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Annual Washougal Studio Artist Tour Holiday Art Market Coming Nov. 18-19

Washougal, WA – Explore the world of unique and exquisite holiday gifts by stepping inside the studio workshops of local artists during the annual Washougal Studio Artist Tour Holiday Art Market. This special event is scheduled for Saturday, November 18 and Sunday, November 19, running from 10 am to 4 pm both days.

The idea for this event emerged following the success of their springtime Mother’s Day tour, where customers were captivated by the exceptional artistry they encountered. Event organizer and talented fused glass artist, Shirley Bishop, shared her insight: “Customers at our Mother’s Day tour asked if we held anything like this near the holidays. Customers were impressed with what they saw. They were impressed with the quality and uniqueness of the art. They wanted access to our local artists for their holiday shopping.”

This year’s third annual tour, the Washougal Studio Artist Tour (WSAT) Holiday Art Market, will showcase the creations of sixteen artists at four unique Washougal art studios, most of whom have been part of previous studio tour events, with new ones we are also excited to share! Because this endeavor proved successful, it is sure to continue to be a cherished Washougal holiday tradition. 

“The tour provides an opportunity to invite customers into artists’ studios to better understand the process they go through to create these works of art,” explained Bishop. “People love to buy directly from the artist, see their workspace, and learn more about them. The pieces in the tour are exceptional and unique. These artists are not ‘crafters.’  They are truly artists making a living selling their art.”  

Ry Luikens
Visit www.Ry4Camas.com

Some of the artists even offer art classes for the public to learn their techniques.

Participating artists in our 2023 Holiday Tour includes: 

  • Studio #1: Linda Andrews-Riggs, specializing in watercolors; Sharon Buckmaster who creates wearable art, and Sandy Moore (studio owner) with her creative fiber art.  
  • Studio #2: Regina Westmoreland, talented mixed media artist, Phyllis Carter, celebrated for her fused glass artistry, Ellen Nordgren also known for her work in mixed media, Deborah Nagano mixed media artistry, Liz Nye specializing in mixed media art, Toni McCarthy with her boho style jewelry, and Tamara Dinius an expert in mixed media artistry and owner of the Adret’ Collective of artists.  
  • Studio #3: Kathy Marty with her hand-woven rugs and home goods from Pendleton woolen scraps, LesleyAnne Ezelle an alpaca fiber & clay artist, Roxanne Turley works in alcohol ink/mixed media, Shirley Bishop (studio owner) known for her beautiful glass artistry.  
  • Studio #4: holds David Van Zandt (studio owner) as a bronze sculptor & his oil artistry and Charlene Hale also well known for her unique glass art works.

The event is sponsored in part by a City of Washougal Lodging Tax Fund grant. For event details, artist profiles and contacts, and a map to the studio locations go to https://www.washougalstudioartists.org

Holiday art
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Clark College Jazz Band Fall Concert Coming Nov. 18

Features jazz favs from Nestico, van Husen, Roland, and contemporary composers Sherburne, McGuinnes, and Neu

VANCOUVER, WA — The Clark College Jazz Band, under the direction of Dr. Doug Harris, presents their Fall Concert on Saturday, November 18, 7:30 pm in the Gaiser Student Center, Clark College Campus. Admission to the performance is free and open to the public. Donations to the Clark College Music Department are welcome at the door.

“The year has started off with a bang with several new band members and I’m excited to share our program,” said Harris.  “We’ll play music by Sammy Nestico and Jimmy van Huesen (both associated closely with the Count Basie Orchestra), Gene Roland (of Stan Kenton fame), and contemporary composers Erik Sherburne, Pete McGuiness and Andrew Neu, among others. We will, of course, be showcasing several of our outstanding soloists. Also, as part of our pre-celebration of the 60th Annual Clark Jazz Festival, we will have a poetry reading by Clark student Kaylie Chavez of her jazz-inspired work, A Busy Street, as well as art work by Grant Hottle’s drawing class. We will also be sharing some very exciting news regarding the Jazz Festival…see you there!”

