Olympic Theatre Arts’ fundraiser is still more than three weeks away, but the group is already awash in art donations.
OTA representatives say they’ve enjoyed a “terrific response” from local artists for “Heart for the Arts,” their auction/fundraiser set for nesson Nov. 17.
The pieces will be available for public viewing at an artists’ reception, which is free and open to the public, on Friday, Nov. 16, then put up for a live auction at the fundraising festivity itself on Saturday, Nov. 17 — a ticketed event featuring food and beverage pairings to donors before and after the auction.
“I am so impressed with all the talented artists we have living on the Olympic Peninsula,” committee member Jan Unruh said.
“It’s been an honor to share our fundraiser vision with them. I’m deeply touched with the response we’ve had for donations.”
Tammy Hall, October’s featured artist at Harbor Arts Gallery in Port Angeles, has contributed a piece of complexity in the form of a Pegasus built completely of driftwood. Inspired by challenge and learning, Hall first took on the challenge of driftwood sculpture about five years ago and since then has created driftwood creatures such as horses, eagles, rabbits, a unicorn, a mermaid and a giant Pacific octopus. Her donated art piece is estimated at $2,500 in value.
David Johassnnessohn, who works in wood and is influenced by nature — particularly our beautiful streams and fish — created a mobile consisting of 10 hand carved wooden fish, each almost a foot long. Johassnnessohn’s piece is estimated at a value of $2,000.
“I was surprised after watching it that it has many characteristics of an aquarium,” Johassnnessohn said. “I really enjoyed building it and watching it. I had no place to display it, so when I was asked to donate it, I thought it was going to a worthy cause.”
Fiber sculptor Terri Biondolino has donated a seemingly life-size pelican made of wool. Her donated piece is estimated at a value of $750.
“Sculpting with wool is a time consuming but incredibly rewarding art,” Biondolino said. “A piece this size takes hundreds of hours to create.”
All her wool comes to her in white and she dyes and blends to the specifications for each piece. She shows her art at Blue Hole Gallery in Sequim.
Fascinated by multi-level art that draws one’s eye to a focus point, Kevin B. Willson has donated his metal sculpture “Boxes.” The sculpture is valued at $700.
Willson shows his art at Harbor Arts Gallery in Port Angeles. Kevin’s sculpture is valued at $700.
Metal sculptors Tim Bullion and Troy Tossland have created a steampunk clock out of copper and brass and a metal dragonfly over 3 feet long, respectively.
Wood carver Don Hall has contributed a realistic, hand-carved, painted giraffe, and Kevin and Hilary Jones have donated two bas relief wood carvings, “Freedom” and “Dreams.”
Open auditions set for OTA’s ‘Bakersfield Mist’
Olympic Theatre Arts hosts open auditions for its production “Bakersfield Mist” this week.
Auditions are at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, and 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27.
Inspired by true events, Stephen Sachs’ “Bakersfield Mist” is a comedy-drama that asks questions about what makes art and people truly authentic.
Auditions are open for two characters: Maude, a salty, out of work bartender living in a trailer park, and Lionel, an East Coast art expert, high-browed and elitist.
Maude, a 50-something unemployed bartender living in a trailer park, is convinced she bought a million-dollar masterpiece by Jackson Pollock for a few bucks at a thrift store. But when world-class art expert Lionel Percy flies over from New York and arrives at her trailer home in Bakersfield to authenticate the painting, he has no idea what he is about to discover.
The show, which contains strong language, runs from Jan. 18-27. Performance times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Auditioners will be asked to do a cold read from the script. Auditions are open to everyone, with no appointments necessary. Those unable to audition at these times are encouraged to call 360-683-7326 to make alternate arrangements.
OTA is also looking for creative people to fill out the production team. “Bakersfield Mist” is a production with interesting possibilities for set, lighting and sound design elements among other creative opportunities, OTA representatives say.
Call Olympic Theatre Arts at 360-683-7326 for more information.
