“A Change is Coming” with the Whidbey Island Nourishes Fundraiser at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts

On November 16, Whidbey Island Nourishes (WIN), in partnership with the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA), will host “A Change is Coming”—a fundraiser event for WIN at the WICA campus in Langley. Filled with intentional engagement, heartfelt conversations, and festive music, the event will feature a community social at 6 p.m., followed by the premiere of a short film highlighting WIN’s work on the island and a concert with American singer and songwriter LeRoy Bell. Bell is a favorite of local audiences, so attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets early, as his shows usually sell out. The ticket price is $100 and can be purchased online on the WICA website.

“For over fifteen years, WIN has worked to close the nutrition gap for South Whidbey Youth, many of whom rely on the free and reduced school lunch programs to meet their nutritional needs. WIN's meal programs help families grappling with food insecurity find a lifeline of support,” says Melinda Gardiner, WIN’s executive director. “WIN's programs, in collaboration with community partners and the South Whidbey School District, help guarantee that no child has to experience hunger and that every student has the opportunity to thrive.”

For the nonprofit, it’s about ensuring that every child is nourished, which is essential for “healthy growth, development, and overall well-being.”

Partnering with WIN for the fundraiser was the perfect collaboration opportunity for WICA Executive Artistic Director Deana Duncan.

“We are a year-round cultural hub at WICA,” says Duncan. “We firmly believe it is our responsibility to work with our partners, our island community, and our supporters to help foster real and meaningful impact on this island. When WIN approached us about this fundraiser, it was the perfect blend of arts programming and social change that really speaks to WICA’s mission of enriching lives by creating powerful shared experiences in the arts.”

Event proceeds will directly support WIN’s work on Whidbey Island. “Your contribution is not just important, it's vital to empowering WIN's mission,” says Gardiner. “With your support, we can help nourish dreams and make a tangible difference in the lives of the children and teenagers who rely on WIN for nutritional assistance.”

To learn more about this event, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.wicaonline.org/events-calendar-view/achangeiscoming.

Whidbey Island Center for the Arts Brings Award Winning Playwright Bekah Brunstetter’s Touching Dramedy The Cake to its Stage

April Jane Herrild (left) as Macy and Alyssa Keene (right) as Della on the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts mainstage in The Cake.

Faith, family and frosting collide in The Cake, a touching and timely play by Tony-nominated playwright Bekah Brunstetter, who received the nomination this year for The Notebook on Broadway. Opening at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) on October 11, The Cake is based loosely on the Supreme Court case against the baker who refused to bake a wedding cake for a same sex couple. The play is set in Della’s Sweets bakery and is an honest, funny, touching story of how our lives can get turned upside down when we begin to question assumptions we’ve always had.

“Whenever I’m trying to figure out how to have a conversation, I write a play about it,” says Brunstetter.

“WICA is presenting a play about acceptance, sticking up for our values, and being kind,” adds WICA Executive Artistic Director Deana Duncan. “We feel this is an especially relevant discussion in today’s environment.”

The WICA production, which is directed by Lani Brockman, will feature Alyssa Keene as Della, Cerys Zoe Bishop as Jen, April Jane Herrild as Macy, Tony Salome as Tim, and George Henny as George.

“This play is about love and growth and the willingness to step out of ones’ comfort zone to learn and understand,” says Brockman. “There is no villain in this play, just four people who have strong beliefs, biases and feelings.”

After a preview performance on October 10, the theatre series will officially open on October 11 and will run through October 26. WICA is thrilled to invite Washington State Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu and retired Washington State Supreme Court Justice Bobbe Bridge to the stage for a talk back after the show on Sunday, October 13. Judge Yu performed the first legal Washington State same sex marriages in 2012.

Tickets are on sale now. To learn more about the theatre series and to purchase tickets, please visit www.wicaonline.org/thecake.

Capturing Magic Through the Photographer’s Lens

Photography is like a visual diary for Michael Foley—capturing the moments that speak to him. From travels in Botswana to hikes along the Ebey’s Bluff Trail, Foley’s photography is a collection of memories that immediately inspire. From a young age, a camera has never been far away. Given his first camera when he was around seven years old, Foley has been documenting the world around him for as long as he can remember.

“As I got older, I ‘borrowed’ my Dad’s Nikon in my teenage years,” he says. “Given my love of the outdoors, specifically hiking, carrying a camera became natural. Now, as an adult, there is always a camera within reach.”

This enduring love for photography is on display through October 23 at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) Lasher Gallery, where Foley will be showing more than 20 pieces from his collection.

“It is a distinct honor to be able to show my photographs,” says Foley. “It’s a great environment for any artist, with a generous amount of wall space. The WICA staff are all professional, helpful and kind. That helps me feel relaxed knowing I’m in good hands.”

“When I was first shown Michael's work I was so impressed by its scope and variety,” says James Hinkley, Lasher Gallery curator. “He captures so many evocative lines and textures from quite unexpected subject matter. Every image shows his truly unique and detailed point of view.”

