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CULTURE FEATURES MUSIC

Music at the forefront of the 44th Scandinavian Midsummer Festival

ASTORIA SCANFEST 2011 is proof this longtime cultural celebration shows no signs of slowing down.

Stand-out music artists from the NW as well as the old country will ring in the bicentennial year with sounds of the ancient roots as well as the bloom of new Scandinavian music.

It’s a music packed weekend with many local/regional favorites and new comers!!!! Willapa Hills, Wilho Saari, Scandinavian Country, Double J and the Boys, and more.

Helen Blume and Harald HaugaardFeatured performers HELEN BLUME AND HARALD HAUGAARD from Denmark have several things in common; they both began their music careers as children, hail from musical families, and have taken Norwegian folk dynamically into a contemporary 21st century sound.

Haugaard is fiddler, composer and producer, and if you were at the 2011 Seattle Folk Life Festival you may have caught him. Helen Blume is one Denmark’s shining folk/pop vocalists, married to Haaguard, and together they are Helen Blume and Harald Haaguard Band. Both artists with lauded individual and joint careers, a plentiful music selection can be found on the web.

Fri., 17 6pm Arena Stage, Sat., 18 noon, 3pm, and 5pm on various stages.

MaiastraSwedish Folksters MAIASTRA, are Sofia Johansson (vocals, fultes, soprano sax and percussion), and Emil Brynge (vocals, octave mandolin, mandolin, guitar and violin). While Blume and Haarsguard offer a more pop/rock orchestrated sound, Maiastra is a beautiful minimilist sound, playful, yet accomplished musicians who dig deep into the roots of ancient Swedish music. Fascinating,  Emo-Ethno!

Friday at 4pm on the Arena Stage, 8-10pm in the Beer Garden. Sat: 12:30 and 5pm in the Exhibit Hall.


FOSSEGRIMEN
is an ensemble based in Eugene, OR dedicated to folk dance music from Norway and Sweden.  Founded by David and Claire Elliker-Vågsberg in 1999, most of the music is based on the authentic dance style of the area of origin. Gammaldans music (vals,  schottis/reinlender, masurka & polkas), and Bygdedans music (springars, gangars, polskar, & polsdans) as well as runddansere or turdans (“set dances”, usually choreographed), and various “mixers”. (Sounds like something out of Lord of the Rings.)

FossegrimenMany of the melodies that Fossegrimen plays have no composer since they have been handed down so many times that their only identification is the fact that they are “from” the playing of the last musician to teach the music to another musician.  Enjoy a variety of string instruments including fiddle, hardanger fiddle, nyckelharpa, guitar, mouth harp and bass violin.

For an up-close listen to this authentic music, David Elliker-Vågsberg, fiddle and hardanger fiddle, and Brian Wood, guitar, will perform a concert of Norwegian music Saturday afternoon.  Then Fossegrimen will play the music for the SATURDAY EVENING DANCERS’ BALL from 7 to 11pm on June 18.

Food & Vendor booths, Dancers, Dancing, the Coronation, Bonfire, a Viking Encampment, Beer Garden & More! A very user-friendly schedule avail: www.astoriascanfest.com. Clatsop County Fairgrounds, June 17 – 19, 3-Day admission pass: $7 General, $2 for 6-12, 5 and under FREE.

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ART HAPPENS CULTURE

The Fabled Landscape – Marla Baggetta at RiverSea

Marla BaggettaIF YOU’VE EVER FOUND yourself gazing down a path, not knowing where it might lead, but choosing to follow anyway, the paintings and pastel landscapes of Marla Baggetta are sure to entrance. The renowned Oregon artist brings a new collection of works on paper as well as canvas to RiverSea Gallery in a series titled, The Fabled Landscape. The exhibition will open with a preview party and artist’s talk Friday, June 10th 6 –8 pm, followed by the Astoria Second Saturday Artwalk reception, June 11th 5 – 8 pm. Baggetta will be available at both events to discuss her artwork, techniques and the vision that binds it all together. The Fabled Landscape will remain on exhibit through June 28th.

In large format canvases and pastel works on paper, Baggetta invites the viewer to explore her conception of landscape. Known as a master of light and color, Baggetta carefully follows the rules of classic techniques in use of medium until she finds the perfect point of departure. Her work exhibits depth in training, an understanding of the importance of under painting and tonality; composition is never left to chance, nor is the balance of abstraction to reality.  These combined elements are what make Baggetta’s work move beyond traditional landscape painting…it’s her own blend of magic, based on intuition, freedom to explore, and supported by an assured knowledge of classical skills.

