West Seattle Blog…

West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Spring Equinox edition

After a fab Friday night (check out the All-Access Showcase at Youngstown Arts Center starting at 6 tonight), many great ways to celebrate spring (which arrives at 10:32 am our time Saturday) – there’s a plant sale, a meeting about the potential West Seattle Community Orchard, two spring cleanups (Delridge on Saturday and Highland Park on Sunday) … West Seattle Hi-Yu’s Tea and Silent Auction is Saturday … this weekend we also have WSB sponsors with special events, both on Sunday: Free yoga at SoundYoga and a gold-buying event at Northwest Gold Exchange/938.GOLD, and ArtsWest is into the second weekend of “Sunlight” … From tonight through Sunday, more than SIXTY! events/activities on our list, sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food: Click to read the rest of West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Spring Equinox edition…

West Seattle Crime Watch: Art theft; car break-in

If you see that work by John Osgood, “Flowers for You,” anywhere but the exhibition space in Mural Apartments (WSB sponsor), report it to police – because it’s stolen, according to Twilight Artist Collective, which just sent word of the theft. They’ve also written about it on their website. It’s been missing for eight days now, so they decided to get the word out more widely.

Meantime, one other Crime Watch note this afternoon – from Kelly:

Just wanted to let everyone know we had a car break-in (Tuesday) night in Arbor Heights, 42nd and 102nd [map]. Never had a problem in the past 5 years until now. They rooted around in the car for valuables but we don’t own any valuables! Ha! We think it occurred after 11:30 pm.

Your weekly West Seattle Bookshelf, 2nd edition

Lists courtesy of Square One Books

Once again this Thursday, courtesy of Gretchen Montgomery @ Square One Books (WSB sponsor), we bring you her store’s five best-sellers in four key categories. (We’re testing the title suggested by Mark Matassa in comments following edition #1 – what do you think?)

Hardcover:
1. Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler
2. The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
3. Anthill by E.O. Wilson
4. Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis
5. Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

Paperback:
1. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
2. Old Filth by Jane Gardam
3. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
4. The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge
5. Ex-Cop by Warren Hammond

Children:
1. The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid #1 by Jeff Kinney
3. The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers
4. In My Meadow by Sara Gillingham
5. The Witches by Roald Dahl

Teen:
1. Dealing with Dragons #1 by Patricia Wrede
2. Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz
3. Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund
4. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
5. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Speaking of young readers, Square One has a special bookselling event tonight at Madison Middle School — offering books that are popular with middle-schoolers, and Square One pays the tax, which means you get the equivalent of a 9.5% discount.

West Seattle power outage: Westside Symphonette still a go

Since Gatewood Elementary School lost its power along with almost 2,800 other homes/businesses/facilities this afternoon, there’s been some question about whether the Westside Symphonette concert set for 7:30 tonight would still go on. Just talked to the orchestra’s leader Toni Reineke, and while she says they haven’t confirmed yet whether the power is back, they’re proceeding under the assumption it will be. If they have to call it off at the last minute, she’ll give us a call and let us know, so if you’re planning to go, you can check back here for any updates before you leave.

West Seattle’s ArtsWest raises the curtain on next season’s lineup

Along with everything else going on tonight, we were at ArtsWest for a special event announcing the six productions that will comprise its 2010-2011 season – and celebrating what’s under way in this season (the clip above is from its next show, “Tell Me on a Sunday,” with Danielle Barnum singing and Kim Dare on piano for tonight’s mini-preview). We published the 2010-2011 announcements on Twitter as they happened – but if you weren’t following along, here’s the quick list:

“Reasons to be Pretty” by Neil LaBute
“Evil Dead: The Musical“ – beware the “splatter zone”!
“A Tuna Christmas” (the holiday show – no “Plaid Tidings” this year)
“Emilie: La Marquise Du Chatelet Defends Her Life Tonight“ by Lauren Gunderson
“Distracted“ by Lisa Loomer
“Shipwrecked“ by Donald Margulies

ArtsWest leader Alan Harrison told the theater full of fans that it’s going to be a “rollercoaster” season – in a good way. More on that, on the shows, and on special ticket deals, ahead (added early Tuesday am). Click to read the rest of West Seattle’s ArtsWest raises the curtain on next season’s lineup…

West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Daylight Saving Time edition

