The time has come to get signed up for participation in 2012′s 3rd Quarter West Seattle Art Walk!

We continue our fight to make each Quarter bigger and better that the last, so we’re looking for excited, art-loving, local merchants to join us in featuring artist(s) at your business on Art Walk night, July through September. 3rd Quarter is always an great time of year to be a WSAW business, as there are so many fun things happening around West Seattle and the sunshine really gets people out walking the streets!

WSAW happens the 2nd Thursday of every month, 6-9 pm. 3rd Quarter WSAW dates are July 12th, August 9th, and September 13th.

The fee to be part of it, and be on the Art Walk list/map/website, etc., is $30 for the quarter – and businesses can sign up online, here.

At one stop on Thursday night’s monthly edition of West Seattle Art Walk, all eyes were not only on the featured art, but also on an event that’s still two months away – the West Seattle Garden Tour. At Windermere West Seattle in The Junction, WSGT organizers/volunteers gathered to present a $500 check to poster-art contest Sheila Lengle, who, along with her winning creation “Ode to Picasso,” posed with graphic designer and art-show planner Michelle Drewien:

Along with Sheila’s winning work, the creations of 13 runners-up – Megan Thorberg, Lida Enche, Nancy Coleman, Marilyn Van Cleave, Jeffrey Corson, Janet Ramble, Marti Lyttle, Alisa Lahti, Arlys Pederson, Sally Parker-Henderson, Christine Kapet, Mark Levin, and Ann Kendall – are on display at Windermere. The Garden Tour is on July 15th this year (with WSB among the co-sponsors); find out about the featured gardens on the WSGT site.

Over at Wallflower Custom Framing (WSB sponsor) on the ground floor of Mural, facing 42nd SW across from the Safeway end of Jefferson Square, RobRoy Chalmers‘ “The Sporozoan” opened during the Art Walk:

He explains his work here.

And back to California SW, if you didn’t catch her last night, plan on the June Art Walk (June 14th) to go meet paper-cutting artist Hannah Viano at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor):

You can see samples of her work, and find out more, on the Click! website. And our monthly reminder: As is the case with Click!, many Art Walk venues keep the art up all month (and then some!) so you can still take your own “Art Walk” through local businesses – read about highlighted artists/venues on the WSAW website.

Wonders to behold on tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk – and you still have an hour to get out and see the sights. Our crew is still out and about, but here are two photos shared with us – top, Jana sends the view of artist Jeffro‘s work (with kids assisting!) at Mind Unwind in the Admiral District; next, from Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), jewelry artist Sarah Loertscher:

Sarah’s at Click! again Saturday for a trunk show. More to come – and while you’re out, remember it’s Food for Art tonight, with seven venues sharing proceeds with Transitional Resources! Art Walk’s on till 9 but many Food for ARt participants are going beyond that.

ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: More photos! First, from Sound Ad Group‘s Rock-afire collection in the ex-Petco space:

At Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), photographer Mark Morgan is this month’s artist:

Babette’s Hatworks was featured at Wallflower Custom Framing:

At Seattle Real Estate Associates (WSB sponsor), we photographed D. Lisa West (who created the art you’ll see on this quarter’s WSAW posters and postcards):

At Twilight Artist Collective, artist Michael Harrison:

And one more view from Mind Unwind, where we began – here’s more information about Jeffro Uitto‘s exhibition, and here’s our photo of him with his work:

And it was a feast not just for the eyes but also for diners at the seven venues participating in Food for Art for Transitional Resources. At West 5, Ola Salon was the host – here’s Rachel Karlin, with Shawn Skerritt:

Art Walk is the second Saturday of every month – next one, May 10th!

Click the image for your full-size walking map/venue list for tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk, 6-9 pm. It’s the first Art Walk of the second quarter, so there are some changes. For the next three WSAWs, there are 37 venues, stretching from Alki Arts in the north to Locöl in the south. Some venues have live music, most have refreshments, and it’s the perfect night to wander West Seattle. Find out more about some of the highlighted artists by going to the official Art Walk site – such as, artist Chris Rollins during the Thursday night wine tasting at new WSB sponsor West Seattle Cellars.

