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Washougal Songcraft Festival Makes Local History with 24-Artist Festival

Washougal, WA — The Washougal Songcraft Festival will present performances by 24 regional songwriters and three vocal-music composers in their second annual summer festival. Five concerts will be presented, on August 10, 15, 16, 17, and 18, 2024. The second annual songwriting festival expands to Marina Park and Reflection Plaza.

Washougal is a city in Clark County, Washington that is currently without any community performing arts space or dedicated concert venue. The town is rarely host to more than single-day music events. The number of artists and concerts being presented at this summer’s Washougal Songcraft Festival sets a local record as the largest musical event of its kind in the town’s history. All five concerts are free to the public and all-ages.

On Saturday August 10, Washougal Songcraft Festival again joins forces with the annual arts festival of Washougal Arts and Culture Alliance (WACA), downtown at Reflection Plaza. Six songwriters will perform between 10 am and 2:30 pm amid dozens of displays featuring the works of regional artists as well as other community groups. Featured songwriters will include Portland’s Doug Shafer and local favorite Brenna Larsen.

Marina Park at the Port of Camas-Washougal is the location of afternoon concerts on August 15 and 16. Overlooking the Columbia River, these concerts will run from 4 pm to 8 pm. Featured performers will include Tevis Hodge Jr., Raven Fables, Leo Moon, Glam Country, the Jack Maybe Project, and Chad Bault.

Saturday August 17 returns to Reflection Plaza for a downtown afternoon concert (3-7 pm) featuring six performers including Laska, Minda Lacy, and The Moonshine.

The festival will end Sunday Aug. 18 with a short recital of composed works for voice at the Washougal Community Center. A collaboration with Cult of Orpheus will present works by composers Lisa Neher, William Toutant, and C. A. Corbell.

Founded in 2023, Washougal Songcraft Festival is a Washington-based arts non-profit whose mission is to promote arts education, to foster, share, and celebrate the craft of songwriting, and to develop the performing arts and creative community of Washougal, Washington and the surrounding region. In addition to a summer festival the group presents monthly intimate song circles in Washougal from October through June.

Full festival details are below, and festival founders Stephanie and Christopher Corbell are happy to accomodate requests for interviews related to the festival, and to provide any other media you may need. They also shared these thoughts about the upcoming festival:

Festival Schedule and Performer Line-Up, with links

Line-up webpage: https://washougal-songcraft.org/wsf/2024-festival-line-up/

Saturday Aug. 10, 10 am – 2:30 pm, Reflection Plaza, Washougal

 – part of WACA Washougal Arts & Music Festival

• Jim Warford 

• Owen Kortz 

• Doug Shafer

• Sunny Pache 

• Brenna Larsen 

• Oh Brother

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/799131455651397

Thursday Aug. 15, 4 pm – 8 pm, Marina Park at the Port of Camas-Washougal

• Aram

• Tevis Hodge, Jr. 

• Raven Fables

• Leo Moon 

• Bex Beloved 

• Glam Country

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1502675867274704

Friday Aug. 16, 4 pm – 8 pm, Marina Park at the Port of Camas-Washougal

• Ben Johnson

• James Cook

• The Jack Maybe Project

• Chad Bault

• Gina DeNoble

• Dumpster Joe

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1591342894743521

Saturday Aug. 17, 3 pm – 7 pm, Reflection Plaza, Washougal

• Valdoria 

• Pythias Braswell

• Laska

• Quinton Parker

• Minda Lacy

• The Moonshine

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/393882943039589

Sunday Aug. 18, 2 pm Recital, Washougal Community Center

 – in conjunction with Cult of Orpheus

Composed vocal works by 

• Lisa Neher

• William Toutant

• C. A. Corbell

Performed by:

• Hannah Early, piano

• Dan Gibbs, baritone

• Sadie Gregg, mezzo-soprano

• Aaron Lange, tenor

• Jocelyn Claire Thomas, soprano

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/513233821031834

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Fern Prairie ART FEST Features 9 Artists Aug. 3-4 at Shangri-La Farm

Fern Prairie, WA — The fifth annual Fern Prairie ART FEST is a two-day event connecting local artists and the community on Saturday and Sunday, August 3rd and 4th from 10 am to 4 pm. The ART FEST is staged in the peaceful and tranquil setting of Shangri-La Farm, located 1.5 miles north of Lacamas Lake just outside the city limits of Camas, Washington. A total of 9 artist booths will be featured in the juried show. 

