Gfit guide: Give the gift of art and performance on Vashon

Vashon has long been known as a community of artists, performers, musicians, writers and other creative spirits. Here are some places to find great, one-of-a-kind gifts and support local arts enterprises.

DRAMA DOCK

Since 1977, this venerable island theater company has delighted Vashonites and nurtured a flair for the dramatic. The organization also partners with Vashon Center for the Arts to support youth theater programs. Get tickets and support Drama Dock at dramadock.org.

H.A. + CO

This Burton shop offers ceramics, jewelry, glass, gems and other gifts.

GIRAFFE

This shop in the town core of Vashon boasts a wide array of ethically sourced home goods, gifts and clothing from around world. Visit giraffehome.com to find out more.

OPEN SPACE FOR ARTS & COMMUNITY

A community hub, a performance space, and the site of many youth education programs, Open Space is another island arts institution worthy of support. Find out more, buy tickets to upcoming shows and donate at openspacevashon.com.

POSH GIFTS

This new shop in Vashon Village offers concierge service for discerning, customized gifts and holiday packages. Visit the shop at 17205 Vashon Hwy SW to find out more, or call 206-830-8311.

RAVEN’S NEST

Raven’s Nest is dedicated to offering a variety of arts and crafts created by Northwest Coast Indigenous artists. Visit ravensnestvashon.com to shop or find out more.

VASHON MADE

Find a wide variety of original and limited edition crafts, jewelry, clothing and other works by local artists at Vashon Made (formerly Starving Artists Works). To find out more, visit facebook.com/SawStarvingArtists.

SPICEBERRY

This shop, in Burton, features a wide array of home goods and textiles. Find out more at facebook.com/spiceberryhome.

SWIFTWATER GALLERY

This more than 50-member cooperative gallery located in the center of Vashon’s town core offers a bounty of works by island artists: sculpture, pottery, wearable art, jewelry, paintings, sculptures, and much more. Visit swiftwatergallery.com to find out more.

VALISE GALLERY

VALISE’S holiday show of affordably priced, mostly 5-inch by 5-inch artworks by gallery collective members is now on display. To find out more, visit valisegallery.com.

VASHON BOOKSHOP

Buy bestsellers and books by local authors at this independently-owned treasure in the center of Vashon Town. For more information, visit vashonbookshop.com.

VASHON CENTER FOR THE ARTS

From Dec 6-23, the arts center will exhibit its annual “Miniatures” show, featuring more than 70 artists displaying one to three pieces each. The show boasts more than 100 artworks from the Northwest, as well as artists from Minnesota, Oregon, and California. In the gift shop will be a stunning selection of fine jewelry by local jewelry legend, Eric Heffelfinger.

Find out more at vashoncenterforthearts.org — where you can also purchase tickets to upcoming events, or donate to the arts center, which provides a wide range of programs throughout the year encompassing visual art, performing art, and arts education.

VASHON EVENTS

Vashon Events is a wide-ranging nonprofit that celebrates creativity on Vashon, offering programs including a free instrument library, a registry of island musicians, and a website with comprehensive calendar listings for all the cultural happenings of Vashon. Donate at vashonevents.org.

VASHON FILM INSTITUTE

Become a member of Vashon Film Institute, supporting Vashon Island Film Festival and other year-round screenings of independent films at Vashon Theatre. Find out more at vashonfilminstitute.com.

VASHON ISLAND VISUAL ARTISTS

Vashon Island Visual Artists is a membership organization that presents annual studio tours of artists’ studios and supports members with other programs as well. To find out more and get information on the organization’s 2024 Holiday Art Tour — a great source of artful, one-of-a-kind gifts to be held on Dec. 7-8 and Dec. 14-15 — visit vivartists.com.

VASHON OPERA

Vashon has its own world-class opera company. Buy tickets now for its next production, Guiseppe Verdi’s “Falstaff,” which will be staged May 23 and 25, at Vashon Center for the Arts, and offer your support for the company at vashonopera.org.

VASHON REPERTORY THEATRE

Vashon Rep, formed in 2020, presents multiple productions and play readings each year, musicals and more. The company will present Allen Fitzpatrick’s acclaimed solo performance of “A Christmas Carol” at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, at Vashon Center for the Arts. Get tickets at vashonrepertorytheatre.org, where donations to the company are also accepted.

VASHON THEATRE

Celebrate the holidays by heading out to see a movie at Vashon’s single-screen historic theater, or buy gift certificates to give to friends and family. Check out what’s playing at vashontheatre.com.