FOOD FOR ART: Tonight, dine and drink at any or all of seven West Seattle venues, and help WS-based Transitional Resources fund its art programs for people living with mental illness. Here’s an update from TR’s Yemaya St. Clair:

Dine out in support of art therapy Thursday, April 12 at one of seven participating West Seattle Restaurants. Circa, Fresh Bistro, Highstrike Grill, Locol Barley & Vine, Luna Park Café, West 5, and Zatz are all donating a percentage of their proceeds on Thursday night to Transitional Resources’ art therapy program, serving men and women living with severe and persistent mental illness. Each of the restaurants will host a raffle; your $5 ticket could win one of many generous prizes donated by local businesses, including the grand prize Wellness Package (Ola Salon 60-minute facial + Ola Salon spa products + LaVida Massage 60-minute massage + West Seattle Body Works Spray Tan Party + Chaco Canyon Café gift certificate) or the Artist’s Collection Package ($100 gift certificate toward the purchase of any RobRoy Chalmers original art + Wallflower Custom Framing $50 gift certificate + Young at Art $25 gift certificate + Handmade Quilt by local quilt artist).

Additional raffle prizes include:

Ola Salon Bag (products + hair cut service – total estimated value $170)
$50 gift certificate for Capers
$50 gift certificate for Jak’s Grill
$50 gift certificate for Northwest Art & Frame
$50 gift certificate for Elliott Bay Brewing Co.
Framed original painting by TR Resident Artist, Jenzo
$25 gift certificate for Prost!
Gift certificate for 12 Cupcake Royale cupcakes
6 months of bagels (one dozen bagels each month) from Zatz

Details of each venue’s participation – including hours and links – can be found on the Facebook event page.

GATEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCIENCE FAIR PALOOZA: Gatewood Elementary principal Rhonda Claytor invites everyone in to see the first annual edition of this showcase: “Every student in grades 2 thru 5 will be contributing some scientific writing for display, and about 50 students have chosen to present their findings from a home science project. We’ll have student work on display (this) afternoon from 1:50-2:50 pm, and in the evening (with cheese and fruit) from 6:30 – 8 pm. The public is welcome to come and see the work of our young scientists.” (Gatewood is on SW Myrtle just west of California SW.)

DELRIDGE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Continued discussion of the 5444 Delridge Way SW project’s potential commercial tenant is part of the agenda for tonight’s meeting, 6:30-8:30 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW).

OPEN HOUSE AT BUTTERFLY BALANCE WELLNESS CENTER: While you’re out and about, 7-9 pm tonight on the southeast edge of The Triangle. Details in the WSB event-calendar listing.

Even more for today/tonight on the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar – explore it here.

If you haven’t been out yet – there’s still half an hour to join in West Seattle Art Walk – check wsartwalk.com for a participating venue near you. Above, Charles Smith was painting “live” at Mind Unwind in the Admiral District (2208 California SW), so new it’s not on the list yet. We made some other stops and will add to this later!

ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: You’ll usually find live music at several stops on Art Walk night –

Jada and Wes were performing with The Five Buck Band at Windermere West Seattle. Across the street at CAPERS, we found mixed-media fine artist Susan Mulligan:

Starheadboy was at Sugar Rush Baking Company:

Eva Funderburgh is curator of the “Chimeras” ceramics exhibit now open at Twilight Artist Collective:

And circling back to Mind Unwind, muralist Glenn Case (who you might know for his Easy Street work) was on hand too:

Many venues keep the art on display for the entire month, so when you’re out shopping in The Junction or Admiral (and beyond!) in the weeks ahead, check the walls (etc.) and appreciate, maybe even consider purchasing, local art! Meantime, next month’s Art Walk will be the first of the spring quarter, and there’s usually some rotation of venues, so watch for a new list of places to explore – it’ll be on April 14th, second Thursday as usual.

