Spew

Poster sales Saturday in Tacoma

MICHAEL SWAN: TWO OF THE FINEST >>>

Weekly Volcano Publisher Pappi Swarner shared some disturbing news with us — sometime this weekend (most likely Sunday night), his autographed Cheryl Ladd poster was pilfered from his private office restroom. No one seems to have seen the large framed poster make an exit out of the front door, which has led to some speculation that someone actually unscrewed it from the wall above his jetted tub, removed the screen in the bathroom window and lowered the thing onto our back parking lot, kinda like a dumb-ass Thomas Crown Affair.

Pappi claims he’s hitting both The Grand Cinema’s Annual Movie Poster Sale and the Beautiful Angle 2009 Holiday Party Benefit Sale Saturday in case the master poster thief tries to sell it.

[The Grand Cinema, Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m. to noon, 606 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, 253.593.4474]

[King’s Books, Beautiful Angle poster sale, Saturday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m., 218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.8801]

Deck the halls with the Ottoman Empire

SUZY STUMP: FOR THOSE ABOUT TO REVEL, WE SALUTE YOU >>>

What do you get when you cross an opera with a circus?  Puget Sound Revels’ colorful, zany staged production and a great way for all ages to celebrate Christmas past and present. 

The Christmas Revels — 60 to 90 adults and children strong — will explore, um, you figure it out (from their Web site):

“This year's Christmas Revels in Tacoma plays with the enduring character of the fool. Culture to culture, community to community into the distant past, the Fool has played a part in people's understanding of the deep nature of things. This year three traveling fools from "the mysterious east" arrive in a European village — late medieval/early Renaissance. The mysterious strangers bring with them music, foolery and fable. Cosmic excitement ensues as they become unlikely guardians of the Sun, Moon and Stars. Their Moorish and Sephardic songs and stories reflect the rich cultural influences of the Ottoman Empire in the early years of Europe's blossoming Renaissance.”

It sells out quick. Call now. Operators are standing by.

[Rialto Theater, Saturday, Dec. 12 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 13 1 and 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 15 and Wednesday, Dec. 16 7:30 p.m., $11-$26.50, 310 S. Ninth St., Tacoma, 253.591.5894]

SATURDAY: Raw Talent #2

MATT DRISCOLL: O EH, O EH, O EH, O EH >>>

Remember that time in elementary school you took 7th place in the talent show with your lip-synced version of Miami Sound Machine’s “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You”? Yeah, well, Raw Talent #2, a local talent show at The New Frontier Lounge on Saturday, isn’t going to be anything like that.

Benefiting Second Cycle, Hilltop’s loved bicycle co-op, Raw Talent #2 will be a chance for anyone to check out a cast of local performers — many of them relative newbies — busting out spoken word, poetry, music, comedy and maybe even a puppet show or two.

Only time will tell, but one thing is certain — Raw #2 should be a sight to see and experience.

[The New Frontier Lounge, Saturday, Nov. 28, 7 p.m., $5, 301 E. 25th St., Tacoma, 253.572.4020]

Pecha Kucha wants you

MICHAEL SWAN: POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS FOR HIPSTERS >>>

Twenty slides, 20 seconds each: That's the challenge issued to creative types in this international phenomenon known as Pechu Kucha, wherein invited presenters may expound upon their private worlds, credos, outlooks or whatever in a visual quickie with strict restraints.

Drawing its name from the Japanese term for the sound of "chit chat," it rests on a presentation format that makes presentations concise, and keeps things moving at a rapid pace.

Tacoma’s version hits number 3 Wednesday, Dec. 2 inside The Hub’s Event Space & Art Gallery. The theme is “Work.” There’s still room for a couple more presenters. Visit the Pecha Kucha Web site for more information.

[The Hub, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 5:30-8 p.m., no cover, 203 Tacoma Ave. S., 253.683.4606]

ON TOUR: Gayle Skidmore tonight

SUZY STUMP: INTERVIEW WITH AN INTERN >>>

“Basically, her music is so powerful it will get you pregnant.”

That’s how Andrew Reeder describes the music of San Diego musician Gayle Skidmore, who performs tonight at the Mandolin Café and tomorrow at KJ’s Garage in Olympia.

Who the hell is Andrew Reeder?

He’s a 24-year-old intern at Skidmore’s record label, Raincoat Records.

Reeder’s promotional e-mail morphed into a Q&A with the intern. Enjoy.

