Music from DjangoFest Northwest Fills Whidbey Community

Once again, Langley’s streets are alive with Django music. From September 20-24, visitors and residents will be treated to the toe-tapping, enthralling music that is Gypsy Jazz. Produced by the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA), DjangoFest Northwest (DFNW) is a five-day heritage festival that brings together performers from around the world. This year’s festival will feature eight concerts, more than ten workshops, and countless Djam sessions—all in the spirit of music pioneered by Django Reinhardt.

“The festival is the most fun we have all year,” says Deana Duncan, WICA’s executive artistic director. “Whidbey Island and Langley specifically are very similar to the small town in France where the festival was born; Samois-sur-Seine. Our festival combines an amazing musical program…with many creative, fun and artistic activities like jazz workshops, outdoor ‘Djam’ sessions, and even craft cocktails at the local restaurants. Our DFNW lounge is open every day from noon to midnight with custom merchandise, food and drink and a chance to meet and hear artists in a casual atmosphere.”

This is the festival’s 23rd year, and features local performers like the Hot Club of Troy as well as international artists like Duved Dunayevsky. Each year, WICA and DjangoFest Northwest Artistic Director Simon Planting work with artists from around the world to curate the festival, which involves months of planning—from coordinating visas to booking travel and local accommodations. Made even more difficult this year due to the increase in the number of travelers worldwide, getting artists to Whidbey Island is a feat in and of itself.

For some, the visa process is one such hurdle, as Duncan witnessed this year in coordinating with embassies and officials. “Our European artists just needed a case number to get their embassy appointment and paperwork,” says Duncan. “But the Brazilian performers needed to have their paperwork in hand, which they didn’t. The line was so long, they decided to stay overnight in the embassy, hire a courier service by phone to print and pick up the forms, and then hand the forms through a gate the following morning.”

It is this hard work and a commitment to the festival, as well as the effort by both performers and the producers to make DjangoFest Northwest a memorable experience each year, that ensures it remains well-known and beloved around the world. And, after months of preparation, WICA is excited to welcome guests back for the first full festival with international artists since the start of the pandemic, making this a can’t-miss event.

For those looking to experience DjangoFest Northwest, visit www.djangofest.com for the performance lineup, workshop schedule, and more ways to enjoy all that the festival has to offer.

Whidbey Island Center for the Arts SHINEs at Annual Gala Fundraiser

A beautiful summer evening was the backdrop for the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) 28th annual fundraiser. Bringing together the island’s most dedicated patrons for the SHINE Gala, the September 9 event was a night to remember and an opportunity to support the work WICA does in the arts community.

Held at WICA’s iconic campus in Langley, Washington—located on picturesque Whidbey Island—gala guests were treated to an evening of island elegance. Rich tones of champagne and copper transformed WICA’s interior and exterior spaces, with disco balls catching the light and beautiful floral arrangements drawing guests in.

“The 2023 gala theme SHINE was partly inspired by our Executive Artistic Director Deana Duncan’s vision of WICA being a beacon of light for our community. Lighting the way through the arts,” says Louis Muniz, board member and gala co-chair. “It was also a concept that came from looking through the long history of WICA, from its founding members to present. It started as a diamond in the rough and over time, we as a community have nurtured and polished this stone to uncover a gem that truly shines bright like a diamond.”

Beginning at 5:00 p.m., attendees mingled over creative hors d’oeuvres and specialty beverages provided by Freeland’s Fare Market. Under the organization’s beautiful white canopy—which has become synonymous with community gatherings—participants took part in a silent auction that featured everything from sports memorabilia to jewelry. While listening to local musical talent Philip Van Seters, patrons enjoyed a warm evening set against the backdrop of WICA’s Zech Hall outdoor stage. At 6:45, attendees moved to WICA’s Cabaret Mainstage, where from the comfort of WICA’s intimate theatre seating, guests enjoyed a live auction and a raise the paddle donation opportunity, with all proceeds supporting the nonprofit’s next season.

“The evening raised over $230,000 for WICA,” says Executive Artistic Director Deana Duncan. “Because of this, we can continue to enrich lives through powerful shared experiences in the arts. We are feeling the generosity of spirit and support across the entire organization. To our community, please accept our heartfelt thank you! We hope to see you at the theatre soon.”

As WICA begins preparations for its next season, the funds raised at this annual event serve as a reminder of the community’s support for the arts organization and its impactful mission on Whidbey Island.