For complete information about all the Clark College Music Department concerts including the orchestra, concert band, jazz band, and choirs, please see http://www.clark.edu/campus-life/arts-events/music/music-concerts.

Dr. Doug Harris is the Director of Bands at Clark College since 2018 after serving as Assistant Director of Bands at Western Kentucky University, and Director of Bands at both Santa Clara University and Southern Utah University. He also enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a high school band director in Florida. Dr. Harris received his Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Florida, his Master of Arts and Doctor of Arts from the University of Northern Colorado. His conducting teachers include Richard W. Bowles, Dr. Raymond Chobaz, Dr. German Gutierez, Dr. Richard Mayne and Dr. Kenneth Singleton, and has studied with Douglas Akey, Stanley Derusha, John Paynter and Frank Batiste.

At his most recent high school, Palm Bay High School in Melbourne, FL, his concert and jazz bands were recognized as being among the elite in the state, regularly receiving highest marks at district and state festivals. The Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at the University of Florida Invitational Concert Band Festival as well as the prestigious Bands of America National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis. The top jazz band performed at, and won, jazz festivals in Florida, Georgia and Virginia, and has earned praise while performing with jazz notables such as Ira Sullivan, Bill Prince, Marc Dickman, Christian Tamburr, Maynard Ferguson, David Steinmeyer, Bobby Shew and Portland’s own Charlie Porter.

Gary Perman
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Tales of the Oregon Trail to be Presented at Historical Society Annual Meeting

Camas-Washougal, WA — Local storyteller Pepper Toelle Kim will recount the real events of her ancestor’s 1844 wagon train journey along the Oregon Trail at the annual meeting of the Camas-Washougal Historical Society.  The free CWHS program is open to all on Saturday, November 4 at 2pm at the Washougal Community Room at 1681 C Street, near City Hall.

“Like many Oregon Trail journeys, the saga of my ancestors’ wagon train seems like a novel, with its array of trials, sorrows, and triumphs,” said Kim.

Kim’s ancestors traveled alongside historic settlers David C. Parker, Michael Troutman Simmons, and George Washington Bush in their seven-month passage. Parker was the first permanent American settler in Washington and present-day Washougal.  He created a dock, ferry service, and the town of Parkersville on the north bank of the Columbia River where the Camas-Washougal Port is now located.

Kim hopes her presentation will provide the audience with a deeper understanding of pioneer experiences in general, and the particular challenges experienced by David C. Parker and other early Washington settlers. 

“Hearing the tale of a particular group engages one more, especially if the storyteller has a personal connection,” she explained.

Dabasinskas
Visit www.stephen4council.com

The sheer courage that pioneers demonstrated moving to an unknown area is impressive to Kim.  

“Especially if you had children to care for,” she said. “To me, the most difficult times were the deaths of fellow travelers, especially the Sager parents of seven children.”

Kim is a retired alternative high-school teacher who taught at Evergreen ALC/Legacy High School from 1986 to 2011. She earned her BA in English and teaching credential from Mills College, and her MS in (Alternative) Education from Western Illinois University. She is a member of the Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington, Ft. Vancouver Chapter #19.

In 2004, Kim also was awarded a Confluence Project in the Schools grant. Her community liaison for that project was the Clark County Historical Museum, where her students’ art creation was displayed. She has volunteered for CCHM ever since.

As a grandparent, Kim is inspired to bring her ancestors’ stories to life. 

“I am a Portland native, yet I had no idea I had connections to SW Washington until I started learning local history,” Kim said. “We are all more connected than we realize!”

The CWHS operates the Two Rivers Heritage Museum, 1 Durgan Street in Washougal. It is currently closed for winter maintenance and will reopen March 2, 2024.  Private group tours, for more than eight people, can be arranged by contacting the museum.  Prices are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and just $2 for students.  

CWHS members can visit for free. 