Till 9 pm, it’s this month’s edition of the West Seattle Art Walk, and Young At Art (next to The Beer Junction on 42nd south of Alaska) is one place where you can be an artist too – proprietor Theresa Anderson shared the photo, because Starheadboy is back this time around, “painting the wall with the kids tonight … adults are welcome to grab a brush as well…” We’re checking on some other venues and will add photos later. (If you’re heading out, the walking map/venue list is linked in our morning preview.)

FRIDAY MORNING UPDATE: A few photos from our Thursday night stops:

Harpist Johanna – daughter of Village Green Perennial Nursery proprietor Vera Johnson – played at Windermere in The Junction, where we also admired wildlife photos by Robin Lindsey (whose work makes the Seal Sitters’ “blubberblog” site both highly informative and wonderful to review). Also in The Junction, Shawn Foote is one of the artists in the group show “Constructed Geographies” at ArtsWest:

At Twilight Artist Collective, co-proprietor Mary Enslow and daughter Margaux, now 3 months old, were on hand as the “Form and Fancy” show opened:

We also traveled up to the Admiral District to stop in Mind Unwind, a new gallery (among other things), so new it’s not on the official Art Walk map yet. Cathy Woo is showing her work there now:

Didn’t make it to Art Walk last night? Many venues show the work all month long, so take an extra look around next time you step into one of the participating businesses. And clear March 8 for the next WSAW!

5:47 PM: Tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk technically doesn’t begin till 6 pm, but Holli Margell got started early – Sugar Rush Baking Company is the site of her first photography show, and she is collecting donations for the West Seattle Food Bank. She started at 5 and is continuing till 8, and a few donations already had come in when we stopped by. Bring 2 nonperishable food items (the bin’s by the front door) and get a free photo card! Holli explained, “I am inspired by all the West Seattle Holiday giving, and want to see it extend into the New Year. I have family who have depended on the Food Bank, and I know the need is still high after the holidays.” She’s a Delridge resident and while she used to be a wedding photographer, she is now a fulltime homemaker/mom and says her work “captures the beautiful details of everyday life.”

More stops ahead – tonight we’re updating as we go.

6:07 PM: A few blocks away, at 4709 42nd SW (across from the north end of Jefferson Square, next to The Beer Junction, which has a tasting event tonight), go say hi to the folks at Young At Art:

Dr. Vali Hawkins Mitchell, an art therapist (and more) who recently opened a studio inside YAA, is at left, with YAA proprietor Theresa Anderson (who we first told you about three months ago). Next to them, that’s work by Starheadboy, who they were expecting to arrive at any moment for live painting tonight.

6:52 PM: At Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), they’re winging it tonight:

Artist Shelli Markee is famous for her wire birds – modeled after real ones; these are no flights of fancy. They are so delicate that it’s hard to capture them in a photo that includes a person! You just have to go take a look (there are closer views on the Click! website, too). You can put them on the wall, usually with a single nail or tack; some also can be placed standing on a table bookcase, etc.; and some are mounted. Click! has dozens of her creations. Co-proprietor John Smersh also reminded us that their January sale is still on. Among the sale items:

Tired of toting your groceries in bags bearing store logos or something else promotional? Show your West Seattle pride! These cloth bags featuring the peninsula and many of its neighborhoods are on sale too.

7:15 PM: At Nature Consortium‘s office in The Junction – the little building right behind Shadowland – live music was scheduled to start a short time ago. We were there before the band started playing, and met featured artist Tamblyn Gawley:

Appropriately enough for an organization focused on forest restoration, her work, like “Green Burst” in the photo, explores nature’s glory. Read more about Tamblyn and her paintings on the NC website. P.S. If you missed our mention yesterday – NC invites you to spend your MLK Day Weekend of Service with them in the West Duwamish Greenbelt, with work parties Saturday and Monday (details here).