ANDREW REEDER: Hello, I have a show for your calendar... Tue Nov 24, Gayle Skidmore (indie/folk, multi instrumentalist) @ KJ's Garage, Olympia. 7pm, all ages. Thank you and take care.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: Thanks Andrew. Is Gayle a solo artist? Are you her agent?

REEDER: She is a solo artist and yes I am her agent. I run a high profile agency here in San Diego. I am basically a big deal you know whatever no big deal. LOL. No I am just joking. I am actually her intern. She started a label a couple years ago and I am helping her out with promotions right now. But she really needs to hire a promoter or an agent.

Baddassness

WEEKLY VOLCANO: VERY COOL SHOW TOMORROW >>>

“This show rules because ... it's at The New Frontier — and cause Dark Party + Mux Mool + LOZEN + The New Frontier = Baddassness,” claims Tacoma musician, artist and promoter Matt Eklund.

We’re in.

Freakin’ festivus of holidayness

SUZY STUMP: YULE BOUTIQUE THIS SATURDAY>>>

Even if you don’t personally celebrate a single holiday in winter — even if you say Hanukkah schmanukah and bah humbug in the same breath as you tell the Kwanzaa candle lighters what they can do with their ujamaa — it’s still cold and wet outside, and we know somewhere in your desiccated non-denominational soul there is a desire to share something with others in this dark season. Something merry. Perhaps even bright.

Yes, well, festivity doesn’t get any more vague than the description for the Yule Boutique: “The Yule Boutique, sponsored by the PLU Women's Association, is a holiday bazaar featuring quality arts and crafts and a variety of food vendors.” There’s also a Nordic Sweater Exchange (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) that allows you to sell or exchange “gently-used” Nordic clothing. Those who have been before know it’s a feakin’ festivus of holidayness.

All are welcome Saturday, Nov. 21 at Pacific Lutheran University’s Olson auditorium. Happy mid-November.

[Pacific Lutheran University Olson Auditorium, Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., $3, 10th Avenue South and 124th Street South, Parkland/Tacoma, 253.531. 7581]

Writers Bloc

MATT DRISCOLL: GET INSPIRED >>>

Ever feel like everything these days is LOL, and WTF? Ever feel like all today’s youth can do is pop in their ear buds, zone out, and abbreviate text message style? Well, there are some kids attending Tacoma School of the Arts (SOTA) that would love to prove you wrong. As part of the ongoing and omnipresent Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month 2009, a handful of talented SOTA students will gather at King’s Books to drop poetry and prose on the ears of the willing.

[King’s Books, Thursday, Nov. 19, 7 p.m., free, 218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.8801]

MOVE! 15

MICHEAL SWAN: DANCING TO A DIFFERENT TUNE >>>

Trib art critic Rosemary Ponnekanti posted a reminder that MLKBallet’s MOVE! 15 goes down this Friday and Saturday in the SOTA Theater. Read the preview here.

It should be noted that Tacoma musician Vicci Martinez wrote the score to several MOVE! 15 pieces.

THIRD THURSDAY FOCUS: Q&A with Kim Cheselka

RON SWARNER: THIS ISN’T BASKET WEAVING >>>

If you happen to be anywhere near the Fulcrum Gallery on Hilltop Tacoma, you might have sworn you saw tumble weeds. You did in fact see bent, formed, and dried willows — taken from riverbanks in Montana — but hidden behind the fantastic shapes was artist Kim Cheselka. The Los Angeles-based artist is setting up her installation, Instructions From the Natural World — willow constructions created without nails, glue or wire — opening Thursday, Nov. 19 at Fulcrum.

I caught up with Cheselka on the road during her journey to Tacoma.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: You construct shapes without fasteners. Can you talk a bit about why you took that route?

KIM CHESELKA: I found the willow, the willow found me.  I am a fairly minimal type of person, so when we travel to Montana I don't like to cart along a ton of art making material.  I had pretty much narrowed it down to water colors, pencil and paper, but then needing a more physical outlet in 2004 I began fiddling with willow branches while camping on the river.  There was no great decision not to use nails, glue, wire or some other type of "fastener."  It just became evident that the material, the way I wanted to use it could stabilize itself on its own — I liked that.   When you use another element to hold something together it pushes the material to (possibly) do something it was not meant to do. When the willow is freshly peeled it is pliable, it dries within hours (depending on the weather) allowing a framework to play off of.  

I enjoy the collaboration with the nature of the willow and the constraints it puts on the forms I make.  I am able to push the material only to the point of its own nature ... then it pushes back.