“These fine artists are excited to show and sell their work at ART FEST,” said organizer and local artist Liz Pike. Pike will be joined by artists Bev Birdwell, Matthew Clarkson, Cheryl Folkers, Dave Garbot, David Gerton, Charlene Hale, Gail Haskett and Keith Russell. Original work includes paintings in oils, acrylics and watercolor, pastels, mixed media, hand-built pottery, fused and enamel glass, jewelry, pen and ink, and copper mixed media. 

The public is invited to take in original works of art surrounded by the beautiful gardens at Shangri-La Farm. Attendees will park at rented Grove Field Airport parking lot, 632 NE 267th Avenue, Camas, WA. Guests may either walk the 1/4 mile trail through the woods to Shangri-La Farm or take the free “Sunflower Mobile” shuttle service. 

The Sunflower Mobile is an art piece all on its own, hand painted by Liz Pike in oils on fiberglass in her signature sunflower motif. The free shuttle will be available to transport attendees from the airport parking lot to Shangri-La Farm on both days, Saturday and Sunday, August 3rd and 4th between 10 am and 4 pm. 

The Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce is operating a beer and wine garden starting at noon both days with proceeds benefitting Chamber programs. Diamond Dogs will be selling its gourmet dogs and snacks next to the Chamber’s beer and wine garden.

For more information, contact Pike at 360-281-8720 or email pikeadvertising@comcast.net. 

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17th Annual Camas Car Show Promises Family Friendly Fun on Wheels

Camas, WA — The 17th annual Camas Car Show, hosted by the Downtown Camas Association (DCA) will return on Saturday, June 29th from 2 pm-7 pm. The show will feature a mix of classic and specialty vehicles including cars, trucks and motorcycles lining the historic streets of Downtown Camas. The event offers family friendly entertainment including live music from local band The Stingrays, a special dance performance by Virtuosity Performing Arts Studio and balloon art from Joe Mishkin. Visitors will also find multiple hot food vendors, fun raffles, as well as shopping and dining specials throughout downtown. Admission is free for spectators.

For participating vehicles: $20 cash entry, open event, no preregistration necessary, though it is recommended to fill out the registration form ahead of time to save time at the registration booth. Cars can start entering the car show area at 12:00pm. See information online here for more staging details. Goodie bags to the first 100 cars and dash plaques to the first 250 cars.

Trophies include Best in Show, People’s Choice, and a variety of categories with winners chosen by our 2024 Camas Car Show Sponsors. In addition to the classic categories, Best Supercar and Best GM-Other have been added for 2024. Best in Show will be chosen and presented by Camas Mayor pro tem Bonnie Carter, and the car will be featured on the 2025 Camas Car Show poster and promotions. The 2023 Best in Show winners were Randy and Charlene Crum, with their beautiful 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. The 6:30pm awards ceremony, located on the corner of 4th Ave and Cedar St, will be photographed by in-kind sponsor Jon Lanzieri.

Kids can enter to win a car themed coloring contest with prizes in 3 different age categories. Each participant will take home a free Hot Wheels car for participating. The contest will take place at the DCA tables on the corner of 4th Ave and Birch St. Kids can also race hot wheels and play fun yard games, hosted by the staff from event sponsor Lacamas Financial Group.

“Downtown Camas is eagerly anticipating the Camas Car Show!” says Jan Carter, Marketing and Volunteer Coordinator for the DCA. “This event showcases an incredible array of cars, trucks and other custom vehicles, making it a must-see for automotive enthusiasts. It’s wonderful to see the community come together over their shared passion. Kids will have a blast participating in the coloring contest, and everyone will enjoy live music, delicious food from various vendors, and beautiful dance performances by Virtuosity. We’re deeply grateful to the City of Camas and our generous sponsors for their unwavering support of this cherished downtown event.”

This event benefits the Camas Washougal Treasure House Food Bank. Bring two cans of soup, mac & cheese, canned tuna, peanut butter, or jam and get a free raffle ticket. The event is sponsored by Signature Sponsor Team 360 Country Financial; Carla Edwards, Realtor; Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s Real Estate; Grains of Wrath; Lacamas Financial Group; Papermaker Pride; Salud Wine Bar; State Farm–Julia Lo; William & Son Jewelers; Ziply Fiber; Dr. Jared Bowyer, DDS; Edward Jones—Robert Barber; Georgia Pacific and the City of Camas. The DCA is grateful for community support.

