RHUBARB FESTIVAL SEEKS ARTISTS AND BAKED GOODIES

The Annual Rhubarb Festival is back, bigger and better than ever! Sponsored by Create Arts Center, the festival will take place on Saturday, June 13th. 10’ X 10’ booth spaces will house a bevy of area artists and artisans selling wares as varied as jewelry, fired
tiles, laser-cut metal saw blades, plants, herbs and paintings.

A bake sale of donated goodies made by talented local bakers is a popular feature of the festival. In addition, Create’s signature Rhubarb Shortcake will, once again, be sold by the slice. The popular Create Arts Center Rhubarb Cookbook will be for sale, as well. In addition, the new wood fish and minnows will be available for a nominal fee of $15 or $3 respectively. Sales proceeds benefit Create Arts Center Programs including concerts, performances, book readings and childrens’ summer arts activities.

Anyone who likes to bake is asked to donate rhubarb pies, cakes and other goodies for the Festival. If it’s not a deep, dark family secret, please include a copy of your prized recipe for others to enjoy.

An art exhibit, “Rhubarb and Other Growing Things”, will be on display during the month of June. Artists may enter pieces which reflect the title’s theme.

FOR DETAILS ON PARTICIPATING IN ANY OF THE RHUBARB FESTIVAL EVENTS AND/OR DONATING BAKED GOODS, PLEASE CONTACT CREATE ARTS CENTER AT 447-9277.

In 1960 Howard graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Political Science. After spending the next three years in Europe courtesy of the US Army, Howard began his business career. In 1973 after years in Real Estate, Finance and as an Escrow company owner and manager he began to teach part-time at the local colleges “because it was good for business.” In 1977, Bellevue Community College offered him a full-time tenured position on the faculty as the Director of the Real Estate Resource Center and Chairman of the Real Estate Program or, as Howard likes to tell it, “the opportunity to cut my income by 60%” He took it.

In the summer of 1998, while investigating possible retirement locations, Howard made his way to Pend Oreille County. His introduction to the “arts” scene was an Open Mic night at the CREATE Place; and we discovered that Howard played both piano and guitar, and could sing. Howard bought his house that summer; rented it for the winter and returned to Seattle to retire and sell his house there: and moved to Newport in the summer of 1999.

That fall, in an attempt to replace the sense of excitement he got from standing before a classroom full of students, Howard answered an ad for auditions for Pend Oreille Players. Over the next five years he played many roles in many local productions. His favorites: the homicidal brother Jonathan in Arsenic and Old Lace; Clarence Day in Life with Father; “for the sheer fun of it, playing Aslan the Lion with all those kids’ in C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; and the part of the Old Actor ;’with an incredibly talented cast’ in The Fantastiks.

THE FOLLIES

Howard says that he was born 60 years too late. He loves the mayhem of vaudeville and his favorite music was written between 1880 and 2930. He began his foray into yesteryear by directing portions of A Little Afternoon Music and the Fall Spectacular in 2001 – both dealing with turn-of-the century music. The first Follies (Feb 2004) was born in a fashion somewhat like those old Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland movies, “I know, let’s put on a show!” As Howard puts it: “gathering my friends about me, and anyone else who had no shame, we put together the wildest, weirdest show ever seen locally. It was so much fun that the cast that weren’t on stage would gather in the wings just to watch what was going to happen. It wasn’t even remotely the same from night to night. I had always wanted to do a vaudeville show; and I had done it!”

The problem arrived the week after The Follies closed. “While in Safeway I was approached by a Follies-goer who exclaimed: “That was great! What are you going to do next year?” Each year Howard writes and entirely new play, selects the music, casts the play, produces and directs it. Each year all proceeds from the play are donated to local nonprofits and the Newport School District.

Howard says that as long as it’s still fun he’ll continue to do it. Howard is a Life Member and has always been a great supporter of the Create Arts Center.

Howard is a collector of old sheet music, so if you have a box in the attic and you don’t know what to do with it give him a call.

CREATE WORK DAY
SATURDAY, JUNE 6th, 9:00 A.M. till 2:00 P.M.

We need you!! Create has been a busy place over the past year, hosting many classes, programs, art shows and perfor mances. As a result, the building and grounds are in need of repair, renovation, painting, cleaning and other preventative maintenance. Create is a volunteer participation organization and it is only with the dedication and volunteering of many members and friends of Create that we can keep the premises in tip-top shape.

The yard and garden area are also in need of sprucing up after the long, hard winter that we encountered. We would welcome Master Gardeners that keep the demonstration area in masterful condition to participate with us on June 6th as we work in the yards and on the building.

