Firefly Classics Jeffrey Gilliam Piano Apr 22 Jansen Art Center April 22
Heidi Doornenbal, founder of Lynden'due south Jansen Art Center, says that the venue fondly known every bit "The J" grew out of a need for a place equipped with the necessities for artists to create within their own disciplines.
"The goal was to build a beautiful, vibrant place where artists would accept a identify to feel various art forms and collaborate and learn from other artists," she says, "to provide a identify for artists to exhibit and perform and sell their art," she says.
What was one time Lynden'southward Metropolis Hall and Fire Hall at 321 Forepart Street became the 20,000 square-foot Jansen Art Center in 2012, with six artistic art studios, a 110-seat performance hall, two floors of exhibit space, a cafe, and gallery store.
"Equally renovations to the edifice progressed in 2012, questions from fixtures to finishes were all answered with 'quality,'" says Brad Williamson, Heidi'south son. The thou room that had once been the City of Lynden's Chamber Hall was no exception, and they knew information technology would take a very special piano to fill that space.
"While shopping for thou pianos in Bellevue," Brad says, "nosotros played Steinway Bosendorfer and Yamaha concert grands. Nosotros had not heard of the Schimmel only were convinced we should try one. From the very offset note we were blown away. In fact, many great artists have said it's the all-time-feeling and best-sounding piano they have played."
The Chamber Hall—so named because it's the site of the erstwhile chamber meeting areas—is now one of the J's vibrant gallery spaces, oft featuring a solo artist or a grouping show like the upcoming Whatcom Creative person Studio Tour Showcase Exhibit.
"The Jansen Art Center's Shimmel is 9'-2" long and weighs i,180 pounds," says Brad.
"In guild to get information technology upwards 2 flights of stairs it had to exist stood vertically nine feet tall and moved with blocking one stride at a fourth dimension by four very strong guys. I hope we never take to motility it again!"
Heidi says that the Schimmel is known for its excellence by all who have experienced the joy of playing it. Western Washington University professor of music Jeffrey Gilliam says that the J'due south Schimmel is a magnificent instrument and well-suited for the infinite.
Bob Milne, America's foremost ragtime pianist, whose venues accept included the White Firm, says it'due south the all-time pianoforte he has played.
When he was only ten years onetime, Henry From played the Schimmel at the J'south Sunday@iii Young Artists Concert Series. Henry has gone on to win numerous awards, including an associate diploma in piano functioning from the Royal Solarium of Music in Canada.
Karen Visser, music director at the J, agrees with Heidi. "Some of my favorite performances are the aspiring young artists that perform on the Schimmel during our Sunday@3 Concert Series," she says. "Information technology's an amazing experience for these young students that have spent so many hours practicing and perfecting their pieces to sit down at the Schimmel and make it come alive with their playing. Information technology's a thrilling experience for budding artists to play such an outstanding instrument."
She believes that what makes the J'due south Chamber Hall and Schimmel then special is the intimate connection betwixt the performer and the audience.
"Rather than seeing the performer on a distant stage," she says, "the audition is on the same level experiencing the performer's energy and expression up close and personal."
First upwardly at the J this season is Schmid & Guest—the competitive notwithstanding congenial new duo formed by sometime Americana band Polecat musicians, fiddler Cayley Schmid and pianist Aaron Guest. They'll perform tunes from Scotland, Ireland, Greatcoat Breton, and the Usa at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September iv.
This is the married couple's new projection, focused on weaving traditional instrumental tunes together in new and dynamic ways. If this performance matches what the talented duo did at the recent Subdued Stringband Jamboree, there may not exist a dry centre in the house (and at that place may be even a jig or 2!).
Masks are required this season at the J for all visitors, staff, students, and instructors.
The J is a not-profit art center, and admission is free to visit the edifice. Classes are open for registrations now in all areas, and at that place are financial scholarships available.
Heidi adds that later a recent lath retreat, the board members were asked to walk through the J as though it were their start fourth dimension there, and so study back to the board what their thoughts were.
"With COVID," she says, "I had been absent from the J and was able to meet it with fresh optics. As I walked through each studio—textiles, trip the light fantastic, music, ceramics, jewelry—I was in awe at the beauty, interest, excitement, and vibrancy in the building."
When the lath gathered afterward to share its thoughts, Heidi spoke gratefully of her satisfaction in the outcome of 10-plus years of generous support from donors and hard piece of work from dedicated volunteers and competent staff. "The J is complete," she says, "Information technology has become its ain vision."
"It was a very generous donor that fabricated this wonderful souvenir [of the Schimmel] to our customs a reality," adds Brad. "For me, information technology is the cherry on top of the Jansen Fine art Center."
For more than information on the Jansen, please telephone call 360-354-3600 or visit jansenartcenter.org
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Source: https://www.whatcomtalk.com/2021/08/30/a-showpiece-piano-at-the-jansen-art-center/
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