The DCA is a nonprofit community development organization that works year-round to strengthen and promote Downtown Camas through partnerships, events, beautification and historic preservation projects, economic development, advocacy and tourism functions. For information about the DCA and other downtown events, visit www.downtowncamas.com, email promotions@downtowncamas.com, or call 360-953-1326. Get the latest information about what’s happening in Downtown Camas by receiving the weekly DCA newsletter. Click here to sign up.

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Camtown Youth Festival Moves Event Venue to Dorothy Fox School

Camas, WA — Camas Parks & Recreation and the Camas School District will host the 21st annual Camtown Youth Festival, Saturday, June 1, 2024, from 11 am-4 pm. Due to upcoming renovations to Crown Park, this year’s event will be held at a new site, Dorothy Fox Elementary School, at 2623 NW Sierra St.

The Camtown Youth Festival is a free community event offering a variety of games and interactive amusements, arts & crafts activities, entertainment, food, petting zoo, puppet and reptile shows, a kids’ craft & flea market, and youth-related information tables – all devoted to kids (ages 3 – 17) in our community. 

The Camtown Youth Festival is a partnership between the City of Camas and the Camas School District, and supported by numerous organizations, businesses and individuals. Please note, the Camtown-Forgey Art Show will return to Crown Park in 2025.

For questions or more information: Krista Bashaw at 360-834-5307 or kbashaw@cityofcamas.us

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Artist Liz Pike Invites Public to Celebrate New Art Unveiling at Camas Cellars May 18

Camas, WA — On the 44th anniversary of the Mt. St. Helens volcanic eruption, local artist Liz Pike invites art patrons to view an explosion of new art at Camas Cellars. The event marks her second installment of Artful Intersect; titled “Vineyards” – featuring an unveiling of her latest original work in oils on canvas from 5 pm to 7 pm at Camas Cellars, 602 NE Third Avenue, Camas, WA. Guests will enjoy complimentary vineyard inspired appetizers, delicious wines and decadent chocolate truffles. Reservations are required; call or text Pike at 360-281-8720 to attend the 5 pm unveiling.

Earlier this year, Pike launched her first “Artful Intersect,” which is part of a series of art unveilings in local businesses. 

“Beautiful art in local shops is good business,” said Pike. “Camas has always been a great city for art.” 

Pike notes that beyond beautiful galleries, having art on display in local businesses provides an expanded opportunity to wider audiences. 

“It’s a good thing for artists and business owners, and a great way to bring more art to more spaces in our community,” said Pike.

“We love Liz Pike’s vibrant art,” says Debi Debasinskas, owner of Camas Cellars. “We are honored to host this unveiling of her new works in our popular wine bar and bottle shop.”

Pike is a member of Artisans Guild of Camas, Battle Ground Art Alliance, Northwest Oil Painters Guild, Ridgefield Art Association, Society of Washington Artists, Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Camas Association. She is also an artist/partner at the newly opened RedDoor Gallery, located at 411 NE Dallas Street, in downtown Camas. 

RedDoor Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday, from noon to 7 pm and by special appointment. The new gallery features works by Pike along with nine other artists and premiers new works at a swanky artist reception every First Friday from 5-8 pm. Pike also shows her work at several summertime art festivals and has a mini art gallery located at her Shangri-La Farm, a popular destination in Fern Prairie, located at 26300 NE Third Street, Camas, WA. Visit her website at LizPike.Art to view her summer art festival calendar of events. Pike can be reached at (360) 281-8720.

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Clark College Orchestra Spring Concert Features Kreston in Lark Ascending

The award-winning Clark College Orchestra performs their Spring Concert of the 2023-2024 season under the baton of Music Director/Conductor Dr. Donald Appert on Friday, June 14, 2024, 7:30 pm at Columbia Presbyterian Church, 805 Columbia Ridge Dr. Vancouver, WA. The program features violinist Anthea Kreston as soloist performing Vaughan Williams’ Lark Ascending and Ravel’s  Tzigane.  The concert will conclude with Dvorak Symphony No. 9 “ From the New World”. The admission is free and open to the public.  