P.S. Here’s the winter-quarter walking map/venue list – 30 participants this time around. The Art Walk’s on till 9 pm.

P.P.S. (8:21 PM) While you’re out – M3 Bodyworks (WSB sponsor) is having its annual Masquerade Party/art celebration till 9 – proprietor Michael Mandell sent a photo:

M3 is a few blocks south of The Junction, at 5236 California SW.

(Contributing photographers: Katie Meyer, Wim Bonner, Patrick Sand)
Seen along Thursday night’s West Seattle Art Walk – It may have been “Ugly Sweater” time at Twilight Artist Collective in The Junction, but who can focus on sweaters when Twilight’s ownership trio is posing with baby Margaux (new daughter of co-owner Mary Enslow)? OK, how about this sweater, spotted on a patron?

Along with the sweater-showing-off, Twilight debuted “12 Days of Christmas” – a display in which, they say, “12 groovy artists each represent one of the twelve days of Christmas.” LOTS more to see along WSB’s December Art Walk travels … click ahead for more pix, including a photographer often featured on WSB, art in a trailer, and more!

Up at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), the Caravan art-gallery-in-an-Airstream (featured here last July) was parked, with owner Brenda Scallon (above) inside and showing off several artists’ work, including GC Jackson‘s wearable textile art:

Also inside the trailer: E. Grace Dagger and her Band of Toy:

Lots of great photos on display this month. At Shanti Salon and Spa (WSB sponsor) in the Admiral District, Danny McMillin was there with his bird images:

We’ve been lucky to feature some of them on WSB (he shares them via the WSB Flickr group pool, too). Back in The Junction, photographer Ben Scherer of Ben’s Photography displayed several framed vivid photographs at Keller Williams.

Sharing the space for the evening was artist Eve Ingraham – a painter and metal work artist – showing different examples of her work in silver, copper, gems, mixed media.

Cupcake Royale‘s walls are sporting paintings by Javier Ortega:

And a few doors up at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), Rebecca Staffel of Deluxe Foods visited with taste sensations including strawberry balsamic preserves, spiced plum jam, grape and walnut conserve:

A different kind of food art is now available at Click! too -

Longtime WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli’s “Disparity” work has become a worldwide sensation, and led to merchandise lines as well as displays. At Click! you can now buy his limited edition cards (with envelopes), sets of ten. Christopher explains, “Each card has a different photo on the front and a caption inside.” Other retailers will be announced soon. And Winston Wachter Fine Art (203 Dexter Avenue North), Seattle rep for his work, will host a solo exhibition January 10-February 24 – more on that when it gets closer.

People and sights from a few stops along the way of the November 2011 West Seattle Art Walk: Above, Lisa Geersten and Andy Blakney at Twilight Artist Collective, which has perhaps the sturdiest show, the metalwork in “Northwest Anvil III.”

Right around the corner, Easy Street Records‘ flea market offered retro sights and buys:

At Knows Perfume, photographer Elizabeth Bachman:

She told us the photo is from her family’s ranch in Montana.

And at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor):

Barbara Noonan wasn’t just showing art, she was also doing chalk drawings. C & P had its monthly wine club happening too, along with live Brazilian music. Great thing about Art Walk is that in most cases, the art is up at the venues all month long – so you can take your own personal Art Walk any time, while shopping around West Seattle.

Forecast looks promising for tomorrow night’s West Seattle Art Walk - not always something you can count on by the time we get to November. So you can plan ahead, here are a few previews. At Twilight Artist Collective in The Junction (4306 SW Alaska), West Seattleites Andy Blakney and Lisa Geertsen are curating “Northwest Anvil III: A Survey of Contemporary Northwest Ironwork,” opening during the Art Walk, 6-9 pm. The exhibition features work by Northwest Blacksmith Association members. Organizers explain: “Our goal for putting this show together is to bring awareness to the community the possibilities that lie within the art of forged metal.”

