The world was stunned this week to learn that Actress/Director Angelina Jolie had a preventive mastectomy to avoid 87% odds of breast cancer due to the BRCA1 genetic mutation.
Local performer/composer Eva Moon, who also carries the gene, faced the same impossible choice.

Now she has written a solo musical about her experience and will performing the show at various local venues as well as touring to London in June.

“The Mutant Diaries: Unzipping My Genes” is a feisty, frank and fearless original musical comedy about turning a devastating prognosis into a new lease on life. Moon shares the humor as well as the struggle of dealing with a life-changing personal challenge. “Angelina Jolie’s bravery and openness about her experience will save lives,” said Moon. “It’s exactly what I hope for with my show, as well. I bet my breasts and ovaries to save my life – and lived to talk – and sing – about it.”

After learning she had the BRCA genetic mutation, which raises the risk of breast cancer to 87% and ovarian cancer to 55%, Moon made the difficult choice to undergo multiple prophylactic surgeries instead. “In the process, I discovered my mutant superpower,” Moon said. “I got to change the future.”

Learn more about the show at http://MutantDiaries.com

The Mutant Diaries: Unzipping My Genes – local shows

Friday, May 17, 6 pm
VALA Arts Center, Redmond Town Center - http://valaeastside.org
Suggested donation: $10

Thursday, May 23, 7:30 pm, $10
Fall City Bistro - http://fallcitybistro.com

Friday, May 30, 7:30 pm
Sunnyside Up Cafe – sunnyside-up-cafe.com
Corvallis, Oregon
Suggested donation: $10

Thursday, June 13
Benefit performance for Macmillan Cancer Support
Imperial College, London UK

Media inquiries: Eva Moon – eva@evamoon.net
Hi res photos: http://mutantdiaries.com/news.html#media

The post Angelina Jolie announcement sparks interest in musical show appeared first on Vala Eastside.

Artists to the Community,

and the Community to Art.”

The post Our Mission appeared first on Vala Eastside.

Specifically we need to:

• Incorporate a donation mechanism into the site.
• Identify and implement a single and simple events calendar system that allows cross publishing between our staff calendar, website calendar and ideally also cross publishes on our facebook events.

If you feel you are qualified and have knowledge to help us with these tasks, please email your resume and a statement of interest to Marianne Johnson, VALA Assistant Director at mjohnson@valaeastside.org

Thanks!

The post Web Designer Needed appeared first on Vala Eastside.

Redmond Poet Laureate Jeannine Hall Gailey will read from her new book of fairy-tale themed poetry, Unexplained Fevers, at the VALA Art Center, accompanied by visual art from the book by Tacoma artist Michaela Eaves.

Other readers on the fairy tale theme will include:

• Redmond Poet Laureate Emeritus Rebecca Meredith,
• RASP members Laura Lee Bennett, Pamela Denchfield, Dawn-Marie Oliver and Elizabeth Caroll Hayden.

Champagne reception included (with sparkling juice for the kids!)

Saturday, May 11

3:30-6:00pm

VALA Art Center, 7303 164th Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052

Learn more about city of Redmond past and present Poet Laureates at www.Redmond.gov

The post “Once Upon a Time” – A Poetry Reading, Art Display, and Reception appeared first on Vala Eastside.

The Mutant Diaries: Unzipping My Genes

A solo musical about telling cancer to take a hike.

Written and Performed by Redmond artist Eva Moon.

Eva Moon faced an impossible choice: Remove her healthy breasts and ovaries or face incredible odds of cancer. “The Mutant Diaries: Unzipping My Genes” is a funny, feisty, frank and fearless new solo musical about turning a devastating prognosis into a new lease on life.

The Mutant Diaries shares the silliness as well as the struggle of dealing with a life-changing personal challenge. The show delivers a positive, uplifting message about taking charge of life and health – and does it with laughter instead of lectures, music instead of moaning.

It’s a lively, entertaining hour-long story told with humor and nine songs written and sung by Eva who accompanies herself on piano.

For more information visit MutantDiaries.com

VALA Art Center

Friday, May 17 –6:00pm

Suggested Donation $10

The post The Mutant Diaries: Unzipping My Genes by Eva Moon appeared first on Vala Eastside.

