STREET ART: Desmond Hansen’s fifth West Seattle signal-box portrait

Thanks to Nicole for the photos! Graves (aka Desmond) Hansen has just painted another signal-box portrait … this time, a tribute to Kurt Cobain on the southeast corner of California/Graham. He actually painted this signal box first, as we showed you more than a month ago, but it just held the swirling background pattern until he added Kurt today. (Nicole’s photo below features Hansen at right, an assistant Dozer at left:)

He’s also continuing to collect donations to cover his costs. His previous four signal-box portraits are Jimi Hendrix at California/Morgan, Bruce Lee at 35th/Morgan, Chris Cornell at 35th/Alaska, and Layne Staley at Harbor/Spokane.

20 Replies to "STREET ART: Desmond Hansen's fifth West Seattle signal-box portrait"

  • MJ April 14, 2018 (4:46 pm)

    Desmond

    Thank you for the wonderful work

    MJ

  • Alki resident April 14, 2018 (5:20 pm)

    Woohoo… Another terrific job Graves. 

  • Gw April 14, 2018 (5:38 pm)

    Awesome!!!

  • CAM April 14, 2018 (5:40 pm)

    These are really great and I appreciate Desmond taking the time to share his art with all of us. I do agree with the commenter on the post about his last painting and am hopeful he will include a female artist soon. Also, I think this box is on the southeast corner if it’s the one I’m thinking of. 

    • WSB April 14, 2018 (7:35 pm)

      Fixed.

  • Teresa Byers April 14, 2018 (9:12 pm)

    Thank you Graves!! These are beautiful. 

  • the truth April 14, 2018 (11:58 pm)

    Still waiting for Kenny G!  JK but Andrew Wood of Mother Love Bone and Mia Zapata of The Gits would be cool to see.

  • JC April 15, 2018 (12:07 am)

    Awesome work!  What a talent, thank you so much!!

  • justme April 15, 2018 (7:01 am)

    I love seeing these in the neighborhood. I’d like to vote for Chrissie Hynde!

  • Meyer April 15, 2018 (7:59 am)

    Love it – adds some much needed color and art to our streets during this grey weather.

  • Love WS April 15, 2018 (9:17 am)

    I was totally wondering when the Kurt Cobain one was coming after seeing the Chris Cornell and Scott Weiland boxes.  Love this!  I just heard about the Bruce Lee one and need to check it out!

  • Rusty April 15, 2018 (9:44 am)

    Great additions to the neighborhood! Thank You Desmond for taking the initiative – fantastic artwork and such a great way to celebrate our rich PNW music history.

  • Seaweedtoasted April 15, 2018 (10:22 am)

    Hey hey! Thanks for posting this! Happened to see them painting and stopped by to thank them! The artist on the left is Dozer, not an assistant. Graves invited Dozer to paint this box/ paint a portrait! This is the 5th box and I think he has 20 more in mind along with expanding to other neighborhoods, if he gets the funding. Such a good heart. 

    • WSB April 15, 2018 (12:32 pm)

      Thanks, Seaweed. Amended above and linked to your comment. – TR

  • waikikigirl April 15, 2018 (11:12 am)

    Very nice job… and some women artists…Ann and Nancy Wilson, Janis Joplin…. to name a few

    I know 1 of the 3 aren’t from here but they’d still be nice.

  • WS cool April 15, 2018 (2:55 pm)

    We got in the car today and drove by all 5 boxes to check them out.  Very cool!  I love anything that gives WS a hip, unique feel to it.   I feel like we’ve lost some of our character with all the new buildings that have gone up over the few years, so it is nice to something cool like this add something back to the area.

    My vote is for Eddie Vedder at the 35th Ave and Fauntleroy intersection!

  • Bus rider April 15, 2018 (5:42 pm)

    I like to he paintings too so

    How about

    Ernestine Anderson

    Ann and Nancy Wilson

  • TS April 16, 2018 (5:09 am)

    Still hoping for Wesley Willis…

  • Blinkyjoe April 16, 2018 (12:42 pm)

    I think you have to have solid Seattle/PNW roots and be….no longer with us to get a portrait.

    I could be wrong, though.

  • Kelley April 16, 2018 (2:48 pm)

    Blinky Joe, I believe you are right about the NW roots and being no longer with us.  Given those rules, what about Francis Farmer?  Actress in the 30’s and 40’s, West Seattle High Graduate, passed away in 1970.

Sorry, comment time is over.