Investing in Whidbey Island’s Artistic Future

Enriching lives through the power of art is at the heart of the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) mission—and that all begins within the community. In 2023, the WICA Board of Directors relaunched its scholarship program with the Bridge Family Scholarship, named for current Board Chair Bobbe Bridge and her family. An island-wide initiative to support recent graduates in the Oak Harbor, Coupeville, and South Whidbey school districts, the scholarship provides funding to Whidbey Island students who are interested in continuing to pursue art as they move on to an accredited institution of higher education.

Reaching students throughout the island was key to the scholarship’s purpose, which Bridge saw as a way to honor the diversity of talent found on Whidbey and to support recent graduates who remain committed to an artistic future—whatever that may look like.

WICA Board Chair Bobbe Bridge and her husband Jon

“It’s open to those who have demonstrated art is important to them,” says Bridge. “However it’s expressed, they will continue to have that as a part of their lives and make sure it’s part of any community they’re [in].”

This year, the scholarship was awarded to three island graduates, with each receiving $1,667 to be used as they pursue the next step in their educational journeys.

“WICA believes in the transformational power of the arts and we know we must support and nurture our youth in their dreams and goals,” says Deana Duncan, WICA’s executive artistic director. “Art makes a difference.”

For Duncan, it’s important to prioritize STEAM curricula—which includes a focus on the arts, in addition to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)—in today’s educational institutions.

“Adding arts to STEM incorporates the study of humanities, language arts, dance, drama, music, visual arts and media and allows students to explore and master artistic subjects that will enrich their lives and support them in their professional and personal growth,” says Duncan. “We see creativity, persuasion, and collaboration as top skills companies have listed for prospective employees, and these are also the hallmarks of a strong arts education.”

Connecting with youth through arts education programming is a key component of WICA’s work in the community. This includes a focus on outreach opportunities that create spaces for critical thinking, joy and the celebration of self for the island’s youth. For Duncan, taking that commitment and extending it beyond WICA’s walls is what makes this scholarship so important.

“We work with all ages and to see these students who have grown up on Whidbey find their voice, choose their paths and move forward with art at the core of their lives is a joy,” she says. “We are so proud of them and thankful to the Bridge family and WICA Board of Directors for funding three local scholarships this year. Our mission is to impact and enrich lives through powerful shared experiences in the arts. This scholarship allows us to honor the mission and help our local youth.”

Scholarship recipient Ada Faith-Feyma

For scholarship recipient Ada Faith-Feyma, who will be studying forensic psychology at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City, involvement in the arts began at an early age.

“My entire family is artistic—my mother is a pianist and two of my siblings are heavy metal musicians. I grew up following mom to her rehearsals and renting old musicals from the library,” she says. “It’s safe to say I’ve always been interested in art. When I was in the first grade, my dad found a flyer for a summer camp at WICA where they were putting on a production of Fantastic Mr. Fox, directed by the one and only Deana Duncan. From there I was set.”

Hoping to pursue drama classes in college “focused on justice and current world problems,” Faith-Feyma sees art as central to the exciting new chapter she is embarking on.

A commitment to art has also been a constant for scholarship recipient Abigail Ireland, who began playing instruments at an early age.

Scholarship recipient Abigail Ireland

“I played my first instrument in 5th grade and instantly fell in love with the challenges and satisfactions that came along with learning how to read and play music,” she says.

For this incoming first-year student at the University of San Francisco who plans on majoring in environmental science with a possible minor in music or history, WICA’s support is a wonderful recognition of the passion she has for the arts.

“Music is intertwined into all aspects of my life, I always want to have the opportunity to play and perform music for fun and to challenge myself,” she says. “I am grateful to be recognized for my passion for music. That motivates me to learn and grow.”

For Bridge, the scholarship’s purpose is to support all artistic educational paths, highlighting the importance art plays in our world.

“Art is necessary for a full life,” she says. “[Now is] a time to ensure we’re bringing up young people who appreciate the arts. It’s just such a great part of our community, our culture, [and] what brings people together.”

As WICA looks ahead to the future of art on Whidbey Island, it’s clear that supporting the next generation of art lovers is key to continued success.

“Human creativity consists of imagination, ideas, and the willingness to take risks. We must support and nurture our youth in following creative endeavors so that the arts can flourish and touch lives in profound ways,” says Duncan. “WICA is dedicated to arts in education and building our scholarship base to help Whidbey's youth continue their journey in the arts.”