If you are looking for arts supplies, places to show your artwork, or just want to see how close you are to the art action in this town, click here: http://www.valaeastside.org/redmond-arts-map

This map contains links to locations related to the arts in Redmond, Washington. Did we miss something? Please send email to Eva Moon.
Click here to see the map plus a list of the locations.

The post Redmond Arts Map is here! appeared first on Vala Eastside.

VALA Eastside in collaboration with Redmond Historical Society invite Eastside artists to participate in Redmond’s first Walk & Sketch Tour.  5 artists will be selected through an application process to join historian & guide Tom Hitzroth and VALA featured artist Jacqui Calladine on a walking tour of Downtown Redmond’s historic buildings.  Selected artists will receive a $100 stipend to create artwork after the tour to be installed at the VALA Art Center.

During the walk artists will hear about the fascinating history of Redmond’s landmark buildings while having the opportunity to personally respond to the sites through sketching, mark-making and/or photography.  Artists are free to respond in whatever way they wish to the tour, drawing inspiration from the history, textures, forms, colors or materials of the buildings.    The artists are then invited to create artworks based on their responses to the tour which will be exhibited at the VALA Art Center during the Redmond Arts Festival and Derby Days celebrations in July.

The walk is scheduled to take place at 5pm Thursday May 2, 2013 with a back up date of May 8 in case of rain.  The walk itself takes approx. 1 ½ hours and will involve walking and standing  on hard ground.  Sketching will be quick and spontaneous, we will not be sitting and artists will be asked to bring their own drawing materials.

This is an opportunity to take part in an exciting and unique event which aims to raise the profile of Redmond’s historic properties through art.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Artists interested in applying to participate in the walk and sketch tour and art installation should email the following by Saturday, April 20^th to Marianne Johnson, VALA Assistant Director at mjohnson@valaeastside.org

• Artist Resume.
• Statement of no more than 50 words why you are interested in participating.
• 3 JPG images of your art.

NOTIFICATION
Artists selected will be notified by end of the day Friday, April 26^th.  Information about tour location will be provided at this time.

QUESTIONS?
Email Marianne Johnson, VALA Assistant Director at mjohnson@valaeastside.org

The post CALL FOR ARTISTS – Redmond Historical Walk & Sketch Tour appeared first on Vala Eastside.

Every month will have a different theme, such as Fine Art Exploration through different medium, Color Exploration, Cultural Folk themes representation, etc.

April Theme: 2-part series on TYPOGRAPHY

PART I:: Inspirational Typography

Look at different typographical styles for better understanding of typography and for inspiration.  Discuss typography trends and where it’s heading.

Dates/Time: Thursday, April 4, 6:30 pm – 8 pm

PART II:: Typography Workshop

Using pens, pencils, ink, brushes, watercolor, and other medium, explor your own style in typography or try to find a better understanding of typography and letter structure. Or perhaps, push your limits and explore unfamiliar territory in typography.

Dates/Time: Thursday, April 18, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

PLEASE CONTACT ELENA ZIMMERMAN FOR MORE INFO :

The post Creative Coffee Eastside presents Fine Art Exploration for Graphic Designers appeared first on Vala Eastside.

VALA Co-founder, Jessica Lambert, will talk about the current installation “Heavy Metal” by Shawn and Erika Simon and lead a drawing session.  All families welcome!

Suggested donation:  $5.00 per family for art supplies.

 The VALA ART CENTER is located at 7303 164th Ave. NE, Redmond Town Center, next to Starbucks and across from Chair and Trellis.

VALA is a 501c3, non-profit, arts organization, committed to connecting artists to artists, artists to the community, and the community to art.

The post Today @ Noon Family Drawing Session at the VALA Art Center appeared first on Vala Eastside.

Each week you have the opportunity to participate in our art studio with an artist who will be working with a specific visual art medium and sharing their techniques! Exchange ideas, experiment, create, and discover in this hands-on learning environment.

During our first session on March 19th you will have a chance to explore the techniques of water-color mono-printing without the use of a press, with local artist Joanne Nolan Leavitt.

No pre-registration is required, drop-in and curiosity encouraged!  Suggested donation of $5 for use of art materials.

The post Technique Tuesdays: March 19th, 12-2pm with Joanne Nolan Leavitt appeared first on Vala Eastside.