A&E briefs — April 12, 2023
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Poets set readings at Blue Whole Gallery
The Olympic Peninsula Authors group celebrates offers live poetry readings from 2-3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12, at Blue Whole Gallery, 129 W. Washington St.
The event is free and open to the public. Community members are invited to enjoy the readings to celebrate National Poetry Month while surrounded by the gallery’s new exhibit of original two-and three-dimensional art.
Blue whole Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sundays. See bluewholegallery.com.
Story Slam to spotlight ‘Risky Business’
The Out Loud Story Slam returns for an even at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 14, at Studio Bob, 118½ E. Front St., Port Angeles.
Hosted by Nessa Goldman, the theme of the evening is “Risky Business.” Goldman recently took a risk and shared a story at The Story Collider in Seattle, and said she hopes others in the community will take, one too.
“We hope you’ll take a risk with us and get up on stage to share a story of a time when you might have experienced a lapse in judgment,” Goldman said in a press release.
Everyone is invited to drop their name in the bag to share a 5-minute true, personal story on the theme. Storytellers are judged by the audience, but the event is all in the spirit of sharing, organizers say. Winners go on to participate in a future Grand Slam.
Audience members can also participate anonymously, or just enjoy the tales of the evening. Ten tellers will be selected in total. For more information, email to outloudstoryslam@gmail.com.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance and are available online at outloudstoryslam.com, or $15 at the door, if available.
Learn native songs, stories
The North Olympic Library System (NOLS) invites people of all ages to “Native Songs and Stories” with Karen Kitchen, a 45-minute program to start at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 15, at the Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave.
Similar sessions are set for 10 a.m. on Friday, April 14, at the Forks Library, and 3:30 p.m. on April 14 in Port Angeles Library.
An educator and musician, Kitchen, of the Osage Nation, will perform songs and share Indigenous stories about the present and past. Sing along or follow the beat and celebrate the diversity and beauty of American Indian music.
With more than three decades of service in urban Title VI Indian Education programs, Kitchen also has a musical duo, The Prairie Blossoms, who performed at the grand opening of the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City.
For more information, visit nols.org, call 360-417-8500 or email to discover@nols.org.
This program is supported by Friends of the Library groups.
Music scholarships available
Monday Musicale scholarship applications are now available at student counselors’ offices. Music students continuing their future education with a major/minor in the field of music are eligible. A total of $6,000 will be awarded.
Auditions will be held in person at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 7, at First Presbyterian Church, 139 W. Eighth St., Port Angeles.
For more information, call scholarship chair Lori Gliko at 615-496-8934.
Learn how to become a champion public speaker
After bringing in several new members last year as a result of “Champions Coaching Champions,” Skwim Toastmasters Club is doing it again. The club hosts a similar event from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, at the KSQM 91.5 FM broadcasting office, 609 W. Washington St., and online.
The free event is aimed to help people become better presenters “without being in the pressure-filled hot seat.”
Register at skwimccc1.eventbrite.com.
Featured coaches are Kyle Hall, third place winner in the 2003 World Championship of Public Speaking, and Nazeer Alqasem, semifinalist in the 2022 race to the World Stage.
“It’s tremendously exciting and satisfying to watch a speaker improve their speech in real time,” says Lindy MacLaine, Club Vice President of Membership. “Those who attended last year felt the magnetic combination of commitment and excellence from the speakers and coaches. The fact that it made them want to join is icing on the cake!”
Subsequent coaching events will take place on Tuesday, May 23, and Tuesday, June 20, with different speakers and coaches.
Skwim Toastmasters is part of Toastmasters International, a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that “empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders.” For more information, visit skwimtm.org.
Celebrate el Día del Niño/Children’s Day
Children of all ages and their families are invited to celebrate el Día del Niño/Children’s Day with the North Olympic Library System (NOLS) from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, at the Sequim, Port Angeles and Forks libraries. Enjoy games, Mexican treats, a piñata and free prizes.
Since 1925, Día del Niño, or the Day of the Child, has grown as an annual celebration throughout Mexico. This day celebrates children, recognizes their importance in society, and promotes their well-being.
After learning about Mexico’s tradition of celebrating April 30 as el Día del Niño, children’s book author Pat Mora helped create a new holiday in the United States emphasizing the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds, linking families to diverse books, languages and cultures.
For more information about this and other library events and services, visit nols.org, call 360-417-8500 or email to discover@nols.org.
Concert to support environmental efforts
The Earth Day 2023 Spring Fest Concert is set for 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, at Olympic Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 1033 N. Barr Road, between Sequim and Port Angeles.
Admission is by donation.
The benefit concert supports Oceana, an international organization “focused solely on oceans, dedicated to achieving measurable change by conducting specific, science-based policy campaigns with fixed deadlines and articulated goals” (see oceana.org).
The event is sponsored by worthyvisions.com.
Soloist to perform at Holy Trinity
Soprano soloist Mary DiRoberts will demonstrate her abilities in a free concert open to the public at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 21, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 E. Lopez St., Port Angeles.
DiRoberts, event organizers note, will be accompanied by Noah Smith, a local keyboardist and composer. The two will join forces to perform the works of Clara Schumann, Eva Dell’Acqua and Heitor Villa-Lobos, as well as “Calpurnia’s Vision,” a new work for voice and organ composed by Smith for the upcoming “The Tragedie of Ivlivs Cæsar.”
All donations go to support the Holy Trinity concert series.
