Thursdays with LHPAC: Black Strings -- Uncensored

Here's something to wake you up from your Thanksgiving feast-induced food coma. Remember Evan Flory-Barnes?

Photo credit: Daniel Sheehan/Earshot Jazz Festival

He's a Seattle jazz phenom and winner of a prestigious grant to support living composers. Early this month the Seattle cellist performed at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center with his band FOLKS during the Earshot Jazz Festival.

Photo credit: Talking Arts

Tomorrow he's bringing a few friends back with him for "Black Strings -- Uncensored." For one night only, Flory-Barnes will jam with vocalist Cristina Orbé and cellist/bassist Paul Rucker. The three will be backed by the band Big World Breaks. Their performance is part of a series by the Central District Forum for Arts and Ideas, taking a look at African American string artists and composers. Details:

WHEN: Friday, November 23, 8pm-11pm
WHERE: Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center
TICKETS: $15 at Brown Paper Tickets
MORE INFO: LHPAC and Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas

Think you can make it off the couch? It's worth the trip!

FTC disclosure: I'm partnering with the LHPAC on a series I call "Thursdays with LHPAC," generally published on Thursdays. I am being paid an honorarium for my work. However, all opinions and views expressed in this series are my own.

The best cuts: Nikki McClure at the Bellevue Arts Museum

Nikki McClure goes from the Riot Grrrl scene to the domestic scene in the Bellevue Arts Museum exhibit of her work. But it's funny: even if you take the girl out of the revolution, you can't take the revolution out of the girl.

"Tonight", Nikki McClure. Photo credit: Dan Kvitka. Courtesy Bellevue Arts Museum.

McClure once created posters and album covers for Sleater-Kinney and other indie rock bands in the late 1990s. She's since moved into popular self-published calendars and children's book illustrations.

Illustrating family-themed books seems like a perfect fit: clean, definite lines, created with simple tools even a kid could use, if the kid was massively patient and painstaking.

But then I thought about the artist's stylistic choices. McClure cuts away all but the most necessary lines and connectors. Her work is literally black-and-white.

"Rely," Nikki McClure. Photo credit: Dan Kvitka.

And suddenly I drew a connection between McClure's paper cuts and the bold black lines of old Soviet propaganda posters: deliberate strokes to deliver a message. Kind of like the propaganda most mothers deliver to their kids: "Always tell the truth." "Cheaters never prosper."

It seems motherhood doesn't soften an artist like Nikki McClure. It makes her cut away everything but what's most important.

Thursday with LHPAC: "Inception" gets into your head

Watching dancers perform, for me, is like watching video shot from the seat of a rollercoaster: I get so into the movement it almost feels like I'm moving too.

Did you get pulled into the video too? It's footage (no pun intended) of the INCEPTION Dance Theater, a contemporary ballet company in residence at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center.

Still photos courtesy Andrew Ness/INCEPTION

Their mission is to tell stories using original musical compositions and choreography. The dance company places a great deal of emphasis on openness and collaboration. One example of their inclusive efforts: open classes for professional-level dancers, Tuesday through Saturday.

And the open classes are free (always a good thing if you're a cash-strapped artist).

If you're more comfortable in the audience than on stage, good news!

You can support INCEPTION by attending their fundraiser gala in January. Details:

WHAT: Dance concert, silent auction, and meet-and-greet event with INCEPTION's artistic director and dancers
WHEN: Thursday, January 31, 2013, 7pm-9pm
WHERE: Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center theater, 104 17th Ave. S., Seattle
TICKETS: $30 at Brown Paper Tickets
MORE INFO: INCEPTION dance theater and LHPAC 

The word "inception" refers to beginnings. It'll be interesting to see what kind of roller coaster ride the audience goes on with INCEPTION.