The Nampa Art Collective is giving the Canyon County city a cultural boost. The group of contemporary artists formed three years ago with the mission to change a perception that Nampa is just a sleepy farm town by creating arts and culture events and connecting the community, says Art Walk co-chair Candice Darrah.
One event that’s become a hit with artists and art lovers is the Nampa Art Walk. On the second Friday of each month from May to October, Track 13 Gallery, PreFunk Beer Bar and surrounding businesses exhibit work by local — mostly contemporary — artists from 5 to 9 p.m.
In June, the group chalk-bombed Nampa sidewalks. You’ll sometimes find live music at the Flying M Coffeegarage, buskers on street corners, artists working in alternative locations and hands-on projects. The July 10 Art Walk will be a bit more low-key because of all the Snake River Stampede events downtown, Darrah says.
Still, there’s plenty to do.
Pick up a passport at PreFunk, 1214 1st St. S., or Track 13, 13 12th Ave. S. Then go to the other venues, enjoy yourself, fill out a short survey, and return it to PreFunk to be entered in a prize drawing.
Find a list of artists and venues on the Nampa Art Walk Facebook page.
To participate in Nampa Art Walk, email your resume and work sample to nampaartwalk@gmail.com.
ERIN AND HER CELLO
Boise native Erin Hall will be home this weekend playing gigs in Boise and Meridian with her seven-piece fusion band, Erin and her Cello.
Hall graduated from Boise High in 1994 and ended up in New York City, where she earned a degree in musical theater at The New School.
“I realized when I went home, I didn’t listen to show tunes. I listened to alt rock, Cole Porter and everything Ella Fitzgerald ever recorded,” she says. “And I played the cello.”
When a friend asked her to compose music for an open mic night, Hall found her musical heart and never looked back.
Hall composes with influences from all of the above, plus The Beach Boys, because her dad, Rich, sang in a Boise Beach Boys cover band called Midlife Crisis when she was a kid.
Her music is a mix of self-deprecating comedy and tearful romance. She plays her cello pizzicato-style, like an upright bass, and sings in English and French. You can catch her July 11 at Meridian’s Concerts on Broadway. Her July 10 show at the Sapphire Room is sold out. Find concert details in 10DaysOut.
GET OUT AND PAINT
The first Eagle Paint Out Plein Air Competition and Festival will turn historic downtown Eagle into a working art gallery next weekend. Artists will set up easels within Eagle city limits and paint in the outdoors in the great tradition of the French Impressionists. The official competition happens July 16 and 17. You still can register for the competition for a $30 fee until 5 p.m. July 13 by emailing gallery@finerframes.com or calling 888-9898. Artists will meet at Finer Frames Gallery, 164 E. State St., to start at 9 a.m. July 16. You’ll see the finished artwork from the competition on display at the Eagle Saturday Market in Heritage Park from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 18. The framed paintings will be available for purchase during Eagle’s Last Thursday art walk at Finer Frames on July 30. If you’re itching to paint yourself, you can jump into the free Community Paint Out from 10 a.m. to noon July 18 in Eagle’s downtown core. FinerFrames.com.
ALLEY REP IS BACK
Alley Repertory Theater is back after a yearlong hiatus with the return of “Plays from the Alley,” a summer reading series at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays in July at the Visual Arts Collective, 3638 Oasge St., Garden City.
You’ll hear Jason Haskins’ “The Latitude of Life” on July 14, Phil Atlakson’s “Sobornost” on July 21 and Evan Sesek’s “T.B.H. (To Be Honest)” on July 28. Tickets are $10 per show, $20 for the series at Brown Paper Tickets. Alley Rep will announce its 2015-16 season at the end of July. AlleyRep.org.
ON STAGE THIS MONTH
• The Idaho Shakespeare Festival is running “Dial ‘M’ For Murder,” “The Tempest” and “The Secret Garden” in repertory. Find details in 10DaysOut.
• Boise’s renegade theater
Daisy’s Madhousewill produce “An Infinite Ache,” a play by TV writer David Schulner, directed by Jordan Peterson. This love story with a sci-fi twist explores the infinite possibilities that await a young couple’s life together. It’s at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays July 10-25 at
The Watercooler, 1405 W. Idaho St., Boise. Tickets: $10 at the door.
• The comedy thriller “I Bet Your Life” opens this weekend at
Stage Coach Theatre, 4802 W. Emerald St., Boise. It’s a black comedy about a man who thinks he’s dying and hires a hit man to kill him, then finds out he’s been misdiagnosed. Shows are at 8 p.m. July 10-11, 17-18 and 24-25; 7:30 p.m. July 16 and 23; 2 p.m. July 19. Tickets: $15 general, $12 for students, seniors and military.
• Stage Coach will hold auditions for its production of “Young Frankenstein,” the musical adaptation of the Mel Brooks’ film, on Aug. 1-2. The production will be Oct. 9-31. For information, email director Jenn Dunn at
jennkneadsu@gmail.com.
• The Boise Little Theater and Boise Parks and Rec annual youth summer theater camp opens its production of “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” this weekend. You’ll see kids from across the Treasure Valley from ages 6 to 18 in the production of this beloved story. It runs 7:30 p.m. July 10-11 and 16-17; 2 p.m. July 12 and 18 at BLT, 100 E. Fort St. Tickets: $9 general, $6 for 17 and younger at
BoiseLittleTheater.com.
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