At C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) tomorrow night, it’s a doubleheader:

Barbara Noonan will display paintings. And it’s the monthly Wine Club event. C & P is at 5612 California SW.

At The Kenney (WSB sponsor), you’ll enjoy jazz as well as art:

That’s singer Julie Cascioppo, who is scheduled to perform (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW).

At Knows Perfume, proprietor Christen Cottam is having a food drive from Art Walk night till 5 pm Sunday. She says, “Food for the two-legged and the four-legged is welcome and much appreciated. Customers can bring a big bag of food (using their best judgment), or a gift card to Safeway, Petco, Costco or the like (minimum $15) and will receive a a card for 15% off their next visit to Knows.” (4536 California SW)

Want to buy art even more than look at it? You can do that most places, but not the kind of art – vintage! – you’ll find at the Easy Street Records flea market “Cheapside Review,” including posters, as explained here, during Art Walk.

Across the street at Cupcake Royale, there’s a music tie-in – Julie Peña’s photo essay with “early photos of the locally-grown Brandi Carlile Band,” according to the announcement we received.

The announcement continues: “These images explore the personalities of the musicians and captures some moments behind the red ropes before their artistic success was a known quantity. These images are intended to appeal to fans and non-fans alike as it discusses the changes implicit in an artist’s rise to fame.” Julie will be there 6-8:30 pm during the Art Walk.

Here’s the official Art Walk map/venue list; lots more previews can be found on the official Art Walk website.

BONUS: In North Delridge, the West Seattle Tool Library opens its doors on Art Walk night – the second Thursday – for “Ask an Expert,” a unique event to empower do-it-yourselfers. 6-8 pm in their location on the east side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), you’ll find free expert advice, this month from Mighty House Construction, Gray Sky Farms, and Solar Epiphany.

Texts from WSB’ers may bring images of car crashes or other unhappiness – or maybe, a spontaneous outbreak of art or music! WSB contributor Keri DeTore just shared this photo of the latter, with news that “Singer Amber Flame is doing an impromptu set at Meander’s.” (That’s Meander’s Kitchen north of Morgan Junction.)

You just can’t escape the Alaskan Way Viaduct this month. Not only because of the ubiquitous countdown to the 9-day, 10-night closure, but then, there’s art like Cheryl Robinson‘s paper/wax-on-wood creation, on display at Link (WSB sponsor), where Cheryl and her Twilight Artist Collective-mates made all the art happen. Cheryl’s “On the Viaduct” is featured on the fall-quarter West Seattle Art Walk posters/postcards:

… so we started tonight’s Art Walk coverage with her work. We also stopped by The Kenney (WSB sponsor), where quilter Doris McHenry was one of the resident artists showing work:

The Kenney also had a bazaar raising money for the Resident Life Care Fund, helping pay the rent for those whose resources run out too soon. Back in The Junction, ArtsWest opened a new exhibition a few days ago, “The Edge of Night,” and participating painter Jean Bradbury was at tonight’s reception:

Further south along California SW, Art Walk night also meant one of the periodic Open House events at longtime WSB sponsor M3 Bodyworks. They’re showing work by Sarah Barrick:

One of the great things about Art Walk night is that it’s even more an introduction, than a self-contained event – most if not all the artists/exhibitions can be enjoyed throughout the rest of the month. So whether you did or didn’t make it out tonight, take a look at the official Art Walk website at wsartwalk.com and think about visiting local businesses for art’s sake as well as for purchases and services.

