Do you know any magic tricks? Can you juggle five bowling pins or burp the alphabet? Can you do a great Matthew McConaughey impression? Or even better, a terrible Matthew McConaughey impression?
If so, you would be a perfect fit for Wrangell’s Fourth of July talent show and wearable art competition, both of which are coming up next month. The talent show offers community members a chance to display their skills, and the wearable art event provides them an opportunity to design, create and model handmade clothes featuring unorthodox materials.
The shows are scheduled one after the other on July 3 at the Nolan Center starting at 6 p.m. The royalty contestant, Ander Edens, will be crowned immediately afterward.
Nolan Center Director Cyni Crary, business owner Bonnie Ritchie and “Annie” director Haley Reeves are working together to organize the event. This year’s theme is “Shine Bright Like a Diamond” — a spin on the overall Fourth of July theme, “A Diamond in Southeast.”
The theme is “pretty much anything goes,” said Ritchie. Participants might opt to make glittery wearable artwork or twirl a bedazzled baton for the talent show, but strict adherence to the theme is not required. “Everybody has their own way of shining, so come out and show your community how you can shine.”
Crary, Ritchie and Reeves welcome acts of all kinds. Typically, the show features a lot of singers, but the organizers want would-be participants to know that skills of all types will be celebrated. “We want all kinds of different talent,” said Ritchie. “We’re talking juggling, we’re talking … hula hoops, skits.”
“Have fun with it,” added Reeves.
Each talent should last about three minutes, maximum.
The wearable art competition is particularly special to Crary. The activity, which is popular throughout Southeast, is still catching on in Wrangell, but she is committed to fostering enthusiasm for wearable art in town. “I don’t think people know what it is,” she said. That’s why she’s pairing it with the talent show.
Wearable art involves making and modeling handmade clothes, often created using recycled or unusual materials. Last year, Crary’s dress was made of tea lights and Ritchie’s was made of playing cards. Ritchie’s daughter’s dress was made of Dungeness crab shells, dipped in dye for a rainbow effect.
“It’s super cool because it sparks all kinds of different creativity,” said Ritchie.
“You try to go all out and go as crazy as you want,” added Crary. “This year, we’re really hoping to get some new people involved and new talent.”
Participants can model their own creations or design an outfit for someone else to wear.
Both the wearable art and talent shows will have separate judges, generous prizes and age-differentiated categories for kids, youth and adults.
The organizers have offered to assist potential performers or wearable artwork-makers, in case there are people who want to participate, but aren’t sure how to start.
“If you’re even thinking about it and you just want to know more about it, give us a ring,” said Reeves. She, Crary and Ritchie are available to help “hash out ideas,” she explained. “Reach out, let us know and we’ll get you involved.”
The event’s judges have not yet been chosen, but the organizers plan to pick a wide selection of community members, particularly artists, to evaluate people’s creations and skills. They will use criteria forms to judge participants on metrics like originality and effort.
“I definitely think it’s a great opportunity for people to come out and show the community something that they haven’t shown them before,” said Reeves.
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