Community Briefs for Feb. 20, 2020

Little Art Camas event this weekend Little Art Camas, a two-day community exhibition of original small-scale artworks created by local artists, will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, and from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at Fuel Medical, 314 N.E. Birch St., Camas. Each art piece is priced at $20. Sales from the exhibit, which is coordinated by the Downtown Camas Association (DCA), will benefit downtown Camas' public art efforts. Tickets to the event cost $5 at the door, are free for children age 12 and younger, and are good for admission on Friday and Saturday. "Little Art Camas is all about making original art accessible to everyone," Carrie Schulstad, executive director of the DCA, stated in a press release. "Whether you are one of the artists or starting an art collection, this event is a fun and engaging way to share art with each other. It will be really fun to see the excitement when the cowbell rings and (people) can start buying. The energy in the lobby last year was electric, so this year we will ring cowbells to start the buying so everyone can hear. The art is impressive and is a genuinely diverse showcase, and it helps support more public art in downtown Camas as well." The event will feature live music, appetizers and wine and art demonstrations. New pieces not featured on Friday evening will be displayed on Saturday. For more information, visit downtowncamas.com/event/littleartcamas. Music professor visits JMS, WHS Jemtegaard Middle School (JMS) wind ensemble students were visited by David Wacyk, assistant professor of music and director of bands at Saint Martin's University (SMU) in Lacey, Washington, on Feb. 11. "I was excited to take advantage of Dr. Wacyk's offer to travel down this direction and work with school bands," JMS music educator Jennifer Hodapp said in a news release issued by the Washougal School District. "I am so thankful for his visit and the impact he had on our students and their understanding of the music." "It is important for all conductors to bring in a different set of ears from time to time," Wacyk said in the news release. "Conductors hear the same thing over and over, and having fresh input can help. Many times I will give some of the same instruction as the regular conductor, but coming from someone else may help a student or a section have a breakthrough." He explained to students that participating in a band is an exercise in repated failures before expeirencing success. "Finding the right note and how exactly to play it can be hard, especially horns," he said. Wacyk went on to encourage the students to be aware of the roles of all the sections. "Once the music is in your mind and fingers, the next level is to be listening to other parts and sections. Figure out where you belong in the music," he told the students. "Listen more than you play." Students gave their full attention to Wacyk as he stood atop the conductor's platform breaking down the song by measures, challenging them to listen to where they fit in the whole of the sound. "It was wonderful to get Dr. Wacyk's input," Hodapp said. "My goals were for him to provide suggestions and comments to better the literature we are currently working on. We have been preparing for our March concert and band festival, so this is the perfect time to add new and different ideas to help us improve." "I have to say I am jealous of the practice space," he told the students, admiring their music room, constructed as a part of the new JMS in 2016. "You should be very happy with it and proud of it. This is clearly a positive and safe space to work through your failures what will lead to successes." Wacyk, who also visited Kelly Ritter's wind ensemble rehearsal at Washougal High School, conducts the SMU wind ensemble and the Saints Pep Band, and teaches music theory. Breweries to participate in open house event Washougal's 54-40 Brewing Company and Stevenson's Walking Man Brewery will be two of 107 Washington breweries to participate in the 10th annual Washington Beer Open House event, which will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29. "Washington Beer Open House will allow you to take a look behind the scenes at some of Washington's most innovative breweries, talk to the brewers themselves, discover new breweries, try unique craft beer creations and meet some new craft beer loving friends," according to the Washington Beer Association. Participating breweries will present a wide range of activities. including rare barrel tastings, new seasonal beers, finger food, full brewery tours, brewer conversation, unique beer samples, growler sales, live music and more. For more information and a map of partiicpating breweries, visit washingtonbeer.com. Gorge Ride fundraiser to be held in June Registration is now open for the 14th annual Gorge Ride fundraising event, which will be held Saturday, June 13. Bicyclists will ride on the Historic Columbia River Highway from the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum in The Dalles, Oregon, to the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail in Mosier, Oregon, and continue on to the Senator Mark O. Hatfield West Trailhead east of Hood River, Oregon, and return. The 38.5-mile trip includes views of the vista at Rowena Crest, a trip through the Mosier Twin Tunnels and a rest stop at the historic Mayerdale Estate. Each participant will receive a raffle ticket, and winners will be able to choose from items donated by Kramer's Market, Mountain View Cyclery, Double Mountain Brewery and Oregon E-Bikes. In addition, participants that complete a survey at the end of the ride will be entered into a drawing for a jacket from Showers Pass. The event will benefit The Friends of the Historic Columbia River Highway, which supports the restoration and reconnection of the historic highway through the Columbia River Gorge. Registration for the event is available through gorgeride.eventbrite.com. For more information, visit gorgeride.com.

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