A few scenes from last night’s West Seattle Art Walk: At Twilight Artist Collective in The Junction, we found artist RobRoy Chalmers and proud daughter Izzy. His “Sporozoan Swarm” is now on display at Twilight, for the entire month. Across SW Alaska:

Phil Cline of Naches Heights Vineyard (southeastern Washington) was pouring at Bin 41 during Art Walk night. That means it’s a two-in-a-row week, since you’ll find the traditional Friday night tasting there too, with new wines tonight from the Willamette Valley (Oregon)’s Alexana Winery, 6-7:30 pm. More Art Walk people ahead:

Elana Winsberg’s work is on display this month at Seattle Real Estate Associates (WSB sponsor). She worked in “visual journalism” for years – but dove into intensive painting/drawing studies after a newspaper for which she was working shut down, as explained here. (The work with which she is posing is titled “Bailey Sleeping.”)

And on the south end of the Art Walk route, we visited The Kenney (also a WSB sponsor):

That’s Martha Hicks, lauded for the bright colors of her work, including watercolor and acrylics. Also spotlighted, framer Fred Madrid, showing and selling historic West Seattle scenes:

Next month’s West Seattle Art Walk will be on October 13th – and as always, many of the displays put up for this month’s WSAW will be up throughout the month, so even if you didn’t get a chance to enjoy the art tonight, you can turn September into a monthlong Art Walk of your own.

The forecast is for clear skies, as far as the eye – or at least the forecaster – can see. Including Thursday night, which will bring the next West Seattle Art Walk, 6-9 pm. Three dozen venues (from Shanti Salon and Spa in the north to The Kenney in the south [both WSB sponsors]) – all listed on the official map, which is here. If you want to plan your stops in advance, you can find some of the venues’ previews on the official WS Art Walk site. The Kenney, for example, spotlights artists Martha Hicks and Cyndy Jensen, along with local framer Fred Madrid bringing a collection of historic West Seattle photos (available for purchase), plus live music – details here. Shanti will show photography by Laurie Z. In The Junction, Nature Consortium e-mailed a special invite for you to stop by its office at 4210 SW Oregon – where Kathleen McHugh‘s art will be on display:

McHugh is a Seattle painter who, NC notes:

… has been featured in exhibits locally, nationally, and internationally in places as near as Youngstown Cultural Arts Center and as far as Slovakia and the Museum of Modern Art. Kathleen’s work explores humanistic themes and serve as ‘visual allegories about identity and relationship[s]‘.” She also teaches eco-art classes with Nature Consortium and has been working as a teaching artist in the Pacific Northwest since 1994. On Thursday, she is offering prints from her Banff suite at the West Seattle Art Walk. Local Latin-folk band Ama Trio, featured at this year’s Arts in Nature Festival, will also perform at the office 7:30 – 8:30 pm.

See you tomorrow night along the Art Walk!

A sunny summer evening in West Seattle, and there’s plenty to do. Till 9 pm, you can wander the dozens of venues participating in this month’s West Seattle Art Walk. We’ve stopped by two – above, we went to Mural Apartments (WSB sponsor) to check in on Glenn Case‘s mural, begun last month. He says it’s close to completion. (While you’re at Mural, you can also stop by Wallflower Custom Framing on the ground floor and see work by Amy Bengston and Urban Guy Allen.) On the south end of the map, we visited The Kenney (WSB sponsor), where Anita West is the featured artist:

Her Middle East-inspired work is hanging in The Kenney’s halls. This one is titled “Turkish Coffee”:

You’ll also find refreshments at The Kenney (among other stops) – while we were there, CEO Kevin McFeely was playing the role of bartender. And just before we published this, we got word of a live band outside Windermere Fauntleroy in Morgan Junction – photo to come. You can browse the Art Walk venues at the official website (and if you go to The junction, remember it’s Shop Late Thursdays night too). If you go to the beach – Alki Arts is on the Art Walk map, and not far from free live music. Yogoman Burning Band is performing at the beach courtesy of the Admiral Neighborhood Association’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series (co-sponsored by WSB), on the road for this night only.

The music continues till 8; we’ll have a clip in a bit.

ADDED EARLY FRIDAY: The video!

Next week, the concert is back on the east lawn of Hiawatha – LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends, 6:30 pm Thursday, August 18th.