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

Donald Appert has appeared as a guest conductor in Japan, Australia, Central America, and throughout Europe.  In Italy La’ovadese wrote, “…the performance of the ‘Serenade in C Major’ of Tchaikovsky, under the exceptional direction of Appert, was in such a style that it brought out the elegance and grace of the melodic lines with Mozartian inspiration.  …The L’Orchestra Sinfonica Città di Grosseto… performed the Barber ‘Adagio’ with rare effectiveness, emphasizing its intrinsically rich melody.”  Giornale di Sicilla praised his interpretation of Nielsen’s First Symphony as “lyrical with an airy freshness,” and his conducting as “precise, painstakingly accurate, and diligent.” He has guest conducted orchestras in France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Macedonia, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Russia, El Salvador, and Japan.He currently serves as the Music Director/Conductor of the Oregon Sinfonietta and the Jewish Community Orchestra of Portland.

Dr. Appert was awarded the 2020 Winner of The American Prize in Orchestral Programming. He won this same award in 2011 and in 2015 was named an Honored Artist by The American Prize Competition.  He is a recipient of the 2019 – 2020 Clark College Exceptional Faculty Awards, several ASCAPLUS Awards in recognition of his performances of his own compositions in Italy, Qatar, Europe, Central America, Japan, and the United States.  In 2014, Dr. Appert received the Clark County Arts Commission Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award, and in 2009, he received the Washington Community College Humanities Association Exemplary Status Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the Humanities.

Violinist Anthea Kreston enjoys varied musical career. She has performed as a chamber musician in concert halls throughout Europe (from London’s Wigmore Hall to Berlin’s Philharmonie), through Asia, and the United States (Carnegie to the Herbst Theater in San Francisco). She was a member of the internationally renowned Artemis String Quartet, based in Berlin, Germany.  As a recording artist for Warner Classics, she has received both the Echo Award, Europe’s Grammy Award, and the Diaspason D’Or, France’s highest award from music critics. 

Anthea also enjoys writing, penning a popular articles for the London-based Slipped Disk, and as the curator of the Fortnightly Music Book Club.  She is the executive and artistic director of Majestic Chamber Music Series, and has taught at the University of the Arts Berlin and as a Master Teacher, the Queen Elizabeth Chapel in Brussels, and  the Curtis Institute of Music. Her teachers include Ida Kavafian, Shmuel Ashkenasi, the Emerson Quartet and Isaac Stern.   

The San Diego Reader said of her “… Anthea is a soloist of the Heifetz- Shaham-Vengerov caliber, whose musical instincts could make even a mere bagatelle thrill the soul and stir the senses to a frenzy.” 

https://www.antheakreston.com

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Pieces of History: An Artifacts Timeline — Dedication Planned

Camas-Washougal, WA – Two Rivers Heritage Museum (TRHM) and Clark County Historical Museum (CCHM) partnered to create an historical outdoor timeline exhibit that represents Camas and Washougal history and highlights the artifacts cared for at TRHM. “Pieces of History: An Artifacts Timeline,” is filled with stories and images recounting monumental moments and everyday events in these neighboring communities. The timeline can be viewed at the TRHM at 1 Durgan Street in downtown Washougal, Saturdays from 11am-3pm.

CCHM Public Historian, Katie Bush, served as the project manager for this work. She collaborated with TRHM Display Committee members Karen and Richard Johnson and Gayle and Ivar Godtlibsen, to research and select important historic information to be featured.

“Katie provided a long list of items and dates she identified from our collection and had us rate their importance to the timeline,” Karen Johnson explained.  “We whittled that list down over and over again. It was a difficult process to narrow the information with so many fascinating stories to tell.”

After repeated and thoughtful analysis, the final historic events and dates were decided.  The team then worked to identify exactly what object from TRHM archives would represent the timeline captions. “Selected events are memorable, personal and unique to the local community and represent major, minor, and micro moments in our history,” Karen Johnson explained.

History

Local photographer, Missy Fant, captured images of each object and Vancouver graphic designer, Masako Brachmann married together these elements into the sprawling timeline that stands 34-feet long along the back fence of the museum.  “The panel design and style match the historic street panels in Historic Downtown Camas,” said Karen Johnson.  “We are trying to stay consistent with historical signage for our cities.” 

