strut it they do!

The AZ train leaves the station on Friday, February 12th @ 8:00 pm on Channel 21, and on Wednesday, February 17th @ 7:00 pm on KCTS Channel 9.

“And now for something completely different”: (thank you Monty Python)

Simple Measures features world-renowned oboist, Alex Klein, in their upcoming concert happening February 12-15 at MORE TO COME. Led by Simple Measures founder Rajan Krishnaswami, the evening will unfold in it’s usual informal, open-to-audience-feedback-sort-of-way, with a wonderful menu of music, including works by Mozart and Mendelssohn.

I’m totally jazzed about the new production of “Glengarry Glen Ross” at Seattle Repertory Theatre. This intense and excellent script by David Mamet is being performed by a brilliant group of mostly local actors — John Aylward, R. Hamilton Wright, Charles Leggett, MJ Sieber, Shawn Belyea, Ian Bell, and Russell Hodgkinson—which pretty much guarantees an unforgettable evening of live theatre. Translation: Don’t. Miss. It. Runs now thru February 28th.

I highly recommend “Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock ‘n’ Roll Photographs Selected by Graham Nash”, running now thru April 11th at EMP. You’ll recognize a number of shots in the exhibit, but there are also some pictures that have never been shown before, including a few weird ones, (Francesco Scavullo’s image of Mick Jagger standing on a fake beach in a pair of way-too-tight silver shorts comes to mind). The show is broken up into three sections: Portrait, Performance, and Personal, and is quite effective in capturing the different aspects of these iconic artists. I also recommend buying the accompanying book that, although pricey, is a must for rock star photo fans.

Whatever you end up doing this week, do it with joy… see you soon.
Xo, nancy g.

P.S. I interviewed Graham Nash last Friday about that “Taking Aim” photography exhibit at EMP, and it was really fun. He’s a total pro and a super nice guy. You’ll see our conversation in an upcoming Art Zone show — February 26th on Channel 21, and March 3rd on KCTS Channel 9.

(Note: I would hereby like to state for the record that I have no idea where the motor for said air conditioner is located, nor would I ever consider sabotaging it. Honest. I enjoy my job.)

Only adding to the strangeness of the day were the friendly guys in tool belts who would open gaping holes in the ceiling, put up support beams seemingly at random, and then disappear, clanking, into the crawlspaces for hours on end. Taken all together, I’m considering it lucky that nobody on the crew took a wrong turn in the equipment closet and ended up in Narnia.

Still, amid all the chaos, a memorable show was produced, thanks to the boundless enthusiasm of Nancy, ace sound guy Greg, and the rest of the usual suspects. Thanks also to Adrian Xavier and his band, who brought in such a positive aura that it was possible to ignore the surrounding weirdness. Temporarily, anyway.

Coming up next week: A really, really big show. Well, that, or the entire studio somehow travels back in time. The odds at this point are 50/50, honestly.

- Andy

Wow! I thought, “that’s so cool!” But then my friend Agastya (hmmmm . . . might it be that those with names beginning with “A” like to lead the pack? The last name of the woman who did the first Theatre Puget Sound post also began with the letter “A” . . .), posted his list. He saw 102(!) shows in 2009. And his goal in 2010? – to break his own record by trying to see at least 3 shows a week! For the month of January, he’s seen 14. At that rate, he’ll see well over 150 shows by year-end.

There used to be a guy in town named Joe Boling. He saw more live performance than anyone. He included opera and other performances on his list, but I think he averaged about 250+ performances per year and I think he hit over 300 one year. He would try to see shows every night of the week and loved nothing better than to try to catch 5 shows on Saturdays. He paid for every single ticket and wrote personal reviews for everything – all archived with Theatre Puget Sound. One year I tried to see as many shows as him and only hit about 150. I was sad when he moved out of state – theatres need more devoted audience members like Joe. But I’m delighted to see that there’s a small group of people out there trying their darndest to beat their own personal best.

How many shows did you see last year? If you saw one a month, maybe aim for 3 every two months. Or if all you were able to see was one show, why not try for 2 this year? Need suggestions? Check out the current Art Zone show or check at the Show Links section on the Art Zone website. Have fun with it and get out and see some theatre!

Enjoy!
Kathy

P.S. And in case you’re wondering – in 2009 I saw 76 shows which I thought was pretty decent until Agastya told me how many he’d seen. So I went gang-busters and saw 10 shows in January (to try to beat his 100+) only to find out he’d seen 14. I guess the nice thing about being 2nd is I have something to aspire to without feeling the pressure of having to stay #1.

Also in the planning stages is this week’s Art Zone episode, and it is action packed with: MUSIC! FILM! THEATRE! FINE ART! The magic happens Friday, February 5th @ 8:00 pm on Channel 21 and Wednesday, February 10th @ 7:00 pm on Channel 9. Be there, baby!

A quick brag about my cool artist sister, Anne Baumgartner, who recently graduated from a two-year low-residency MFA-Fine Arts program from Art Institute of Boston @ Lesley University.

There are a lot of positive things I can say about Anne’s experience, but what most inspires me is her commitment. She threw herself into this challenging program that asked her, from day one, to let go of the familiar and embrace the unknown. And that’s exactly what she did. From the book reading and paper writing, to the work she created in her studio along the way, Anne gave it her very best. When she felt lost, confused, or uninspired, she kept plodding forward, doing what her advisors and mentors suggested, and the end result is that she is a changed person, certainly creatively, with a vision and deeper understanding of what she wants to say through her art. Yay, Anne!

A couple of art gallery outings to consider:

Gallery 4Culture presents “Object History Awareness”, a solo photography exhibit from up and coming artist Sol Hashemi. Running February 4-26, Sol describes his work as “Things I have encountered, actions that have been performed, and relationships discovered between specific objects and moments in time.” Sounds good to me.

Take a road trip south for Jef Gunn’s new exhibit, “Undo Every Woven”, at Traver Gallery Tacoma, opening Saturday February 13th with a reception from 2-5, and running thru March 7th. Using traditional as well as modern techniques, Gunn’s paintings, prints, mixed media collage, and photographs concentrate both the grand and intimate aspects of wilderness into interrelations of shape and color.

And finally, this coming Friday I have the honor of interviewing Graham Nash of “The Hollies” and “Crosby, Stills & Nash” fame. Mr. Nash is in town for the opening of the emp exhibit, “Taking Aim: Unforgettable Rock ‘n’ Roll Photographs Selected by Graham Nash”, and I am both excited and nervous. Excited because CSN was, and still is, one of my favorites bands. And nervous because, well, celebrities can be intimidating. That said, I hear he’s a real nice guy. I sure hope so. You’ll have a chance to see the results when we run the interview in our 2/26 Art Zone episode. In the meantime, make sure to check out the “Taking Aim” photography show, running February 6th thru April 11th.

Ain’t life grand?
Xo, nancy g.