What to bring -- Lots of Energy, work gloves, yard tools, trimmers, etc. Come and stay as long as you are able, 1 hour or 5 hours will be a great help. Saturday June 13th will be Rhubarb Festival 2009 and this will be our opportunity to get many of the necessary projects done prior to the festival. Create will provide hot dogs on the barbeque and soft drinks at noon for those participating.

Jerry Numbers, Facilities Manager

Water-wise Demonstration Garden Celebrates 10 years

It was over 10 years ago that CREATE approached the WSU Master Gardeners with an interesting proposition. Would the gardeners consider joining into a cooperative venture to help landscape an area in the northwest corner of the CREATE property? The land itself and irrigation water would be provided by CREATE while the Master Gardeners would design, build, plant and maintain the garden area. Of course, the Pend Oreille County Master Gardeners, along with many other local volunteers and contributors, jumped at the chance to become involved in such a worthy community project and the Water-wise Demonstration Garden was born. The garden, now open to the public every day of the week from dawn until dusk, was designed not only to provide enjoyment to its visitors but to also teach water-wise and low maintenance gardening techniques.

First, the soil was improved and heavily mulched to hold in precious water, reduce weed problems and protect plant roots from extreme temperatures. Fences and a gate were installed to keep out the neighborhood deer population. Hardy, drought resistant trees, shrubs and perennials were planted, many of them natives that are well adapted to our climate. A pergola was built at the entrance to create a microclimate to protect and nurture plants that need cooler temperatures and more shade. The wide, meandering gravel path and flagstone areas reduce planting and irrigation needs while providing easy access to all parts of the garden. Turf grass was kept to a minimum since grass lawns require high maintenance and large amounts of water.

Several benches have been installed to provide seating for visitors wishing to linger a while and enjoy the garden. Rocks, sculpture, and garden whimsy are scattered throughout the garden and bird and bat houses invite wildlife that help control insects. Just several years ago, an efficient drip irrigation system was installed that delivers precise amounts of water only to certain plants and never to areas that do not need water. An informational brochure and a detailed plant list were designed and are available from a brochure box just inside the garden entrance. And the most recent additions are updated informative labels for each plant species found within the garden.

Master Gardeners are currently pruning, weeding and cleaning the garden after a long, cold winter and should have everything looking at its best just in time for the CREATE Rhubarb Festival on June 13th. At that time there will be Master Gardeners on hand visiting with folks, answering gardening questions and selling potted rhubarb plants to help fund their educational programs. While at the Rhubarb Festival, be sure take the opportunity to visit the Waterwise Demonstration Garden. Not only will you see water-wise gardening techniques in action but you will also see what good things a little cooperation between organizations can accomplish.

Mark your calendar for 2009!
CREATE, in Newport, WA, has announced its Exhibit Schedule for the 2009 Season. The coming year is filled with exciting and innovative exhibits guaranteed to delight the eye and soul of the viewer. Talented area artists will contribute their skills and vision to the shows.

2009 Exhibits

June “Rhubarb and Other Growing Things”
An all-media exhibit enhancing our Annual Rhubarb Festival.
Subject matter may include plants, fruits, vegetables, nuts,
seeds, flowers, herbs, etc.
Drop off – Thurs., May 28 Pick up – Thurs., June 25

July “Summercharm”
An all-media exhibit dedicated to the charm and beauty of summer.
Drop off – Thurs., June 25 Pick up – Thurs., July 30

August “Heat”
Usually the hottest month of the year, we will celebrate August
temperatures with hot color and representations of heat in any
medium.
Drop off – Thurs., July 30 Pick up – Thurs., Aug., 27

September “Wildlife Unleashed”
An all-media exhibit depicting any form of wildlife.
Drop off – Thurs., Aug. 27 Pick up – Thurs., Sept. 24

October “The Art of Quilt and Fiber”
Our annual exhibit of fiber art, lovingly crafted by area artists.
Any artwork made of fiber or depicting fiber is welcome.
Drop off – Sept. 24 Pick up – Thurs., Oct. 22

November “Freeform and Wheel”
Annual exhibit dedicated to the delights of clay. Turned, coil
built, slab built, sculpted or moulded pieces will be shown
as well as tiles, wall hangings or paintings and photographs
depicting clay objects.
Drop off – Thurs., Oct. 22 Pick up – Thurs., Nov. 19

December “Holiday Artists Shop”
CREATE’s annual holiday sale of hand-crafted works by area
artists. Do your holiday shopping here.
Opens December 4. Artist Applications due October 2; drop off
November 30.