“I’m excited to be a part of this collaborative timeline for the Two Rivers Heritage Museum,” said Bush.  “Community centered projects, such as this, offer great opportunities for heritage institutions to share local stories in engaging ways. I look forward to collaborating with Two Rivers and the Camas-Washougal community on future projects.”

While the building is in Washougal, TRHM represents two cities. “I would say our museum collection is divided pretty evenly between Camas and Washougal artifacts, photos, research, and archives,” said Karen Johnson.  “Our two towns, with totally different beginnings, melded into one awesome community.”

When asked which featured timeline events were most significant to the growth of the community the answers varied. Gayle Godtlibsen feels it was the year 1905 when the SP&S Railroad began operation on the north bank of the Columbia River.  “We hope that visitors come away from the timeline inspired to share their experience with others and, hopefully, that will help create more traffic to the museum,” she said. 

Richard Johnson identified 1886 and the start of the Camas papermill as the most impactful year. “I feel interacting with the timeline exhibit is the grand finale to a visit to the museum,” he said.  “I want people to feel they had a ‘complete’ experience here.”

The timeline creation and installation were completed by a team of dedicated people. TRHM Display Committee members Karen and Richard Johnson and Gayle and Ivar Godtlibsen; Masako Brachmann, graphic design; Katie Bush, CCHM public historian; Kevin and Curtis Barber of Core Powersports; Missy Fant Photography; J2 Blueprinting printed the panels; local historian Pepper Kim was editor and proofreader for the timeline narrative; John Kimbrough designed and fabricated timeline stand and helped with installation; Tommy Miller of Pomeroy Living History Farm helped with installation; and Bradley Richardson, Executive Director of CCHM helped on many aspects of the project. 

“Over the past six years, Two Rivers and the Clark County Historical Museum have fostered a deep and mutually beneficial relationship,” Richardson, a Camas-Washougal area native, said. “Through this project and other collaborative work, our organizations are demonstrating how communities are better served and more history is shared and saved when we come together.”

Funding for the timeline came from generous donations from the Tidland Family, Beales Foundation, and the Smead Family, who made their gift in memory of longtime teacher and historian Bernice Pluchos.

The new exhibit will be dedicated at a ceremony on Friday, May 31 at 5 pm at the Two Rivers Heritage Museum.  City leaders, museum volunteers, staff, historical society members and community history lovers are invited to attend.  It can also be viewed any Saturday during regular museum hours from 11 am-3 pm.

“We are extremely proud of what we have created at Two Rivers,” said Dick Lindstrom, CWHS president. “Its purpose is to collect, research and preserve the history that tells the story of the development of the Camas/Washougal area.  We invite our community to take the time to experience what a treasure this place is.  And if people like what they see, we hope they become a member of CWHS or a volunteer to help us continue to tell the stories of our communities.”

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Camas Plant & Garden Fair: Celebrates 25 Years, Coming May 11

Camas, WA —The 25th annual Camas Plant & Garden Fair returns to Downtown Camas on Saturday, May 11th from 9am-4pm. Local nurseries, growers, and garden artists will line the streets, offering a diverse array of fruiting trees, vegetable starts, herbs, flowers, garden art and furniture, planters, birdhouses and feeders, pottery, metal art, hanging baskets, stone art, sculptures and more. This event, organized by the Downtown Camas Association (DCA), offers family friendly fun and shopping in the heart of the charming and historic Downtown Camas.

Fan favorite returning vendors promise shoppers a vast selection of plants and garden products. Shoppers looking for dahlia tubers and growing advice should checkout Sweet Bloom Farms from Battle Ground. Anyone interested in adding some whimsical touches to their garden may want to see the birdhouses and colorful garden art fromOne Little Blackbird. Event goers looking for a major landscape overall can find all the ornamental trees and hardy perennials they need at Alicia’s Nursery, as well as the colorful annuals from Arai Nursery. Prairie & Fern Farm will be returning for their second year with a selection of dried flower arrangements and plant starts, grown in Camas.

The 25th year of the Camas Plant & Garden Fair features over fifteen new vendors bringing new and hard to find offerings to the event. Three not-to-miss vendors are Blue Gem Bakery, Bell Flower Farm, and Rhythm Seed Farm.  

Blue Gem Baking Co. – This woman owned micro-business features artisanal cookies and cupcakes, in plant and garden themed designs. Owner Mikenzie Drew was also a vendor at the Camas Farmer’ Market where she gained a following for her intricate piping work and fun themed items.