Join the CWHS to help support additional historic presentations and preservation of local history. Membership information will be available at the presentation.  Learn more about the museum and volunteer and membership opportunities, visit www.2rhm.com and follow them on Facebook.

Oregon Trail
Pepper Kim
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Liberty Theatre Welcomes Filmmaker Signet Baumane For Saturday’s Screening

The Liberty Theatre will welcome filmmaker Signet Baumane to host a screening of her new film “My Love Affair With Marriage,” on Saturday, October 21 at 7:30 pm.

Signe Baumane is a Latvian-born, Brooklyn-based independent filmmaker, artist, writer, and animator. She has made 16 award-winning animated shorts and is best known for her first animated feature “Rocks in my Pockets”.

The film covers a 100-year history of depression and suicide of women in her family, including herself. It premiered at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in 2014 where it received a FIPRESCI Award. “Rocks in my Pockets” went on to over 130 international festivals and opened theatrically in the U.S. through Zeitgeist Films.

Signe’s new animated feature “My Love Affair With Marriage” fuses animation with music, theater, science, photography, three-dimensional sets and traditional hand-drawn animation to tell the story of a spirited young woman’s quest for perfect Love and lasting Marriage.

“My Love Affair with Marriage” premiered at Tribeca Festival 2022.

Liberty

Premiere

MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH MARRIAGE  NR $8, $9 on Saturday at 7:30, $7 on Tuesday.

Official website: https://www.myloveaffairwithmarriagemovie.com/

RottenTomatos: 88% Fresh https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/my_love_affair_with_marriage

October 20 Fri at 7 pm. 

October 21 Sat at 3:15 pm – (7:30 pm filmmaker Q&A)   

October 22 Sun at 5:30 pm 

October 23 Mon at 4:30 pm 

October 24 Tue at 6:35 pm 

October 25 Wed at 4:30 pm 

October 26 Thu at 4:30 pm 

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Sunshine Forecasted for Sunday’s Autumn Flower Festival at Shangri-La Farm

Lizzy Jane’s Flower Market, located at Shangri-La Farm, is hosting its first ever Autumn Flower Festival on Sunday, October 22 from 11 am to 4 pm in Fern Prairie. The event is free to the public and Mother Nature promises mild temperatures without rain in the forecast! 

Attendees will park at the rented Grove Field Airport parking lot, located around the corner from Shangri-La at 632 NE 267th Avenue, Camas. From the airport parking lot, follow the meandering trail 1/4 mile through the woods to Shangri-La Farm or take a fun ride on the free Electric Sunflower Mobile shuttle to the farm.

Shangri-La Farm is currently growing about 350 dahlias, encompassing about 70 different varieties. 

“This year’s warm temperatures and mild autumn weather has made for one of the most brilliant dahlia seasons on record,” said Liz Pike, owner of the farm. “I’m thrilled to share the beauty of these flowers with our community. Be sure and bring the kids to this family friendly event!” 

Children will have an opportunity to feed the free-ranging chickens of Shangri-La Farm during the flower festival.

Flower arranging demonstrations will be provided hourly by Pike, who is also a local artist, Clark County Master Gardener and beekeeper. 

“Arranging flowers is a lot like painting in oils on a canvas,” said Pike. “Dahlias offer so many textures and colors in which to work with. One of my favorite times of the day is when I get to design beautiful bouquets of dahlias for my farm stand customers.”

In addition to hourly floral arranging demonstrations between 11 am and 4 pm, Shangri-La Farm is also hosting guided tours throughout the gardens. The public is invited to see organic flower gardens, vegetable beds, a fruit orchard, berry patches, herb gardens, and a brand new 50 plant rose garden and 50 plant English Lavender garden. View the farm’s apiaries and see busy honeybees in action.

Liz’s son, Richard Pike, will also be leading an apple cider press demonstration throughout the day at the Autumn Flower Festival. 