Billy's Blog at WICA

I’m so glad to be here, and that you’re here too. Thank you for taking the time to visit and I hope to make your stay, at the very least, perfect. My name is Billy and since my name alliterates with the word, Blog, the name of this production quite simply fell into my lap. I am the new Managing Director here at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts and one of my goals heading into this new year is to strengthen our community outreach, in part by keeping folks more up to date about the happenings on the horizon at the Center, so that partnerships may form and ideas shared and connections made.

Right now in the Lasher Gallery we are nearing the end of hosting our most successful art opening in the Center’s history, in number of attendees and quantity of pieces sold. The hanging consists of 37 pieces from local artist, Rosie Brouse. Our next hanging will be up to show in time for the Whidbey Island Film Festival.

Not that it is of great interest to the general public, but WICA has switched over to a calendar year for its fiscal operation and I’m flat tickled about that change and would feel confident guessing at least two other employees are as much if not more so tickled than I.

This week we will be posting two job openings, one for a godsend in marketing and one for a front of house all-star – WICA is a wonderful place to work and so if you’re looking or know someone who may be a good fit keep your eyes peeled on Drewslist or WICAonline.org for the postings, which will contain most of the relevant details.

Entering the new year, our first major piece of programming is the Whidbey Island Film Festival, which spans Wednesday through Sunday starting next week, with 7 films featured along with a concert featuring music from the scores of the featured films, and a unique event Sunday for pass holders only, Primo by Prima, a pasta event after BIG NIGHT put on with the help of Prima Bistro.  January is also peppered with concerts from fan favorites Take 3, Nancy Nolan, and LeRoy Bell.

I am so pumped(!!) for 2023, because I will be creating a Billy Improv Series for both performance and education. On the performance side, I have had the honor and privilege to connect with some of the best improvisers in North America throughout my time improvising, which began in the late nineties. Anyway, I recently reached out to a couple of old friends from my Festival days and currently one of them has agreed to come out and do an improv show with me, just the two or three of us.

On the education component of the Billy Improv Series, starting January 19th I will be hosting/facilitating/teaching a weekly drop-in improv study time from 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm on Thursdays, by donation to the Center. The “class” will range from performance improv training to personal development work, and will be good for anyone interested in growth in the areas of listening, social and spatial and emotional awareness, humor, and human connection. It will be 18+ only with exceptions granted on a case by case basis. No improv experience is required.

If you would like to be added to A) a Billy Improv Series: Performance list, or B) a Billy Improv Series: Education list, please email me and let me know at: Billy.Tierney@WICAonline.org or comment below.

Thank you very much for reading, and I hope to see you soon around the Center!

WICA Celebrates current and former Board members at unique event.

Before our new play, Apostrophe, hit the stage, we created an opportunity for our past and present board members to come in for some socialization, an important announcement, and a fruitful conversation with the playwright, Liza Powel O’Brien, and director, Vito Zingarelli, of the new work hitting our stage this weekend.

Bobbe Bridge addresses the attendees.

Starting with some light snack fare and adult beverages, including an impressive home collection of scotch, the evening truly got underway with the announcement by current Board President Bobbe Bridge that the Board of Directors had voted in favor of honoring Deana Duncan with the duties and title of Executive Artistic Director of Whidbey Island Center for the Arts; this announcement was met with much enthusiasm and applause from the attendees and reinforced Bobbe’s message that the organization was truly dedicated to an Arts-first approach to the future.

Past and present Board members, along with their partners, socialize and reconnect.

The final act of the evening’s event was a very special conversation between Vito Zingarelli and Liza Powel O’Brien, regarding the new play, Apostrophe, hitting the stage for opening night June 10th, at 7:30 PM. The topics included the differences and challenges of producing a new work rather than an established work, the process that this play in particular went through in order to come to life, and the in-residence approach that Liza and WICA came to agreement on when bringing the play here for it’s premiere live performances.

Attendees are brought up to speed on who they’ll be hearing from next.

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The conversation was captivating and interesting and went on longer than intended because of the quality of conversation and the quality of questions from the delighted crowd. One former Board member, Peter Morton, asked, since the play is about a private girls school and thematically connects to the youth experience of today, if there was any promotion going out to high school aged people… when the answer was unsure, Peter offered to sponsor 10 tickets to go to youth coming out to see the show. This offering was met with others who desired to do the same and before we knew it there were 70 tickets pledged to youth to come see the show! Do you know anyone who might want to take Peter and the others up on their offer?