This week, you’ll find a wintery mix of music and dance, a classic holiday movie and a powerful exhibit in La Conner.
Winter Solstice Movement Ritual: Grand Dance
Using movement, imagination, dance and storytelling, participants will shed the layers of the old year and welcome back the light of the longer days of the new year at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, at Presence Studio, 1412 Cornwall Ave. This is the 43rd consecutive year for this Winter Solstice celebration.
The movements to reflect, dance and plant seeds for the New Year are simple and easily learned. All ages are welcome, but parents should be prepared to attend to their children. A sliding-scale donation of $8–$15 is optional upon arrival. Attendance is free, but please pre-register by searching Winter Solstice Movement Ritual at eventbrite.com.
Young musicians play holiday treasures
Musicians ages 6–21 from the Fidalgo Youth Symphony and the Northwest Youth Symphony Association will perform songs from many cultures in a concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, at McIntyre Hall on the Skagit Valley College campus, 2501 E. College Way.
Enjoy the songs our predecessors played and sang plus modern creations, enriching the season with varieties of sound, melody and tonal color featuring brass and woodwind ensembles, string groups and a full symphony, with the traditional grand finale: “A Christmas Festival” by Leroy Anderson. Tickets are $15 at mcintyrehall.org.
Holiday classics and more
Karla Bonoff and Livingston Taylor come “Home for the Holidays” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, in Mount Vernon at the Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St. Bonoff, one of her generation’s great songwriters, and Taylor, entertainer extraordinaire, have joined forces for a performance of song and joy, featuring some of the best-known holiday classics — including songs from Bonoff’s critically acclaimed holiday album “Silent Night,” as well as some of the duo’s best-known songs.
“The stage” is home for Bonoff and Taylor, who have always maintained busy annual touring schedules. Now they are excited to be back “home” playing for their audience with performances that will be intimate, familiar, enthralling and inspired by the essence of the season. Tickets are $35–$49. Find out more at lincolntheatre.org.
Angels get their wings
Watch an annual screening of Frank Capra’s timeless Christmas classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” at 3 p.m. or 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23 in Mount Vernon at the historic Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St.
James Stewart stars as George Bailey, a down-on-his-luck everyman who has given up on his personal dreams and is thinking of ending things on Christmas Eve. His guardian angel Clarence (Henry Travers) swoops down from heaven to show George what life would be like if he had never existed.
As George is shown what his kindness and generosity meant to the people of Bedford Falls, he comes to realize that his life is, indeed, a wonderful one. Admission is free. Details: lincolntheatre.org.
Last chance for Festival of the Arts
Allied Arts of Whatcom County hosts its annual Holiday Festival of the Arts from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday, Dec. 23, (closes at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24) at 1411 Railroad Ave.
The Holiday Festival of the Arts is an indoor and online festival featuring more than 100 artisans from our region. Aside from vendors selling their wares, the festival boasts artists demonstrating their craft. The twofold purpose of the festival is to encourage and support the creation and sale of locally produced fine art and craft while providing an opportunity to connect artists and craftspeople with the general public. There will be live music and activities for kids on Friday, Dec. 23. Details: alliedarts.org.
Christmas Eve caroling
Take part in a sing-along Christmas caroling event. Gather at 8 p.m. sharp on Saturday, Dec. 24 at the Fairhaven Village Green at 10th Street and Mill Avenue. Song sheets will be provided; you provide light (headlamps, flashlights, candles). Carolers will cruise through the songs fairly quickly so please arrive before 8 p.m. You’ll be back at home, warm and joyful, soon after 8:30 p.m.
An old-fashioned thank you
Bellingham Public Library’s Children’s Department hosts its annual “Note of Thanks,” from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Dec. 28, in the downstairs lecture room at 210 Central Ave. Children of all ages can use a variety of craft supplies to make thank-you notes for friends and family. All supplies will be provided. Details: bellinghampubliclibrary.org.
Honoring Native women and girls
“Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: Honoring Our Stolen Sisters” is the culmination of more than a year of collaboration between the Museum of Northwest Art in La Conner, and the two co-curators: Patricia Christine Aqiimuk Paul, Esq. and Candice Wilson Quatz’tenaut.
This exhibition at MoNA, which runs through Feb. 5, draws from the experiences of families and communities who have lost a loved one. Paul is Kikiktagruk Inupiat (northern Alaskan Eskimo). She has presided as an Appellate Tribal Judge for the Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde, Oregon, since 2012, has been a member of Northwest Inupiat Dancers, and is the food editor of the La Conner Weekly News.
Quatz’tenaut is a member of the Lummi Nation and is currently the Tribal Policy Director for the Washington State Department of Health. She has served on the Ferndale School District Board of Directors for four years, and Lummi Indian Business Council for nine years as an elected official for Lummi Nation.
The art in the exhibition reflects the strength, resilience and determination of survivors and their families. Featured in the exhibition are works by Amanda Smith (Nooksack), Qatalina Jackie Schaeffer (Iñupiaq), Cindy Chischilly (Diné), Jonathan Labillois (Mi’gmaq from Listuguj Quebec), Kevin Paul (Swinomish Indian Tribal Community), Nikanot Sylvia Tatshama Peasley (Enrolled Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation; descended from Chief Joseph Band of Nez Perce, Moses Columbia, Umatilla, and San Poil), and Safiuchi (Nooksack 306).
The exhibition also includes a film titled, “Missing and Murdered Women and Girls,” composed by Antone George (Lummi) for the West Shore Canoe Family, directed by Bellingham’s Mark Nichols, and produced by Children of the Setting Sun.
A virtual curator and artist talk will take place over Zoom at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21. This event will be moderated by the co-curators. A Zoom link will be sent to registered participants the day before the event. Please register at monamuseum.org.
Before attending an in-person event, check with individual venues to make sure it is taking place as scheduled.
Margaret Bikman’s Best Bets column runs Wednesdays through Dec. 28. Starting in January, she will be focusing her talents on writing profiles of creative people making a difference in Whatcom and Skagit counties. Reach her at margaret.bikman@gmail.com.