(Photo from “Sunlight” by Matt Durham)
It’s the first weekend for “Sunlight” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) – you can see the play tonight, Saturday night or Sunday afternoon – and that’s just part of a HUGE slate of events: Rummage sales, book sales, food drives, a chance to help brainstorm the Seattle Waterfront’s future, benefit dinners, school open houses, live music, forest-restoration events … you HAVE to browse the list. Plus, Daylight Saving Time kicks in Sunday morning – at 2 am, forward ahead an hour to 3 am. From tonight through Sunday, more than SIXTY! events/activities on our list, sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food: Click to read the rest of West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Daylight Saving Time edition…

New WSB feature: What West Seattleites are reading

Wandering around the website of our citywide-news partners the Seattle Times recently, we noticed a best-sellers’ list for West Seattle’s Square One Books (WSB sponsor). Looked like something that might interest book lovers here most of all, so we asked proprietor Gretchen Montgomery if that list might be available to WSB – and she said yes. So here’s the first edition of “What West Seattleites are reading” (working title, maybe we – or you? – will come up with something catchier).

Adult Hardcover:
1. The Pacific by Hugh Ambrose
2. Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson
3. Angelology by Danielle Trussoni
4. Rediscovering Values by Jim Wallis
5. Blackout by Connie Willis

Adult Paperback:
1. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
2. A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
3. The Forgotten by Kate Morton
4. Ghost Train to the Eastern Star by Paul Theroux
5. Little Bee by Chris Cleave

Teen Bestsellers:
1. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
2. The Pendragon Series by D.J. MacHale
3. North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
4. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
5. Madapple by Christina Meldrum

Children’s Bestsellers:
1.The Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth
2. Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan
3. The Lion & the Mouse (Caldecott Winner!) by Jerry Pickney
4. Happy Easter, Curious George by Margaret and H. A. Rey
5. When You Reach Me (Newberry Winner!) by Rebecca Stead

Look for the next round of “What West Seattleites are reading” next Thursday!

West Seattle Art Walk: Another bright night @ Twilight

Only got the chance to drop by one West Seattle Art Walk venue tonight, in part because we were driving around for quite a while trying to sort out the low-bridge woes (all over now). But The Junction’s own Twilight Artist Collective is always a sure bet on the big night (not to mention other times) – in our photo, artists Michelle Anderst and Chris Sheridan, two of the 10 artists whose work is in Twilight’s new show “10 and Change,” curated by Kate Protage (read more about it here). You can see the show at Twilight (Easy Street Records‘ western neighbor) through April 5th; next West Seattle Art Walk will be April 8.

Tomorrow night: West Seattle Art Walk!

Just a quick reminder that we’re just a bit more than 24 hours away from the next edition of the monthly West Seattle Art Walk. Many of the venues – dozens around the peninsula – have information about their featured artist(s) on the official West Seattle Art Walk website; see it here, print out the walking map (here), then get ready to wander and enjoy, 6-9 pm tomorrow, from The Kenney in the south to Alki Bathhouse in the north. (We’ll also showcase some featured artists here tomorrow morning.)

A place to play: “Summer Concerts at Hiawatha” seeking musicians

(8/6/09 photo from Summer Concerts @ Hiawatha: Neil Young tribute band Ragged Glory)
Presented for the first time last year, the Admiral Neighborhood Association’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha were an instant hit. Planning for this year’s Thursday night outdoor-concert series (7/29-9/2) is now under way, and ANA president Katy Walum has put out the call for musicians. If you’re interested, e-mail her at katy.walum@gmail.com; she adds, ” It helps if they include their fee for a 90-minute performance (with a short break in the middle, if desired), and any special setup or sound requirements.” (The series also is still seeking sponsors – WSB is already signed up for the second consecutive year – e-mail Dave Weitzel at dave@weitzelconstruction.com.)

West Seattle Weekend Lineup: March mellowness

Help clean up Fairmount Ravine … munch fry bread and help the Duwamish Tribe fight for recognition … go retro with “Monty Python” and “Rocky Horror Picture Show” … bid, bike, cheer, chow down, go garage-saling … From tonight through Sunday, more than 40 events/activities on our list, sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food: Click to read the rest of West Seattle Weekend Lineup: March mellowness…

He’s rockin’ – and giving: 10-year-old Connor Wartelle’s album!

