Arts Briefs | September 19 edition | Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber

Authoritarianism Rising

Attend a free five-part speaker series, “Authoritarianism Rising,” with Dr. Larry Hubbell, to examine the complex and pressing issue of authoritarianism in the United States, starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, at Open Space for Arts & Community.

The first talk — “Why Don’t I Know about Eugene Debs?”— outlines the foundational concepts of authoritarianism and traces its development in American history, from the Federalist Papers to the Constitution’s efforts to limit presidential power, and how the scope of the presidency expanded during the 20th century.

A 10-year resident of Vashon, Hubbell’s interest and focus on authoritarianism began when he attended high school in apartheid South Africa. As an academic and Fulbright Scholar, he has extensively studied authoritarianism, conducting research, teaching courses, and consulting in countries throughout the world. Find out more at openspacevashon.com.

Vashon Opera

Vashon Opera’s production of Verdi’s “Otello” is set for performances on Friday, Sept. 20, and Sunday, Sept. 22, at Vashon Center for the Arts.

The production boasts world-class opera singers, including tenor Erinn Brooks in the title role. Brooks is a regular at the Metropolitan Opera.

For more information and tickets, visit vashonopera.org.

Wine and Jazz

Cool jazz and award-winning wines will both be on offer from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at Palouse Winery.

Vibraphonist Ben Thomas, guitarist Tim Lerch, and island jazz bassist Bruce Phares will perform classic jazz repertoire. All are noted jazzmen in the Seattle area. An accomplished virtuoso on the vibes, Thomas is a well-known player in the popular Jovino Santos Neto’s Quinteto. Guitarist Lerch holds the soloist’s chair with the ever-popular jazz group, Pearl Django. And ubiquitous island bassist Phares is the impresario of the island’s beloved Jam In The Atrium series, at Vashon Center for the Arts.

Make reservations to attend at tinyurl.com/yc3p882e.

Sunday Gathering

Attend a new edition of Vashon’s rollicking and revered Sunday revue, CHRCH, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, at Open Space.

All the beloved elements of the variety show will be in place, including comedy from the Holy Roller Players and music from the CHRCH House Band. For more information and tickets, visit openspacevashon.com.

Hatmaker’s Wife

Drama Dock Theatre Company will present Lauren Yee’s award-winning play, “The Hatmaker’s Wife,” from September 26–29, at Vashon Island High School Theater.

The cast includes Steven Sterne, Maria Glanz, Harris Levinson, Alyssa Norling, Philip Gorbachov, Mik Kuhlman, Desiree Workun Mcintyre, and Sierra Tinhof.

“The Hatmaker’s Wife” combines the stories of a young couple with relationship problems moving into their first home together, and the spirits of a misanthropic retired hatmaker and his adventurous, headstrong wife, which occupy that house.

The New York Times hailed the play as “courageous [and] childlike,” calling the script’s landscape a “parallel universe of folklore, where people are not lifelike, but bigger, stranger and more real than life.”

See the show at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 26-28, and 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, at Vashon High School. Find out more and get tickets at dramadock.org.

Aoife O’Donovan

Aoife O’Donovan and Hawktail will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, at Vashon Center for the Arts.

O’Donovan will play music from her Grammy-winning newest album, “All My Friends,” which was inspired by women’s suffrage and the passage of the 19th Amendment. The album is a deep dive into the life of Carrie Chapman Catt — one of the movement’s leaders and founder of the League of Women Voters — juxtaposed with Aoife’s own experiences as a woman and mother.

The New York Times has deemed her “a vocalist of unerring instinct.” Her critically acclaimed solo albums include “Age of Apathy,” which received three Grammy nominations.

Hawktail, O’Donovan’s opening act, is the acoustic instrumental trio of fiddler Brittany Haas, bassist Paul Kowert, and guitarist Jordan Tice. Their all-original music is flush with orchestral sweeps and sparse vigils, with strains of the American South and the North Atlantic. Get tickets and find out more at vashoncenterforthearts.org.

Art Bazaar

Buy original art at Vashon Center for the Arts’ Art Bazaar, taking place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28 and 29, at VCA’s Blue Heron Education Center.

Local artists are offering high-quality art prices discounted least 30-40%, or more. Art is priced to sell. In addition, the sale will include art donated to VCA by both estates and collectors.

This is not an auction, but an open gallery event where patrons walk in, find pieces, buy them, and take them home. There will be paintings, prints, photographs, posters, glass, sculpture, pottery and more.

A total of 45 Vashon artists are participating, including painters Gretchen Hancock, Bob Horsley, Miya Sukune, and Margaret Tylczak. There will be mixed media, pottery, baskets, and prints by artists including Joan Wortis, Barbara Gustafson, Bill Jarcho, Gale Lurie and Deborah Taylor — and photography by Ed Holmes, Mary Liz Austin, Michelle Bates, Terry Donnelly and Michael Elenko.

All items will be sold as is and are final sales. Proceeds benefit both the artists and Vashon Center for the Arts. See more information at gallery.vashoncenterforthearts.org.

Richard Bona

Richard Bona, an internationally acclaimed bass player and Grammy-winning musician, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Vashon Center for the Arts. Bona has toured, composed, recorded, and created musical forms of art with such superstars as Herbie Hancock, Harry Belafonte, Quincy Jones, Chick Corea, Buena Vista Social Club, Sting, Pat Metheny, Stevie Wonder, Bobby McFerrin, George Benson and many more.

Get tickets at vashoncenterforthearts.org.

Sing for VoV

The Voice of Vashon (VoV) is seeking contestants for its 25th-anniversary fundraiser, “The Voice (of Vashon)” Inspired by the NBC show, The Voice, this event aims to showcase local vocal talent.

Scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 15, at Vashon Theater, the contest is open to both teen and adult contestants. Interested participants should submit a 30-second video performance of a favorite cover to sarahh@voiceofvashon.org. Whether singing a cappella or accompanied by an acoustic instrument, contestants will compete in two categories: ages 14-18 and 19 and older.

A panel of judges will choose finalists from each category, and the final winners will be decided by the audience, making it crucial for contestants to rally their friends and family to attend the event and show their support. Winning voices will be honored with the Voice (of Vashon) Golden Microphone trophy, a solo gig at the KVSH studio at First Friday Live, and the coveted opening spot at the VoV Birthday Bash in 2025. The deadline for submission is Friday, Sept. 27.

Get more details and enter at voiceofvashon.org.