The public is invited to see Shangri-La Farm’s organic apples turned into fresh and delicious apple cider on a turn-of-the-century cider press. 

“We want to share our knowledge about the age-old tradition of pressing apples into cider,” said Richard. 

Free samples of apple cider will be offered to the public.

Several Plein-air artists from the Northwest Oil Painters Guild will also be making art in real time at the Autumn Flower Festival. The public is invited to see artists painting what they see, in and among the lush organic gardens at Shangri-La Farm.

Lizzy Jane’s Flower Market offers custom order dahlia bouquets in season for wedding flowers, all occasion celebrations or bouquets for your home or office. 

“All our flowers are 100% organic. Bouquets of roses, peonies, lilies and hundreds of perennials are also available in season,” added Pike. 

A country style farm stand is open every day of the year. Local residents stop in to purchase farm fresh eggs, flowers, farm-house pastries, raw honey from Shangri-La Farm honeybees, jams made from organic berries grown on-site and seasonal produce. Liz, together with her husband Neil Cahoon, established Shangri-La Farm in 2010, transforming a derelict property into a garden oasis for birds, bees and people. 

For more information, contact Liz Pike at 360-281-8720 or email [email protected].

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Perfect Harmony Music Academy Organizes ‘We Love The ’90s’ Halloween Event

Camas, WA — Perfect Harmony is a music academy in Camas, Washington, with youth and adult rockstar programs where students are taught music, how to play instruments, how to play in bands, and then play live concerts. They will be performing hits of the nineties, such as the Goo Goo Dolls, No Doubt, Sublime, etc., at the Fern Prairie Grange on October 28th for a Halloween spooktacular where costumes are encouraged.

About Perfect Harmony Academy of Music


Perfect Harmony Academy of Music has been teaching students for close to 10 years. It is located in Camas, Washington and serves students in Camas, Washougal, and Vancouver. Three time Best of Camas award winning music education. We also have programs where instruments are donated and scholarships are given.

You may learn more at https://camasmusiclessons.com

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Friday’s Art Festival Renamed ‘Marquita Call Memorial Plein-Air Event of Camas’

Camas Gallery together with Pike Art Gallery will be hosting the newly renamed “Marquita Call Memorial Plein-air Event of Camas” on Friday, September 1, 2023. Marquita Call, owner of Camas Gallery and founder of the annual Plein-air art event, passed away unexpectedly on August 29th. 

“Our community is still reeling from the news of Marquita’s death,” said Liz Pike, local artist and longtime friend of Marquita. “Marquita was loved by all who knew her. Since opening her Camas Gallery in 2010, she quickly became the unofficial Mayor of Camas because of her passion for the city and its residents. Having grown up in Camas, she was a living history book for the town. Her quick wit, million dollar smile and can-do attitude touched the lives of so many. Camas residents and visitors alike were welcomed as family, once inside Marquita’s Camas Gallery.” 

Pike noted it is both fitting and necessary to rename the event to honor Call. According to Pike, Call was a driving force to reignite fine art in downtown Camas. Undaunted by the Great Recession, Call marched ahead to open what would become the most popular art gallery in town. 

“Through her work at the gallery, Marquita helped launch the successful art careers of many local artists,” said Pike. “With grit and grace, she was a one-woman, non-stop promoter of local artists and the arts in our community.” 

Marquita founded the Plein-air art event several years ago to help connect the Camas community to local art. Since its humble beginnings, more and more artists participate each year on the first Friday of September. Marquita believed such an event would attract people to downtown Camas and help struggling merchants during those lean times of the economic downturn.

Participating local artists will take to the streets beginning at 9 am to paint the town this Friday, September 1st. Artists must start and finish their respective plein-air art between the hours of 9 am and 4 pm on September 1. Beginning at 4 pm, artists will move their easels and finished art to the sidewalk area in front of Camas Gallery, 408 NE Fourth Avenue, where the public may view all of the finished art in one location. As in past years, the community will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite finished work of plein-air art and also purchase any of the pieces for a flat rate of $200 each from 5 pm to 7:30 pm on Friday, September 1st. 

