Kathryn Claire in concert on Friday, January 6

 Following a phenomenal performance with Hanz Araki in October, singer-songwriter Kathryn Claire will return to the Hoffman Center on Friday, January 6th for a solo show. Kathryn will be playing from her latest solo release Morning Comes Too Soon.  Admission is $7.

Kathryn Claire has asserted herself in a new generation of traditionally-inspired musicians. Her violin-playing exhibits a technical grace which is matched only by her truly captivating voice and she possesses the rare ability to move seamlessly across genres. Her deep love and respect for traditional music has long been a driving influence and those roots can be heard in her own original music.

Kathryn released her third solo album, Morning Comes Too Soon, in April 2011. It features Jeff Baxter on piano, Jules Holbrook on bass and Scott McPherson on drums with guest performances by Hanz Araki, Ezra Holbrook, Andrew Lorish, Matthew Hayward-Macdonald and Skip Von Kuske.

The album was recorded in an intense few days at the Secret Society in Portland, Oregon (with engineer Jordan Leff and co-producer Andrew Lorish) and has a very live, dynamic quality. Explored in the 10 tracks are themes of transition, loss and discovery. The songs retain the narrative and personal quality that she is known for while allowing a more mature sound to develop around them.

“Claire’s tunes bridge a personal presence with traditional folk style, and solid contemporary acoustic guitar. Lyrical melodies, and a heart-full folk soprano reminiscent of Baez” – HipFish

www.kathrynclairemusic.com

Kathryn Claire and Hans Araki to play October 28th

Acclaimed Irish Musicians Join Together for a Unique and Memorable Show

Musicians Hanz Araki and Kathryn Claire are proud to present a series of unprecedented concerts. These two diverse musicians lend their individual expertise and lyrical knowledge to four theme-based concerts that present some of the strongest and most beautiful elements of the Celtic tradition. This October, they’re celebrating the release of the first of four accompanying albums, Songs of Love and Murder.

The murder ballad is a mainstay of the folk idiom in many cultures,perfected in Scotland, Ireland and England long, long ago. From the humorous to the Shakespearean to the downright macabre; with pen-knifes and swords, by hanging or drowning, Songs of Love and Murder is a collection of traditional murder ballads, as well as some dance tunes — jigs and reels with some rather grisly titles — to keep your toes tapping.

“Each of us bring to the table a varied collection of songs and stories that reflect the same themes of longing, love, loss, beauty, and celebration. These concerts give us the freedom to explore some of these experiences thoroughly through the music that has arisen from the last several hundred years of human existence.”

They will perform on Friday, October 28th in Manzanita, OR at the Hoffman Center. Show starts at 7:30pm. Tickets are $7.00.

In the late winter, “As I Roved Out” welcomes better weather and represents the traditional Maying celebrations of the British Isles and beyond, while the plight of the emigrant and laborer is presented in a collection of songs and tunes in the late summer entitled “The Emigrant Song.” Some of the darker and more macabre themes found in Celtic love songs are explored in “Songs of Love and Murder,” and completing the series is the Winter Solstice Celebration; celebrate the darkest night of the year with the light of music, storytelling and wonder.

Billed as “The next generation of trad’ music,” Irish flute player and singer Hanz Araki is the quintessential world music musician. He has toured internationally with Juno award-winning The Paperboys and The Casey Neill Trio; also The Bridies, Portland’s all-star Pogues cover band KMRIA among others, and is featured on over a dozen recordings and soundtracks, along with his own acclaimed CD’s. www.hanzaraki.com

Kathryn Claire has asserted herself in a new generation of traditionally-inspired musicians. Her violin-playing exhibits a technical grace which is matched only by her truly captivating voice and she possesses the rare ability to move seamlessly across genres. Her deep love and respect for traditional music has long been a driving influence and those roots can be heard in her own original music.

Travis Champ (center), Jonathan Feder (left), and Brian Mammel on the Hoffman Center stage at a recent concert

Austin, Texas musicians, The Black, will be playing the Hoffman Center on Monday, August 22nd bringing lively garage rock with country undertones. The Black is headed by Brian Mammel, the highly-skilled pianist from Aquarena Springs who entertained us so well two nights in a row in July. Also playing are the Manzanita trio The Cedar Shakes and Josh Uithof. Admission is $5. Show starts at 8:00 p.m.

Coming Friday, September 2nd, the Portland-area band Harlowe and The Great North Woods will be presenting their own twist on West Coast Americana. Opening the show is Manzanita singer-songwriter Bunny Frost. $5 at the door. Show starts at 8:00 p.m.