For Foley, even though there is some nervousness in sharing his work with the community, it is an exciting opportunity to showcase the images that have really called to him over the years.

“I feel both excited and nervous,” he admits. “Who was it that said, ‘If you’re not a little bit scared, then the game isn’t big enough for you?’ Still, I’m not so nervous, because for this show, I’ve chosen images that simply make me smile. So, at the end of the day, the viewers can have their own experience and I’ll still be wearing a smile.”

Photography is the perfect blend of chance and skill that, for Foley, results in capturing unique moments in time. “Sometimes, moments pass so quickly they get missed altogether. There are elements of chance, but also elements of preparedness or skill. When these elements converge is when magic can happen!”

Ultimately, Foley wants viewers to be inspired by the show to explore nature in new ways. “I hope viewers enjoy the images, but more importantly, I hope people feel inspired to get outside and embrace the wonders of nature,” he says. “We live in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, so we don’t have to go very far…there are beautiful moments right outside your door.”

Foley’s work will be on display until October 23. An artist reception will take place September 5 at 4:00 p.m. in the gallery.

American Blues and Soul Singer Martha Redbone at WICA

 A music icon will grace the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) mainstage on September 28 at 7:30 p.m. with a performance by vocalist, songwriter, composer, and educator Martha Redbone. Drawing from her childhood in Harlan County, Kentucky, and infused with the eclectic grit of pre-gentrified Brooklyn, the Martha Redbone Roots Project has been called “a brilliant collision of cultures…” by The New Yorker Magazine. Redbone has also been featured at The Kennedy Center and on PBS.

Redbone and her ensemble of masterful musicians take their audiences on an American music journey through times past and present, weaving the sounds of her childhood and her ancestral homelands in coal country, Harlan County, KY, celebrating the music of her multi-cultural Southeastern heritage. Music that conjures up stories from the early days of the mountain, embodying the folk, blues and gospel sounds from the ancestors of the Black migration mixed with Indigenous foundation of the region. Martha Redbone and her band invite you through sound and story to her HOME.

"We are thrilled to bring the Martha Redbone Roots Project to WICA," says Executive Artistic Director Deana Duncan. "This is an unbelievable chance to see Redbone in a smaller, more intimate performance space. As a community arts center, we focus on creating opportunities like this for our patrons, giving them the chance to witness such amazing talent on our mainstage. This is really an experience that should not to be missed."

Tickets are currently on sale for the performance at WICA, which, along with Martha Redbone (vocals, percussion), will feature Aaron Whitby (Piano), Charlie Burnham (Violin), and Fred Cash, Jr. (Bass). Please visit the event website to learn more about this and to purchase tickets for this exciting programming opportunity.

World-Renowned DjangoFest Northwest Returns to Whidbey Island

For more than two decades, DjangoFest Northwest (DFNW) has brought the beauty of Django music to Whidbey Island. This year’s festival, which will take place at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) September 18-22, will be no different. Offering five days of incredible music, vibrant energy, and unforgettable performances, this heritage festival will showcase the very best of Django music in the beautiful Village by the Sea.

“It’s such an honor to host these talented Django artists,” says WICA Executive Artistic Director Deana Duncan. “Our festival is a beautiful combination of creativity, fun, and artistry that brings together musicians and music lovers from all over the world. In addition to the nightly performances, the festival includes jazz workshops, outdoor ‘Djam’ sessions, and craft cocktails at the local restaurants. Our DFNW lounge is the perfect place to get into the festival spirit with custom merchandise or to connect with the Django artists. Whether it's your first time or your 20th, you're going to love DFNW 2024.”

This is the festival’s 24th year, with many memorable favorites returning to the stage as well as new talent debuting at WICA for the first time.

2024 Festival Lineup:

Wednesday, September 18

Sam Farthing and Friends

The Hot Club of Troy

Thursday, September 19

Clarinet Marmalade

The Idiomatiques

Friday, September 20

Pearl Django

3 Parts Bourbon

Aurore Voilqué Quartet

Saturday, September 21

Robin Nolan - For the Love of George

Angelo Debarre Gypsy Guitar Trio

Sunday, September 22

Trio Dinicu with Tommy Davy

Please check the DjangoFest website often for updates to the lineup, workshops, and festival information. Be sure to purchase tickets soon, they are going fast!

This year, the festival will also feature a Second Stage, giving DjangoFest attendees even more opportunities to interact with the iconic music. Applications are now open for Second Stage, which will take place prior to the matinee and evening performances on WICA’s Zech Hall patio—Thursday through Sunday during the festival. Whether a solo artist or a group, interested musicians should contact Troy Chapman at Troy.chapman@djangofest.com and share any information they feel relevant for their application (demo reel, artist/group bio, etc.). For those selected to participate, this is a wonderful opportunity to connect with other fans of Django music and to engage with the toe-tapping and enthralling music genre that has become an iconic part of life on Whidbey Island. In prior years, Second Stage performers have also been invited back in subsequent years to perform on the WICA mainstage.

To learn more about this year’s festival, visit djangofest.com.