Proceeds from the sale of all plein-air pieces will be split between the selling artist and Camas Gallery. 

Artists may pick up an application form to participate in the newly named “Marquita Call Memorial Plein-air Event of Camas” at Camas Gallery, 408 NE Fourth Avenue or at the Pike Art Gallery at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Birch Street in #UptownCamas, 302 NE Sixth Avenue. All artist applications must be returned with a $10 entree fee to Camas Gallery no later than 9 am on September 1st. 

For more information or questions about the plein-air event, contact Liz Pike at 360.281.8720. 

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Bridge Beyond Band to Play in Front of Nuestra Mesa For Camas First Friday

Bridge Beyond, a new band featuring Jason Ingram and Steve Dole, is performing live in front of Nuestra Mesa this Friday, August 4 from 5- 8 pm.

Ingram, a local firefighter and longtime Camas resident, set aside his music career for 20 years to raise his sons, teamed up with Dole to collaborate. Dole plays guitar, while Ingram does vocals, piano, and guitar.

“I was working as a musician in the 90s, put out an album and even had air time on the radio,” said Ingram. “As a two piece, we are doing a lot of harmonies, and we are doing an acoustic set. This is a unique sound for what we’re playing. Music is what I’ve been my whole life, and I need to get back into it.”

The name, Bridge Beyond, has a lot of connotations. It’s a bridging of two people from different ages, and also relating to people and connecting with others through music. Bridge Beyond, Ingram says, is symbolic is that there is no end to what their music together can do to connect people.

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Annual Camas Summer Concerts in the Park Series Continues

Camas, WA —  For the 29th year, Camas Parks & Recreation is set to host the popular Summer Concerts in the Park series in Crown Park, with a few additional musical performances popping up at other venues. Our Summer Concerts offer family-friendly performances in a variety of musical styles.

The free Summer Concerts in the Park will take place Thursdays in July, with concerts taking place the 13 and 20 from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm at Crown Park, located at 120 NE 17th Ave.

On Thursday, July 27, the music turns into a fun DJ/radio format to kick off the celebration at the Riverside Skatepark Grand Re-opening.  Additional pop-up concerts will take place August 8 at Crown Park and August 15 at Fallen Leaf Lake Park.

Pa’Lante with their fiery salsa and Latin jazz will be the featured show July 13.  On July 20, Shades of Huey brings your favorite Huey Lewis and the News music to the stage. Then, July 27, we move to the Riverside Skatepark to celebrate the re-design and grand re-opening with SameWave Radio (special time from 4- 7 pm.).  August 8 will take us to Crown Park to hear The June Bugs for their crowd-loving high energy pop music blended with a folksy sound.  And, if you loved attending last year’s concert at Fallen Leaf Lake Park, we’ll be returning there August 15 with the 4 Kings playing their soul-jazz and groove sounds.

Natalia’s Too! food concession will be available at most of the concerts.  You can support your local restaurants by purchasing take-out meals from a variety of Downtown Camas restaurants or from Top Burger, located across the street from the park.  Picnic dinners are always welcome. 

The Summer Concerts in the Park series is coordinated by Camas Parks and Recreation.  The concerts are offered to the public for free due to the generous support and sponsorships from Riverview Community Bank and Camas Parks Foundation.  

No alcohol, dogs or other animals are allowed in the park.  For concert details, closer to the events, visit www.cityofcamas.us/parksrec and click on “Special Events.”

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New Comic Con Theme Brings Fandom to Downtown Camas First Friday

Camas, WA – The organizers of First Fridays in Downtown Camas are excited to bring you a new and colorful First Friday theme for August. “Camas Comic Con” will take place on August 4, 5 pm-8 pm and will celebrate fandom of many different pop culture phenomena for an evening of photo ops, cosplay, special guests, games, art, crafts, interactive activities and more. Fandom will include comics, sci-fi, cosplay, anime, Disney, fantasy, and everything in between. If you are a fan of it, it counts! This free event has something for all ages and is organized and hosted by the Downtown Camas Association(DCA). 

