For some artists, New Year’s Eve a chance to relax

New Year’s Eve, it seems, is a relatively quiet night in South Sound.

Last year, The Washington Center for the Performing Arts threw a gala event with music by Vagabond Opera. Procession of the Species founder Eli Sterling has mentioned the idea of moving the Illuminated Ball to New Year’s Eve next year.

But this year, the options are a bit lower key.

And if The Olympian’s completely unscientific poll of a handful of well-known people in the arts is any indication, most people will be in their own homes at midnight.

The prevailing attitude was perhaps best summed up by repurposed-materials artist Ruby Re-Usable, aka Diane Kurzyna.

“New Year’s Eve just isn’t my holiday,” she said. “Every year, my friend who lives on Queen Anne with a spectacular view of the Space Needle invites me to her New Year’s Eve party, but I really don’t want to even drive on New Year’s Eve.”

Chris Maynard, who creates shadowboxes from intricately cut feathers, has little interest in celebrating New Year’s Eve, though he is marking 2016’s arrival with a calendar, which you can check out at featherfolio.com.

So Kurzyna and Maynard — along with the other artsy types The Olympian asked — will be at home by the time the clock strikes 12.

Here are more details of what others have planned for the not-so-big night:

Jill Barnes, executive director of The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, and Nathan Barnes, painter and coordinator of the gallery at the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts: “Nathan and I were out last year, so we will be staying in the nest this year with our three kids and puppy,” Jill said. “Our fingers are crossed that razor clamming will be open for a New Year’s Day Barnes family dig, followed by fried clams and clam chowder.”

Chris Maynard: “I love it when these days keep getting darker and darker. It is cause for celebration, because I feel justified in staying inside, and I work more on my art. I could move to Alaska and be happy for even darker winters. I don’t notice the daylight increasing until about mid to late January, so New Year’s evening is more of a celebration of black, of darkness, like a cozy blanket. I will be inside, quiet with family (including wife Sally Bergquist), and raise a small glass of port to the idea of a new year. Plus, the next day is my wedding anniversary.”

Elizabeth Hummel, singer-songwriter: “I have no idea what I will be doing on New Year’s Eve. Probably recording some music or getting out in the woods if the weather is nice. At the actual moment, Brian (Castillo) and I may be recording the fireworks going on to use later as sound effects.”

Audrey Henley, executive director of the Olympia Film Society: “The end of the year is always so busy for me at OFS, and I rarely get time to hang out with friends outside of OFS events. This New Year’s Eve, Jimmi (Davies) and I are planning a gathering at our house. The bar will be well stocked; the living room, aka dance floor, will be ready for karaoke and dancing; and my famous pozole will be served.”

Ruby Re-Usable: “My husband and I have a nice, quiet dinner at home. He usually gets up early the next day to go skiing, weather permitting, and I go to friends’ New Year’s Day brunch. He joins me if there is no snow.”

Scot and Linda Whitney, founders of Harlequin Productions: “Scot and I used to be a quiet New Year’s Eve couple,” Linda Whitney said, “but since we began the Stardust New Year’s Eve celebration performance in 2000, we find ourselves in the midst of 200 other partiers every year. Because the Stardust series is set in Manhattan, we make 9 p.m. Pacific Standard Time our midnight.

“If you have another party to attend later, you may, or if you want to be home and tucked in by midnight (like us), you’ve still enjoyed good wishes for the New Year.”

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 9:32 PM with the headline "For some artists, New Year’s Eve a chance to relax."