Baggetta is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America and the Pastel Society of Oregon, and has won numerous awards for her highly sought-after works. She has been featured in Pastel Journal, the premiere magazine for pastel artists. She is also the author of Step by Step Pastel, published by Walter Foster Publishing, and teaches workshops throughout the northwest, including at Art Center College of Design, Pacific Northwest College of Art, Creative Arts Community-Menucha, Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, and for West Linn/Wilsonville Community Education.

RiverSea Gallery is open daily at 1160 Commercial Street, in the heart of historic downtown Astoria, Open: Mon through Thur, 11 to 5:30; Fri and Sat, 11 to 7pm; and 11 to 4 each Sunday. 503-325-1270, or visit the website at www.RiverSeaGallery.com.

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ART HAPPENS CULTURE

Art Sea Street Fair in Lincoln City Focuses on Recycled Art

Bottle Cap Fish
John T. Unger's Bottle Cap Fish will be part of a community public art project at the Art Sea Street Fair.

A Recycled Fashion Show, Junk to Funk art, a Kids Recycled Castle project are all part Lincoln City’s bay front Art Sea Street Fair, on 51st Street, and city-wide, all-day Art Sea Festival in Lincoln City,  on Saturday June 11.

Art vendors and bands from across the Pacific NW will set up at the Cultural Center on HWY 101 from 9:00am-7:00pm. Plein Air artists are invited back to compete in our annual “Quick Draw” contest and live Paint Out along the Bay-Front. At sundown (around 8:45pm) help in the release of hundreds of sky lanterns benefiting the Children’s Cancer Association. Lanterns are available for a suggested donation and can be purchased during the Street Fair on SW 51st Street.

This year the festival brings noted Michigan-based recycle artist John T. Unger to Lincoln City to create a one day community public art project.  Unger is an artist filled with a passion for found materials. He creates from everyday objects often discarded as used up, void of life. “If my job as an artist is to fill the world with more things, I feel that I should also remove unused or unwanted things from the world in the process in order to make room for the new art,” states the artist. “This is one reason I like working with recycled materials.”

John will be helping members of the public scale back and find new life by creating a fish of used bottle caps. States Unger, “Bottle caps have long had a place in the folk art tradition as a decorative element. My own bottle cap mosaics were initially inspired by Haitian ritual flags, in which detailed images are realized entirely through the use of sequins. For the process each cap is sorted by brand or color, washed, dried, punched, partially crimped and finally nailed in overlapping scales to create a feeling of depth, light and shadow. Decorative nail heads emulate the texture of seed beads often used to reinforce the sequins.”

Sky LanternWhen speaking on the finished fish project John says,” The most amazing thing about these fish is the way they interact with light. When you look at one or two caps from any brand, they’re generally not all that impressive. But when you group hundreds of them together and let them catch the sunlight, they truly glow.”

Unger’s work, which includes magnificent ornate fire bowls hand-cut from 100% recycled steel  has been praised in print by Craft Magazine, VenusZine, Variety Magazine, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Chicago Sun Times, The Detroit News, and others.

Members of the public are invited to work with John and create a community art project from Noon 6:00PM on SW 51st Street in the Historic Taft District of Lincoln City. FMI Call 800.452.2151 or visit www.oregoncoast.org.

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ART HAPPENS CULTURE

The Bay City Arts Center Artist of the Month

Bay City ArtsBAY CITY ARTS presents the work of sculptor and muralist Stephan Seable through the month of June, with a reception to meet the artist, Saturday June 5, 5-7pm.

Seable’s work ranges from playground sculptures for the Concord We Care Center and Ambrose School in Pittsburg, California, to mural painting at the Foreign Affairs College and the American Embassy in Beijiing, China in 2000, to mural painting in Buin, Chile in 2003-2005. Raised and educated in Portland, Seable earned his BS from Portland State University in Art/Biology/Humanities and his MA from Brigham Young University in Sculpture and Design.

Says the artist of his work, “I attempt to combine my appreciation for the beauty and wonder of the natural world and my love of color, form, line and texture.  Much of my sculpture is inspired by the human drama, and emotion of relationships, family, parent/child, and man to God.”

Visit and enjoy this exhibit at the Bay City Arts Center, 5680 A Street, in Bay City. For more events at the center go to baycityartcenter.org.

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ART HAPPENS CULTURE

Fresh Air and Fresh Paint – Plein Air and More in Cannon Beach, June 24–26

Janet Bland“En plein air,” is the French expression meaning to paint “in the open air,”  and is most frequently referred to as plein air, the act of painting outdoors. Cannon Beach’s popular “Plein Air and More event now in its third year, has grown into a 3-day event, and this year includes more than two dozen artists, represented by Cannon Beach galleries.

Artists will be creating works of art on location throughout the town and on the beach. Adding to the excitement of this unique artist happening, many will work in the traditional method of plein air painting, while others will sculpt, and photograph in their own unique styles. Individual galleries will display the finished works and host receptions for the artists.