Start your evening at the DCA tables inside Journey, 304 NE 4th to pick up your Camas Comic Con Passport & Activity list. The first 500 people to check in will receive a free Jonna and the Unpossible Monsters comic book, donated by local PDX comic publisher Oni Press. Family friendly costumes are highly encouraged for this event. Attendees will each get a Comic Con Costume bingo card to try to complete throughout the evening, with categories like Marvel, DC, Disney, Ghostbusters, Star Wars, Star Trek, Anime and more. Secret costume judges will be wandering throughout downtown, giving out chances to win a special prize to those who go above and beyond with their Comic Con cosplay attire.

The PDX Ghostbusters, a donation-based charity cosplay group, will be hosting a slime-making activity for kids of all ages. This activity has been generously sponsored by 4Ever Growing Kids Children’s Consignment Boutique. PDX Ghostbusters will also be bringing their Ecto-1S, a replica of the car used in the Ghostbusters movies. Find the Ghostbusters from 5pm-8pm outside 4Ever Growing Kids at 440 NE 4th.

Other Camas Comic Con First Friday activities include:

  • “Fandom Fun!” Passport Activity with fandom trivia and puzzles throughout downtown businesses–enter to win prizes for every location you visit.
  • Collectible Lanyards for the first 300 people to check in. These 2023 Camas Comic Con lanyards and badges are sponsored by these downtown businesses: 4Ever Growing Kids, Mandi MOON Artistry, The Wild Hair, PNW Financial Concierge, Sweet Intention Gift Boutique, LiveWell Camas and Juxtaposition.
  • Speed Pin Trading sponsored by the DCA inside the lobby at Fuel Medical from 5pm-7pm or while supplies last. Participants will each receive 5 free fandom pins to start and will check out new pins on 10 different display boards—you will have 30 seconds at each board to trade a pin or pass!
  • Light Saber Lessons and comic book art activity from the talented people at Torchsong Entertainment
  • Kawaii Doodle Challenge–learn to draw a “Kawaii” (Japanese for cute) style doodle and get a free chibi style Joe Papermaker sticker, designed by local artist and recent WHS graduate Stella Van Horn
  • Selfie Stations throughout downtown, with themes like Marvel, Pop Art, Disney, and more
  • Checkout the new “Book Bike” brought to us for this event from the Camas Public Library. 
  • Wandering Photo Ops with the  501st Star Wars Legion of Oregon
  • FREE themed Kids’ Craft at LiveWell Camas, 417 NE Birch, from 5-8pm with Girl Scout Troop #47503 
  • Art Shows & Receptions at Attic Gallery, 421 NE Cedar; Camas Gallery, 408 NE 4th; Pike Art Gallery, 302 NE 6th; and the Second Story Gallery, 625 NE 4th
  • Shopping and Dining Specials throughout Downtown Camas 

“The excitement for the first Camas Comic Con themed First Friday is palpable in Downtown Camas!” says Leah Nichelson, Event and Project Manager for the DCA. “Every First Friday invites people to dress up, but we can’t wait to see creativity come alive with people cosplaying as superhero, Disney, Star Wars, Star Trek, anime, and other possibly unexpected pop culture characters! Merchants will offer later shopping hours, and event goers can enjoy special one night only outdoor dining at certain downtown restaurants, all while celebrating the fandoms that bring them joy.”

First Fridays are family-friendly themed Art, Activities, Dining, and After-Hours Shopping events coordinated by the DCA each month to bring the community together and to help the town thrive. For all the information, visit https://downtowncamas.com/event/camas-comic-con and www.facebook.com/camasfirstfriday. To sign up for the weekly DCA newsletter, visit https://downtowncamas.com/newsletter-signup

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