Shoreline Arts Festival: one last fish print

Photo by Steven H. Robinson

By Diane Hettrick

Nothing is more iconic to the Shoreline Arts Festival than the fish prints. Parades of exotically clad drummers and dancers snaking through the site, vendors selling beautiful photos and creative art, ice cream sundaes, non-stop musical performances on two stages, Missoula Children's Theatre, cultural rooms - they are all good. 

But nothing says "arts festival" like painting a cold fish and pressing it on a piece of paper. People who made fish prints as children are bringing their own children back to make their own fish print art.

Cast of the Tortoise and the Hare
Photo by Bob Pfeiffer

Another very special event at the Arts Festival is the annual appearance of the Missoula Children's Theatre. Missoula sends out a small crew of youthful actors - perhaps 3-5 - who set up auditions for local children, who appear by the dozens. The kids are all ages, from elementary school to high school thespians who want to work with professionals. It is an audition, but it is also an acting lesson and a fun experience for the kids, whether they are picked or not.

The actors pick a large cast of kids to participate in the show, which is written to include 50-60 members. They rehearse for a week, a total of 4 ½ hours each day. At the end of the week, on Saturday, they put on two performances. Many of the parents volunteer with the show, making costumes and sets. It is very much a community project.

The auditions are amazing to watch (sorry, they are no longer open to the public). Every child feels empowered, shyness is left at the door, and they all blossom. The performance itself is astonishingly good - better than some professional companies I have seen.

David Endicott collects musical instruments to donate to schools
in the Rotary Music 4 Life program
Photo by Jerry Pickard

You don't usually bring your old and unused musical instruments to an arts fair, but if you had, you could have given them to David Endicott, coordinator of the Rotary Music 4 Life program, which collects and refurbishes instruments to donate to schools, including Shoreline Schools.

Brian Ledbetter, magician, holds up the board he just removed
from underneath the audience volunteer, who is now floating
Photo by Bob Pfeiffer

Here is an act I wish I had seen. Brian Ledbetter, Magician. In this photo, he has just removed the board that the audience volunteer, a young girl, was lying on, and now she is supported only by the back of the chair.

Maybe next year...