That’s 10-year-old Hope Lutheran fourth-grader Connor Wartelle, performing “Civil War” – one of the songs from an album he’s selling online. If you watch the video, you’ll see (and hear) it’s no sweet little “Itsy Bitsy Spider”-esque singalong – it’s power-guitar rock. We found out about Connor courtesy of proud mom Jeanne Wartelle, who tells us Connor is donating part of the album’s proceeds to Children’s Hospital. He’s been playing guitar since he was five – and his guitar teacher/mentor Rob Hampton helped Connor make the album. Rob also has written about Connor online, including a peek into the album-making process: “For example, (Connor) created the helicopter-like sound in the breakdown of “Slavery” by cranking all the knobs on my BOSS Flanger pedal. I winced when I first heard the effect, but Connor insisted that was the sound he wanted. Now I love that part.” Here’s where to find Connor’s album (“Too Small“) at Amazon.

Coming to Admiral Theater: “Running the Sahara,” w/ special guest

One week from tonight, there’s a special screening at West Seattle’s Admiral Theater: The documentary “Running the Sahara,” a documentary produced and narrated by actor Matt Damon, directed by Oscar winner James Moll. According to information shared by Dinah Brein McClellan from The Admiral, it’s about three ultra-marathoners’ bid to run the entire length of the Sahara Desert – 4,300 miles, six countries – 50 miles a day. One of the athletes, Charlie Engle, will be at The Admiral for audience Q/A right after the screening. It’s at 6:30 next Wednesday night (March 10), and tickets are available online for $25 – that’s $10 less than the price at the door – here’s where to buy them; the price also includes a DVD of the film.

West Seattle schools: Alki parents’ “prom”; Lafayette arts assembly

We’ve got photos from unique events involving two West Seattle elementary schools: First, Saturday night was Prom Night at Kenyon Hall, for Alki Elementary parents (and friends) who wanted to party like it was the ’80s all over again. Thanks to Kristina for the tip; she explained it’s an Alki fundraiser, with tickets sold at the recent benefit auction. We went over for a couple photos, intrigued by the promise of “big hair, some crazy ’80s music … satin, tuxes with shiny cummerbunds, and the like … a great time with a lot of laughter, and it’s all in the name of helping our kids!” Four promgoers paused to pose – from left, Laurie, Susan, Doreen and Linda:

Also this morning, photos from a special assembly at Lafayette Elementary on Friday – courtesy of Luckie:

She says Boxtales Theatre Company from Santa Barbara, California, enchanted the students (and others!) with stories from afar, including Mexico, Puerto Rico and Cuba. The photo above is from the Mexican story “La Calavera” (Lady Death). The performers also showed some of their masks to Lafayette students:

Luckie adds, “The Lafayette PTA budgets each year for arts assemblies, and this is the first one of the 2009-10 school year. Next, we will have the Grail Theatre of Britain, in June. Yay PTA!”

West Seattle Weekend Lineup: “Farewell to February” edition

Not only the last weekend of the month, but the final days of the month … and there’s a rumor we’ll see some sunshine before the weekend’s over. Highlights include rolling up your sleeves for Admiral’s Adopt-A-Street and numerous park/greenbelt work parties on Saturday morning, lots of live music (rock, blues, jazz, more), and did we mention Girl Scout Cookies? From tonight through Sunday, more than 40 events/activities on our list, sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food: Click to read the rest of West Seattle Weekend Lineup: “Farewell to February” edition…

West Seattle scene: Poetry proves popular

Walter Maenhout e-mailed to say Wednesday night’s first “Set Apart” poetry/storytelling event at C & P Coffee “was a great success.” Above, some of the audience; below, featured poet Leopoldo Seguel. Walter says the next one’s already set for March 24, with more details to come.