Sit and watch, ask questions, or even pick up your own brushes and participate in a workshop with Michael Orwick, noted plein air painter, in the week leading up to the event. June 22-24, The workshop is scheduled from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. each day, but Michael is also inviting students to join him for informal sunrise and sunset paint outs at no additional charge. Open to painters of any level. For more information, contact DragonFire Gallery. 503-436-1533.

EVENT INFO: June 24 – Friday night, 5 to 7pm, “Meet and greet” artists reception at the CB Chamber of Commerce; June 25 – Saturday 10am to 4pm, “Paint out” and more throughout Cannon Beach. Maps of the artists locations will be available at all of the galleries. Saturday Eve – individual Gallery receptions for the artists; June 26  – Sunday 11am to 4pm, Plein Air and More Group Show. For more detail and a list of participating galleries and artists, go to cbgallerygroup.com.

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ART HAPPENS CULTURE

AN ALL JURIED SHOW Guest Curator: Carl Annala June 4 – June 20

Carl AnnalaTHE CANNON BEACH GALLERY will be hosting an Artist’s Reception on Saturday, June 4, 2011 between 6-8P.M. for An All Juried Show curated by Carl Annala.

Born in McMinnville, Oregon into a musical family, Carl Annala is an arts professional hailing from the Portland area. He has exhibited his drawings and paintings at various galleries in the NW for over 20 years. He holds a Bachelors of Fine Art in Drawing from Pacific Northwest College of Art and a Masters of Fine Art in Painting from Portland State University. Annala is currently a Cultural Arts Program Supervisor at the Walters Cultural Arts Center in Hillsboro where he is the gallery director/curator. Jeweler, writer, dancer and rockstar are all titles he has enjoyed in the past.

The Juried Show program at the non-profit Cannon Beach Gallery is one of the unique offerings of the Cannon Beach Arts Association.  It provides both emerging and professional artists the opportunity to submit their original artwork for consideration by a guest curator.

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ART HAPPENS CULTURE

CB Gallery Recruiting New Docents

ARE YOU AN ARTIST living on the Northern Oregon Coast?

Cannon Beach’s only non-profit gallery is recruiting new Docents for summer. If you are interested, consider coming to the Docent Meeting on Wednesday, June 15 at 2pm to find out more information. Or call the Cannon Beach Gallery at 503-436-0744 and ask to speak with the director, Andrea Mace.

Docents work six hours a month at the desk, answering questions about our rotating exhibits and making sales. In trade, docents get to contribute to the vitality of the arts in the region by staffing a truly wonderful gallery that provides a venue for emerging and professional artists from all over the North West. In addition, Docents have unique opportunities to exhibit their artwork in the gallery and receive 10% off of all purchases.

The Cannon Beach Gallery is a program of the non-profit Cannon Beach Arts Association, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2011.

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ART HAPPENS CULTURE

Ilwaco Art Walk • Sat, June 19

OVER 15 Ilwaco businesses at the Port of Ilwaco, open their doors and welcome friends, neighbors and visitors with refreshments and art, the third Saturday of the month. This popular event features two raffles with free gifts from participating shops and restaurants. 100% of proceeds generated go to local non-profits and community organizations.  5:00 – 8:00 pm.  FMI: funbeach.com

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ART HAPPENS CULTURE

Installation at PPP

Pier Pressure Productions ArtPPP participates in Astoria’s June Wine and Art Walk, Sat., June11 with a celebration of the artists who have opened shows at 260 10th Street since the opening of the theatre/gallery space in August 2010.  Karen Bain, Jerry Schell, Liz Hylton, Jennifer Goodenberger, Charlotte Bruhn, Kitty Paino, Terrie Remington, Becky Hitchin, and Rosie Bergeron will show representative pieces that explore a variety of mediums and methods. Dan Reiley provides original compositions.

Upstairs,  an installation by Rosemonde Stelladora, a reclusive and retiring individual who has studied art, religion, and theatre in Oregon, Nebraska, and Great Britain,.  Her piece, Wedding Weather Warnings is an homage to British sculptor Cathy De Monchaux’s work, Dangerous Fragility, American poet Sylvia Plath’s “The Applicant,” and recording artist Laurie Anderson’s Meltdown.  WWW is a turbulent fusion of fabrics, metals, plastics, glass, sound, and light.  This installation has been a work in progress for over 50 years, whispering on the periphery of the artist’s vision since 1959, making an appearance in bits and pieces from 1965 to 1997.  In 1983, some of the inspired impressions and images evolved into performance art presented at Clatsop Community College’s Performing Arts Center.  From 1997 to the present, the artist put away the thought of this installation until recently, when PPP presented itself as an appropriate venue for the physical exploration of this piece.