To check out their music go to

http://www.myspace.com/harloweandthegreatnorthwoods

Be sure to stop by the Hoffman Center on Saturday, July 23rd, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We’re excited to show off some of the changes to our performance and gallery spaces, as well as the newly expanded Clay Studio.  Plus, you’re invited to explore all sorts of demonstrations of what the Hoffman Center has to offer, including clay, drawing, writing, reading, music, letterpress, mixed media, and book and paper arts.  Click on the Hoffapalooza Schedule for a printable schedule of events.  There’s no admission.

Local businesses and individuals have also generously donated over $1,500 worth of products and services for our fabulous raffle and silent auction prizes. Enter to win a $25 gas card from Bayside Shell & Grocery, just for showing up. Click on this list of Hoffapalooza prizes to see all of the wonderful raffle prizes and special silent auction items.  Raffle tickets are just $1 each,  12 for $10, or 25 for $20.    All proceeds go to the Hoffman Center Operating Fund.

And that’s not all!  Over 20 local artists will be showing and selling their art, including pieces made in the Hoffman Center Clay and Life Drawing Studios, and other art classes.  There also will be a display of art by kids in the Outside the Box Arts program.

Did we forget anything?  Well, there will be a lemonade stand on the front porch, plus tasty hand baked goods donated by Kim Miller.

We’ll see you there!

The Oakland based musical duo Aquarena Springs will stop off in Manzanita Thursday July 7th for a special evening at the Hoffman Center. Local musicians The Cedar Shakes and Anne Mersereau will open the show. Admission is a mere $5, and the show starts at 7:00. Don’t miss this great night of fun.

The Hoffman Center in Manzanita will host eight morning and afternoon Summer Art Camps for kids during the week of Aug. 1-5. All sessions will be held at the Center building at 594 Laneda Ave. in Manzanita. The classes will cost $65 per student, with a separate lab fee added on.

“Look! Learn! Listen!” a music and art class for ages 5-11 (or with instructor’s approval), will be held from 10 a.m. to noon each day and led by Lynn Thomas. Students will learn to paint what they hear in music, and also receive a violin, viola or cello to play for the week. (Lab fee $10)

“Bookbinding and Printmaking” For ages 5+, will be held from 10 a.m. to noon. Barbara Temple-Ayres will lead a teach making a hardbound book covered with paper the students decorate. Kids will use off-press printmaking techniques, including rubber stamps, monoprints, bubbles, chalk and marbling. (Lab fee $5)

“Illuminated Manuscripts” For ages 9+, will run from 10 a.m. to noon daily. Sarah Archer will explore the relationship between text and images, using drawing, collage, and block printing with antique wooden type. Students will turn words into works of art.

“Beginning Drawing” For ages 8-14, will be held from 10 a.m. to noon. Angelle Soans will teach basic drawing techniques and how to add textures using pencil, charcoal and marker in a sketchbook, which students will take home at the end of the week. (Lab Fee $10)

“Clay PlayShop” For ages 5-10, will be run from 1 to 3 p.m. daily. Antoniette Naranjo-Rivera will teach building techniques and explore surface decoration possibilities. Each student will glaze and fire his/her very own piece. ($15 lab fee)

“Intro to Stage Lighting” for ages 7-18 will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. daily. Instructor Annie Naranjo-Rivera will teach the unseen wonders of light design for the stage. Students will make their own lighting plot, then hang and focus lights to set the mood for a show.

“Creative Writing Laboratory” For ages 7-13 (or younger with instructor’s approval), will be held 1 to 3 p.m. Local poet Travis Champ will delve into the world of poetry. Students will create their own booklet of poems to take home at the end of the week. (Lab fee $5)

“A Taste of Everything” For ages 8+, will be held 1 – 3 p.m. Instructor Nicole Poole will let students experience a wide range of techniques: life drawing, printmaking, collage, sun-print making, and one day of surprises. (Lab fee $10)

A limited number of scholarships will be available, thanks to the support of local businesses and art lovers. Parents interested should ask when registering.

Register by visiting the Hoffman Center Web site at hoffmanblog.org and download the Summer_Art_Camps_Brochure; by phoning (503) 368-3846; or by e-mailing hoffmancenter@ nehalemtel.net. All registrations must be received and paid in full by July 22.

Get in the holiday spirit plus help the Food Bank

The Hoffman Center in Manzanita will host a Christmas Carol Sing Along Thursday evening, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. Community members young to old are invited to attend and lend their voices to the occasion. Musicians will be on hand to accompany the singing.