Vietnamese Cultural Center celebrates New Year, flag recognition

Two flags flew high Sunday afternoon over West Seattle’s Vietnamese Cultural Center (next to Tug Inn): The U.S. Stars and Stripes, and the Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag. Until April 1975, it was the flag of South Vietnam, and while it is banned in modern-day Vietnam, it is cherished by those who left in search of freedom. Earlier this month, the 34th District Democrats passed a resolution recognizing the flag and urging the City of Seattle to do so; that resolution was read and applauded as part of Sunday’s New Year’s celebration at the center. Representing the 34th DDs, state committeewoman Marcee Stone, who also is now running for State House of Representatives:

The event also commemorated the Lunar New Year – with the GDPT Van Hanh Lion Dance Team and hundreds of firecrackers (which you will see and hear about halfway through this minute-and-a-half clip):

The crowd of about 100 also paid tribute to historic heroes:

That artwork commemorating one of the great battles against Chinese invaders was placed at the outdoor altar:

This group of women in traditional costume waited to place flowers at the altar:

Memories of more-recent battles remained fresh, as high-ranking veterans of the South Vietnam military were there, in uniform, as they have been at other events we have covered here:

The VIetnamese Cultural Center is the second-largest such center in our state – after its counterpart in Tacoma. As the 34th DDs’ resolution noted, about 50,000 people of Vietnamese descent live in King County. (We took a closer look at the center in this July 2008 story.) Its distinctive statue – visible to passersby along SW Orchard – pays tribute to the 13th-century hero, General Tran Hung Dao.

West Seattle help for Haiti: 2 successes, and a new request

STUDENTS HELPING HAITI: From left, Lafayette Elementary student council representatives Anna Goldberg, Alyx Hastings and Quinn Gerberding. Proud Lafayette principal Virginia Turner says they “conceived of, publicized and organized the fundraising effort” that brought in $1,460 for Haiti relief — the council sponsored the collection. Lafayette teacher Kent Ferris worked with the students to help them make it happen. Another big announcement:

ARTISTS HELPING HAITI: Last weekend, we brought you a progress report during West Seattle artist/entrepreneur Stephanie Hargrave’s art sale to raise money to help Haiti. She now has the final numbers: $17,031 raised during the one-day sale! It’s going to Partners in Health, Doctors Without Borders, and Mercy Corps. Stephanie took the above photo of all the art in her studio during the sale, and adds: “My two friends who were instrumental in the effort and worked tirelessly are West Seattleites Anne-Marie Meredith and Bronwyn McNutt.” She also included a full list of the artists who participated by donating work – see that list (with information on how to contact the artists – web links or phone/e-mail) here.

NEW WEST SEATTLE HELP FOR HAITI: Kari Robins e-mailed to say:

I am a West Seattle resident and a high school teacher. I am going to be traveling to Haiti this summer with Global Volunteer Network. I will be working with orphaned children and homeless women. I want to raise money to help offset the cost of travel and participating in the program.

I will be working with children, youth and women within two camps; Pinchinat and Kay Wolf. These camps have more than 3,000 people who became homeless after the quake. I will be helping to run education classes for children as the schools have been closed down until September.

I am looking for community support to help offset the expense and to maximize my time down in Haiti.

Read more about the type of work she’ll be doing, by going here; to e-mail her with questions and/or help, kari.robins@hotmail.com.

Tonight: Delridge Council; Sealth playoff game; free class; more

DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: Reps from community councils and organizations in eastern West Seattle gather monthly to talk about what’s new and what’s ahead, and you’re invited to join them. When they meet tonight at 7 in the theater at Youngstown Arts Center, the agenda also includes an update on Camp Long’s renovation project and local proposals for the Neighborhood Projects Fund.

CHIEF SEALTH PLAYOFF GAME: The boys’ varsity basketball team plays Seattle Prep in the league semifinals, 7 pm at Prep (2400 11th Ave. E).

FREE WOMEN’S-SELF-DEFENSE CLASS: Sima Martial Arts (WSB sponsor) is presenting this free class at 7:15 tonight at the Sima studio in The Junction, 4711 42nd SW (across from the north end of Jefferson Square). Call 935-4531 to sign up.

FINAL WEEK FOR “LOVE SONG”: Tonight marks the start of the final five-performance week for ArtsWest’s current production. 7:30 pm, tickets available online.

What else is up? Here’s the frequently updated WSB Events calendar.

Happening now: West Seattle art sale to help Haiti

West Seattle artist Stephanie Hargrave was beaming when we stopped by her studio (3234 California SW, across from the business she co-owns, smallclothes) around 1: In the first two hours of the benefit art/jewelry sale she organized to raise money for Haiti relief, she told us, more than $7,000 already had come in: “It’s exceeded my wildest expectations!” And the number was rising even as we stood there taking photos – the work you see next to her in the picture was in the process of being sold, and it came off the wall minutes later. Several other artists contributed work, including jewelry artist Frances Smersh from Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor):

The sale continues till 6 tonight; here’s a map – her studio’s in an old house, up a stairway from the sidewalk, but you’ll see the sign at street level.