Bent Rabbit Multimedia Studios engineered the sound for this exhibit.

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CULTURE MOVIES

Flash Cuts – Movies & Musings

Summer popcorn season gets into full swing with Marvel rebooting its longest running superhero series, DC’s attempt at catching up, the last entry in the Transformers series, an R-rated bad role model comedy and a J.J. Abrams/Steven Spielberg sci fi that’s been shrouded in secrecy.

X-Men First ClassX-Men: First Class  (June 3) After three X-Men films and a maligned offshoot (Wolverine), Marvel has rebooted the series with a younger cast, hoping for a new trilogy, much like Paramount did with Star Trek two years ago.  Story is set in 1962 at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis and focuses on Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) before they became known as Professor X and Magneto.  As young mutants, Xavier and Lehnsherr are just coming into their powers of telekinesis and magnetic control.  Xavier and Lehnsherr seek out young mutants and found a mutant academy.  Though friends, Xavier and Lehnsherr have very different ideas about their differences with humans.  Xavier wants to show humans that mutants can be trusted, but Lehnsherr believes mutants are naturally superior.  The two join forces to prevent a nuclear catastophe, but in the process the former friends become the adversaries known as Professor X and Magneto.  Hugh Jackman makes a brief cameo as Wolverine.

Super 8Super 8 (June 10) The most closely-guarded secret of the summer is undoubtedly this J.J. Abrams/Steven Spielberg collaboration.  The first enigmatic trailer appeared more than a year ago depicted a train wreck in a small town.  And something is trying to get out of an overturned car.  Abrams, the creator of the TV conundrum Lost and the unseen monster movie Cloverfield, is the master of withholding information.  So perhaps it’s no surprise that plot details are scarce, but what has emerged seems very much a Spielberg (who’s producing)/Abrams melding, like E.T. crossed with Cloverfield.  In 1979, in a small Ohio town a group of teenagers are making a super-8 home movie when a train overturns, unleashing something that wreaks death and destruction in their town.  The train turns out to be a military train bound from Area 51 transporting secrets, one of which escapes in the perhaps not accidental crash.  Elle Fanning toplines mostly no-name cast.

Green LanternGreen Lantern (June 17) With Marvel rolling out three superhero movies this summer (Thor, X-Men: First Class, Captain America) in their leadup to The Avengers movie,  DC Comics found itself playing catchup and is only now bowing its first second-tier superhero movie, preferring to concentrate on Batman and Superman first.  Basically an origin story, Green Lantern stars Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan, a cocky Air Force test pilot who is the first human to be selected one of the Green Lantern Corp, an intergalactic order of warriors sworn to keep peace.  When the nemesis of the Corp, Parallax, appears the  Corp turns to newest Green Lantern to save the universe.  Strong supporting cast includes Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Angela Bassett and Tim Robbins.  Early buzz on the 150M production has not been good, one industry insider describing it as “troubled.”  Reports of reshoots and a rush to finish effects do not bode well for the film.

Bad TeacherBad Teacher (June 24) Columbia has followed up on their 2003 worst-possible role model R-rated comedy Bad Santa with Bad Teacher.  Cameron Diaz stars as Elizabeth Halsey, the worst seventh grade teacher imaginable whose only ambition is to find a rich man to take care of her.  In the meantime, Elizabeth curses out her students, and abuses substances, all the while waiting for her rich boyfriend to marry her so she can get quit her gig.  But after being dumped, Elizabeth sets her sights on rich, handsome substitute Scott Delacorte (Justin Timberlake) while simultaneously fending off the advances of an irreverent gym teacher (Jason Segel).  While saving up for a boob job, Elizabeth finds herself in a competition for Scott’s affections with the an energetic colleague, Amy (Lucy Punch), who happens to be the best teacher in school.  After nearly going out of existence, R-rated comedies seem to be making a comeback this summer with the two hits Bridesmaids and The Hangover Part II doing boffo business.  Columbia hopes for a third.

Transformers: Dark Side of the MoonTransformers: Dark of the Moon (June 29) Although universally reviled as films, Michael Bay’s Transformers series has raked in over $1.5B worldwide box office.  Transformers: Dark of the Moon will be the last in the series.  Shia LaBeouf and all the principals return except for Megan Fox, whose character has been written out.  English model Rosie Huntington-Whitely has the tough assignment of Sam’s squeeze.  Synopsis: The Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, are back in action, taking on the evil Decepticons, who are determined to avenge their defeat in 2009’s Transformers Revenge of the Fallen. In this new movie, the Autobots and Decepticons become involved in a perilous space race between the U.S. and Russia, and once again human Sam Witwicky has to come to the aid of his robot friends.

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CULTURE WORD

Manzanita Writers Series – Jennifer Lauck Found: A Memoir

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