Any artist of any age and any stage of artistic development is
welcome to submit work for Create’s exhibits. All work must
be properly prepared for display and labeled, on the back, with
artist’s name, title of work, medium and price or NFS. Subject
matter must be acceptable to community standards. Create will
be the sole arbiter of community standards and may limit the
number of pieces to be displayed due to space considerations.

CREATE welcomes ideas for new exhibits as well as nominations of artists for solo exhibits. For further information, contact CREATE at 447-9277.

Current Exhibits

Create Arts Center is pleased to present three current exhibits for
your viewing pleasure. “Rhubarb and Other Growing Things”,
featuring the work of a number of area artists, is presently
hanging at the Center. In addition, the work of a number of
area artists is on display at the Newport Public Library and
ExBabylon IT Solutions. The following artists are participating
in our partner exhibits.

Newport Public Library
Christy Hensler – Oil Paintings
Marita McDonough – Calligraphy
Perry Moede – Ceramics, Acrylic Painting
Bev Numbers – Ceramics
Pat Reno - Laser-cut Metal Saw Blades
Patricia A. Hicks Ruiz – Watermedia Paintings
Robert M. Ruiz – Photographs
Molly Saty – Poetry
Howard Wildin – Quarterly Featured Artist

ExBabylon
Patricia A. Hicks Ruiz – Watermedia Paintings

Please stop by the above locations and view the works. While
you’re there please offer a statement of appreciation to Library
and ExBabylon staff for hosting exhibits in their facilities.

Are you an artist? Find out more about our partner exhibit opportunities...

Newport Miner features CREATE's Arts Calendar

On a bimonthly basis, the Newport Miner newspaper features an Arts Calendar from CREATE. The calendar is sponsored by Frontier Title.

For more information on the calendar, contact CREATE at 447-9277.

MEMBER ARTIST OPPORT UNITY

This is an opportunity for member artists to have their work appear online with no charge at this time. We can work with slides, photographs, digital photos and CD’s of your work. In addition, the purchase of an ad in our quarterly newsletter includes a free link on the Create Arts Center website to your personal website.

Three Ways to Increase Visibility and Sales of Your Art

1.FREE – Submit your art to Create Arts Center to be included on our website

2.$10.00 PER QUARTER – Buy a website ad in Create Quarterly and receive a FREE link on our website

3.$25.00 PER QUARTER - Buy a business card ad in Create Quarterly and receive a FREE link on our website.

For further information contact our office

Message from the President

Summer Greeting Everyone: Three activities are on the tip of our tongues at the Create Arts Center: RHUBARB FESTIVAL, FISH FRENZY and KIDS SUMMER CAMP; June 13th at the Create Arts Center you will find people using and enjoying every nook and cranny of Create. Artist’s vendors will be here selling their amazing work, Music through the day, Author T.J. Keogh talking about his book “The City of the Sky” lots of Rhubarb baked goods baked by our local bakers, if you are looking for a pie you need to be here early, Rhubarb Cookbooks and the signature desert Rhubarb Shortcake, sold by the serving. Plus we are so lucky to have with us this year The Chamber Burger Wagon and the Master Gardeners will be in the demonstration garden to answer your questions and sell Rhubarb plants. “Fish Frenzy” Fish will also be available for purchase for $15.00 This is a fun filled day so plan on attending the Rhubarb Festival at the Create Arts Center on June 13th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pick up your Fish Frenzy Fish at the Create Arts Center and start those creative juices flowing. Last year was such great fun and this year promises to be just as good or better. The unique ideas and beautiful fish were so much fun to see it was hard to pick a favorite. Fish will be displayed from August 1 – Sept. 13th. Take the time to go fishing downtown.

Kids Summer Camp is scheduled for August 3, 4, 5, and 6 from 9-12 each day. Instructor Sherry Mays has some wonderful ideas so get your 6 – 12 year olds registered early to make sure they can come.

Back by popular demand the Concrete Birdbath Class will be done once a month June, July and August, so if you missed this class last summer and want to make an incredible birdbath while having fun with Lucy Bauer you need to come in and sign up. Summer would not be summer without Lucy Bauer’s class.

Summer is busy for everyone so the summer classes offered are the ones we think you will enjoy the most. Sherry Mays has three great classes scheduled at one a month for June, July and August to make sure you will be included come and sign up early.

We hope to see you at the Rhubarb Festival or somewhere on the street Fishing. Have a great summer. Remember when your guests arrive to visit this summer, Create Arts Center has an amazing art exhibit each month open to the public and it is free!

Bev Numbers