Belle Flower Farm– Vancouver resident Pam Richey Curtis will bring her curated selection of vintage vessels planted with homegrown succulents, as well as an array of gardening books, vintage tools and patio styling items. Curtis has been a favorite Camas Vintage & Art Fair Vendor since 2022. She also offers seasonal bouquet subscriptions with locally grown blooms.

Rhythm Seed Farm – This unique 501c3 nonprofit was born during the Covid era seed shortages of 2020. Founder Nick Canino had been growing hundreds of pounds of food in his yard for many years. He pivoted from food production to seed breeding and has now produced millions of seeds from over 50 different crops. With a commitment to donate half the seeds they produce, they have now given 3,000 seed packets to BIPOC and low income families in the Portland Metro area. Nick will be bringing his wide variety of hand harvested seeds, as well as rare native plant starts.

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The fair will feature nearly 20 designated vendor experts available for shoppers to consult on plants, effective gardening techniques, and related topics. Look for the “yellow sun” signs indicating expert booth locations. The full list of Plant Fair Experts and vendors is available at www.cwplantfair.org/vendors. Visit the DCA info booth at 4th & Cedar during the fair to pick up the Expert List and booth locations. Expert topics include:

  • Attracting pollinators
  • Attracting birds
  • Annuals
  • Carnivorous plants
  • Container gardening
  • Composting
  • Dahlias
  • Deep Mulch Dry Farming
  • Evergreens
  • Fuchsias
  • Fruit Trees
  • Herbs
  • Houseplants
  • Japanese maples
  • Landscaping and Garden Styling
  • Lavender
  • Olla Watering Systems
  • Organic Gardening
  • Perennials
  • PNW native plants
  • Rhododendrons
  • Roses
  • Seed Saving and Gathering
  • Succulents
  • Tomatoes
  • Transplanting

“We’re so excited to bring you the 25th year of the Camas Plant & Garden Fair!” says Jan Carter, of the DCA. “It takes a village to host an event of this size. We are so appreciative of all of our plant and garden art vendors, our dedicated volunteers, and of course all of the shoppers that come together for this pre-Mother’s Day plant and garden extravaganza! There’s truly something for everyone, and we can’t wait to keep bringing the Camas Plant and Garden Fair to Downtown Camas each Spring for years to come!”

The Kids’ Zone, open from 10am-3pm on Dallas Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues, will offer free activities for children and families including the beloved hands-on rubber duckie flume from the Camas-Washougal Rotary, an obstacle course from My Gym, a planting and sensory station from Camas Washougal Parent Co-Op Preschool, and a take home seed sprouting activity hosted by the Camas Farmer’s Market. This area will also feature a free petting zoo with goats, bunnies, and more, hosted by the 4-Seasons 4-H Club. Many event sponsors will also be hosting activities for kids at their booths.  Children and theater lovers will enjoy Rhys Thomas who is returning with his Strolling Jugglemania Show including a giant rose puppet, themed juggling, performances on stilts and other activities.

Live music at 4th & Cedar will include Bret Malmquist playing acoustic jazz guitar from 10am-12pm and local singer songwriter Brenna Larsen performing from 12-3pm.

Scout troop #565 will be on hand with their trusty wagons to help citizens transport their purchases as needed. Donations welcomed.

The DCA will host the annual “Wheelbarrow Raffle Prize Drawing” with a large assortment of plants, trees, flowers, and garden art generously donated by fair vendors in a sturdy wheelbarrow donated by Lutz Hardware as well as a “Downtown Gift Card Raffle”. The items will be on display and tickets can be purchased at the DCA table on the corner of 4th and Cedar on the day of the event. The winner will be drawn at 3:00pm.

The DCA thanks the generous sponsors of this event which include our Signature Sponsor Waste Connections of Washington-Clark County, as well as Partner Sponsors Edward Jones, Robert Barber;  Clover Podiatry; NW Natural; tsmc Washington, Papermaker Pride; Renewal by Andersen; Hampton Inn and Suites; Lendor Home Solutions/Gutter Helmet, State Farm; Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s International Realty, Minuteman Press; and our Community Sponsors NW Natural, Blossom Natural Health and Wellness; Dr. Jared Bowyer, DDS; City of Camas and 4 Seasons 4H.

