Fred Oldfield, Western artist extraordinaire, is turning 92 tomorrow, and he’s still going strong. To celebrate his birthday, the Fred Oldfield Western Heritage and Art Center in the Puyallup Fairgrounds has opened a new exhibit of Oldfield’s artwork, plus that of five other artists, opening with a reception this Saturday.

Called “Fred and the Fabulous Five,” the show features work by Oldfield plus Nancy Bogni, Marianne Harlor, Lois Lord, Marlene Marczewski and Lydia Sutton, in similar Western styles. It runs through April 18.  

Fred Oldfield grew up in a Wild West life full of cowboys and roaming, and spent …

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Next month is National Poetry Month, and that means it’s time again for the annual Poetry Out Loud state finals. The POL competition pits teenagers against each other in dramatic readings of poetry, and the state winner gets $200 and a trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the national finals in April. This year two local teens have made it through: Mariah Boring of Wilson High School and Madison Hamel of Puyallup High School. 

Tacoma has seen state champions before, including Stadium High’s Olivia Seward, who made it to the nationals in 2008. Last year the state …

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If you like the idea of an alternative St. Patrick’s Day (you know, one with actual Irish music and a get-together that doesn’t involve green beer) combined with the Spring Equinox (March 21) then get along to King’s Books this Friday night for the Revels’ Spring Sing at King’s. The hearty folk from the Christmas Revels performances will lead a singalong session of Celtic and other folk music, there’ll be food and drink available (though probably not green beer) and anyone is welcome.

The Revellers will not only provide songbooks but jammin’ musicians too, who’ll get things going with a …

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Mary Josephson at Traver

The opening this month at Traver Gallery is for Portland-based Mary Josephson, who creates expressive portraits in glass, textile and monotypes. Opening 2-5 p.m. March 13, then 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue-Sat, noon-5 p.m. Sun. through April 4. Free. 1821 E Dock St. Ste 100, Tacoma. 253-383-3685, www.travergallery.com

Opera Night with chorus and opera companies

The Northwest Repertory Singers and Rainier Family Opera collaborate this Saturday night in “A Night at the Opera,” combining their chorus and solo strengths to present favorite staged scenes from “Lucia di Lammermoor,” “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “La Traviata.” 7:30 p.m. March …

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Happy 200th birthday, Frederic Chopin! The Polish-born French composer of moody piano ballades and fiery mazurkas would have celebrated 200 years this year, and as with all centennials, bicentennials and the like, there are plenty of folks around the world who leap at the chance to celebrate with a Chopin-fest.

First Lutheran Church in Tacoma is doing just that this weekend, thanks to Duane Hulbert. The Grammy-nominated concert pianist and University of Puget Sound professor, who’s a member of the church, will give an all-Chopin recital on a seven-foot Steinway grand this Sunday evening.

The concert is …

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Tammy Robacker‘s poems speak of friendship, cancer, memory, walking in Wright Park. But they also speak of women – suffering mothers, wayward daughters, strong grandmothers – and so it’s appropriate that the Tacoma poet will be reading from her latest book “The Vicissitudes” at Vinum this Friday night in honor of National Women’s History Month.

The reading is part of the Speak Your Soul series of poetry readings and open mic sessions. Robacker’s book (self-published by Pearle Publications) came out last year, and its 40 poems deal with obviously autobiographical topics: a mother with cancer, a controlling father, …

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They don’t give you much warning, but the creative folks at MLKBallet are holding the 16th event in the MOVE! contemporary dance series this weekend, and it looks to be a good one.

MOVE! #16 once again features dancers from Seattle’s stellar Spectrum Dance Company, plus regulars Joel Myers and Kate Monthy (who directs MLKBallet), the MLK company, regular collaborators Tacoma City Ballet, and guests Josephine’s Echopraxia and the Maureen White Dance Company. Three new MLK choreographers have created new work to be performed with live music from local musicians Goldfinch, Olivia de la Cruz and Travis Barker and the …

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The Grand Cinema opens “The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers,” Friday – a documentary on the publication of the Pentagon Papers. And of the directors of the recently Academy Award nominated film will be on hand to speak about it Saturday.

Rick Goldsmith, co-producer and co-director (along with Judith Ehrlich), will appear following the 4:45 p.m. and 6:50 p.m. screenings on Saturday. The nationally known documentary filmmakers’ films deal with the themes of personal risk, conscience, dissent and commitment to ideals.

Ellsberg, a former U.S. military analyst, leaked the classified account of the Vietnam …

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