A collaborative arts show called “The Round” including musicians, poets and painters was held tonight at Fremont Abbey Arts Center. It was the 41st installation of this monthly experience that began in 2005 and has since expanded to Portland and Tacoma. The Round has settled into the cozy basement of the Arts Center, and successfully blossomed into an intimate showcase of diverse local artists.
Musicians David Bazan of Pedro the Lion andHeadphones, Aaron Sprinkle of Fair, and Gabe Archer of The Pale Pacific were joined by painters Scott Erickson and Skye Graves, as well as a traveling poet who called herself Grey Anne, a last-minute addition to the show. The show is constantly changing; musicians are only allowed to participate once a year, poets twice a year, and painters up to three times per year. Curator Nathan Marion, also Executive Director of the Arts Center, handpicks the lineup (with assistance and recommendations from previous artists).
This particular iteration sold out a week in advance, and the basement of the Arts Center was packed by 7:45 for a show starting at 8:15. Candles surrounded the stage, while lights above the easels provided much of the light throughout the performance. The acoustic songs set an appropriate mood for the show’s overall tone, while the painters created work with two very different methods.
During the round, each musician sings- the flavor of the month seemed to be folk ballads, like Sprinkle’s cover of “Angel Band,” an old Emmylou Harris tune. After each musician has his or her ’round’, the poet follows up with some spoken word poetry, like Anne, who quipped “One goes to the altar/one goes to war/We’re not going anywhere/We haven’t been before.” Throughout the songs and poetry, the painters splash their canvases with colorful (or muted) images.
Round #42 will be held Nov. 11th and feature Aaron Manino, Kaz, Chris Mansfield, and Josh Dawson, as well as painter Jessica Graca. More information can be found at The Round’s website.