The DCA is a 501c3 nonprofit Main Street Program and works year round to strengthen and promote Downtown Camas through partnerships, events, beautification and historic preservation projects, economic development, advocacy, and tourism functions. For more information on the Plant Fair, see www.cwplantfair.org or www.fb.com/CamasPlantAndGardenFair. For information on the DCA and other downtown events and initiatives, visit www.downtowncamas.com. 

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Camas Native, Bestselling Author, Artist Exhibits Work in Second Story Gallery

Camas, WA — Kicking off May’s Second Story Gallery exhibit at the Camas Public Library, a reception for bestselling graphic novel artist and author Aron Nels Steinke will take place Friday, May 3, from 5-8 pm. The artist will be on hand for the event.

My Teacher is a Wolf: The Comics Art of Aron Nels Steinke is a retrospective of cartoon art from the creator of Mr. Wolf’s Class, the bestselling graphic novel series for children. This exhibit features over forty original pieces of art used in the creation of his graphic novels spanning his almost 20-year career.

On display will be art created when Steinke was a student at Lacamas Heights Elementary School. Visitors will also be treated to a sneak peek from Speechless, his next original graphic novel (Scholastic/Graphic 2025).

“We are honored to host this award-winning author and artist in the Gallery,” said Connie Urquhart, Library Director. “This exhibit will be enjoyable for all ages.”

Steinke, a Camas High School class of 1999 graduate, is the Eisner Award-winning co-creator of The Zoo Box with Ariel Cohn. The creator of Mr. Wolf’s Class and a former elementary school teacher, Steinke spent his childhood in Fern Prairie on the outskirts of Camas and currently lives in Portland, Oregon. He regularly visits schools to speak with students about making comics and finding inspiration from life.

The exhibit will run through May 31.

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Clark College Concert Choir Winter Performance, with a WORLD PREMIERE

VANCOUVER, WA —  The Clark College Concert Choir and Chamber Choir under the direction of Dr. Jacob Funk, present their Winter Concert on Saturday, March 16, 2024, 7:30 pm at First United Methodist Church, 401 E 33rd St, Vancouver, WA.  The admission is free and open to the public. Donations to the Clark College Choral Fund accepted at the door. 

What makes this program especially meaning is the programing of a world premiere performance of a work composed by Clark music student Benjamin Friend. The Concert Choir will perform Friend’s “One Last Time,” a work for choral ensemble and string quartet. This is a deeply moving work and we are eager for our community to hear it. Programmed alongside it are well known works like Dawson’s “Soon Ah Will Be Done,” and Runestad’s “The Peace of Wild Things.” The not oft performed “After Music” by Barnum and Hagen’s “On My Dreams” are also on the program, as well “Temporal” by Puerto Rican composers Diana V. Sáez and Suzzette Ortiz.

The Chamber Choir will begin the program with two songs concerning existential anxiety and closing with a one-on-a-part gorgeous piece about eternity. You do not want to miss this concert.

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

Dr. Jacob Funk is the Director of Choirs at Clark College where he conducts three choirs in addition to teaching theory, ear training, music appreciation, rock history, and applied voice. Jacob completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting from the University of Missouri—Kansas City where he was a Graduate Assistant to the Choral Department, Associate Conductor of the Conservatory Concert Choir and co-conductor of the University Singers. While at UMKC he also served as Opera Chorus Master and the director of Canticum Novum. Dr. Funk earned his masters in choral conducting from the University of British Columbia, and his undergraduate degree in vocal performance from John Brown University. Before coming to UMKC he was on the music faculty of John Brown University and Northwest Arkansas Community College, where he taught choir and voice. 

Dr. Jeongmi Yoon, currently, serves as the piano instructor and accompanist at Clark College. She has performed in numerous cities within the United States, China, and South Korea. As a soloist, she has performed with the Poland Katowice Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra and the Chonnam National University  Orchestra. In 2021, Dr.  Yoon received her D.M.A. in Piano Performance from the University of North Texas studying under Joseph Banowetz. Additionally, she holds a Masters’ degree from Portland State University and Bachelor’s degree from Chonnam National University. Dr. Yoon the faculties at the University of Portland and Clark College in January 2022. 

Clark College
Dr. Jacob Funk, Director of Choirs
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