 “We’ll be doing all the favorites — from holiday classics like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Jingle Bells” to hymns like “Silent Night” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” said organizer Chip MacGregor. “There will be holiday snacks, hot apple cider, and a chance to break out those Christmas favorites from long ago.”

 The event is free, but donations to the North County Food Bank – money or non-perishable foods – can be brought to the Center that evening.

 MacGregor added, “This will be a great opportunity for everybody to rub shoulders with their neighbors and get in the Christmas spirit.”

Dust off your banjo (or whatever your talent may be...) for the Community Talent Showcase coming January 29, 2011

The Hoffman Center is looking for people talented in a wide variety of ways who would like to strut their stuff for a special Community Talent Showcase to be held Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011.

“We know there are a lot of gifted and talented people in our community – many with talents the rest of us don’t know about,” said organizer Vera Wildauer. “Singers, musicians, actors, orators, comedians, magicians, mind-readers, contortionists, what have you.”

Auditions will be held Thursday, Jan. 27 from 5 to 8 p.m. A panel of judges will select 12 to 15 acts that show a particular skill or originality to fill a fun evening. Individual acts should be appropriate for all ages and about five minutes long.

The general public will be invited to the Community Talent Showcase for a $10 admission. All proceeds will go to the Hoffman Center‘s operating budget.

Click here for a  talent show performer registration form and bring it to the audition. Questions can be e-mailed to hoffmancenter@nehalemtel.net or phoned to 503-368-3846.

Portland Opera mezzo-soprano Sarah Norton will present an evening of arias and songs Nov. 19 at the Hoffman Center

Portland Opera mezzo-soprano Sarah Norton will present an evening of operatic arias and Broadway songs Friday, Nov. 19 at the Hoffman Center in Manzanita. The performance will start at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $10 and will be sold at the door.

Norton grew up in the Northwest and is a seventh-generation Oregonian. She began singing classical music at the age of 16. She performed many recitals and won competitions throughout her early education in Olympia, Wash.

She attended the University of Southern California with a scholarship in Vocal Performance where she performed many roles in the main stage opera workshop and scene productions. After graduating from USC in 2004, Norton obtained a position with the San Diego Opera Chorus.

In 2007, she was hired by the Portland Opera to perform the role of Hansel in their education and outreach tour program. She then joined the Portland Opera Chorus and continues to perform with the company at the Keller Auditorium.

Norton has performed concerts and recitals throughout Washington, Oregon and California and has a passion for classical musical theatre. She currently lives in SW Portland with her fiancé Michael and her maltipoo Bubbles.

Arias and songs during the Hoffman Center concert will include works by Puccini, Dvorak, Verdi, Menotti, Gershwin, Bernstein, and Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Norton’s appearance is another offering of the Hoffman Center’s new “dell’Arte Series” program, which features appearances by a wide variety of performers, including musicians, magicians, comedians, clowns, and just about anything else.

Halley the 'zero emissions' Harpist

Halley Weaver, Portland’s celebrated “Bicycling Street Harpist,” will perform at 7 p.m., Friday, April 9 at the Hoffman Center in Manzanita. Weaver has been praised for her magical take on folk music, with an added dimension for nature lovers. Admission will be $10.

Since moving to Portland in 2008, Weaver has become a fixture traveling the streets with her harp mounted on a custom-designed bicycle trailer. She is jokingly referred to as the “zero-emissions” harpist, for her combination of musical skills and environmentalism.

Halley blends traditional Celtic and Irish pieces with her own unique variations and arrangements. When not traveling by bicycle, Halley opts for the most sustainable transportation options, varying from hybrid cars, bus/train and carpooling to events.

Weaver’s concert will be the first offering in the Hoffman Center’s new “dell’Arte Series” program. The series will feature appearances by a wide variety of performers, including musicians, magicians, comedians, clowns, and just about anything else.

“This way the Hoffman Center can bring in entertainers that most local residents wouldn’t typically see here,” said David Dillon, president of the Center’s board. “The program’s creators envision a series of entertaining, unexpected events you won’t find anywhere else on the North Coast.”

“While not technically Commedia dell’Arte, all of these performers will have a sort of ‘alternative’ feel,” added Dillon. “And certainly the Hoffman Center as a space definitely has the sort of counter-culture spirit the original dell’Arte players were shooting for.”

Future dell’ Arte offerings in the works include a magician, and a reader’s theater production of Bryan Harteniaux’s play “Vesta” performed by Liz Cole of Neahkahnie.