West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Valentine’s Day edition

(UPDATED EARLY SATURDAY) Another weekend, another big Sunday – this time, instead of the game of football, it’s the game of love. We’ve been featuring the West Seattle Valentine’s Day dining guide – see the latest updates here – highlights from the WSB sponsor ranks include brunch (mimosa carafe!) and dinner special features at Skylark Cafe and Club and a steak/shrimp special at Feedback Lounge. Also – self-defense and yoga freebies, a free movie, an art show to help Haiti, Fauntleroy’s “The Man Show” tonight, Lafayette Elementary’s theater production tonight, Twilight/New Moon double features today and tomorrow at The Admiral … From tonight through Sunday night, more than 40 events/activities, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food: Click to read the rest of West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Valentine’s Day edition…

West Seattle Art Walk scenes: 3 artists, 3 styles

Story and photos by Mary Sheely
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Hungry?

Jessica Creager understands that a lot of people are these days — for jobs, for money, or for food.

Her show “Craving,” featured during Thursday night’s West Seattle Art Walk and continuing on display at Wallflower Custom Framing (WSB sponsor), 4735 42nd Ave SW, is a response to that reality: her paintings are focused on the “little things in life that cause her to spontaneously smile,” like a pink-frosted cupcake or a pair of Swedish Fish. Some of the paintings themselves are tiny, too, and that’s intentional, to make them more affordable to people who are feeling an economic pinch.

In fact, Creager is one of those people, but she’s not a starving artist. Instead, she’s an artist who’s looking for a job in law.

Click to read the rest of West Seattle Art Walk scenes: 3 artists, 3 styles…

Happening now: West Seattle Art Walk, February edition

Thanks to Lora from Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) for that photo of one of the signs up for something that’s new this West Seattle Art Walk night – a shuttle between The Junction and four “southern” Art Walk venues, including shuttle sponsor Sterling Images Gallery (at Lowman Beach). Look for the pink signs. Info on spotlighted artists, plus two versions of the map – clickable Google, and printable PDF – all available at wsartwalk.com. ADDED 6:47 PM: From The Kenney – the Holy Rosary students having a bake sale to raise money for Haiti relief:

Here’s our preview about their fundraiser, as published this morning.

On the way to West Seattle this spring: Street Scramble; Honk Fest

Of course we already have INCREDIBLE events in West Seattle every spring/summer – but a few new ones are in the works, and in case you hadn’t heard about them yet:

STREET SCRAMBLE: Just got the word on this. March 20th, get ready for Alki Street Scramble, the first in a series of Street Scrambles around the area this spring/summer. As explained on the official website, the concept is: “Thirty locations are circled on a neighborhood map. On foot or bike, how many can you visit in 90 minutes? In 3 hours?” The locations haven’t been chosen yet, but keep an eye on streetscramble.com.

(“I Feel Like Funkin’ It Up,” from 2009 Honk Fest West)
HONK FEST WEST: This raucous three-day music event is planning to spend its third day in West Seattle. It’s been mentioned briefly at some recent neighborhood-council meetings but now it looks like plans are beginning to solidify. Mark April 11 on your calendar – either for revelry or for earplugs. Here’s the official website.

We’re adding more springiness (and summer fun) to the Events calendar as we get it – we can also suggest you save May 8 for the annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, coordinated by your friendly neighborhood news site (us) – you can fan WSCGSD on Facebook! – and June 5 is not only slated as Delridge Day, but Sustainable West Seattle president Brian Allen confirms that this year’s SWS Festival is being planned in conjunction with the DD event.

From Youngstown to the White House! Local youth in DC

As mentioned on the Delridge Grassroots Leadership site on Tuesday and in a Youngstown Cultural Arts Center e-mail update sent out this morning, a group of local teenagers is in Washington, D.C., right now, “representing Seattle and creative young people across the country at the historic concert ‘A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement‘,” as the Youngstown bulletin describes it, going on to say, “This opportunity was granted by the Grammy Foundation through Kathleen Allen, community arts liaison with Seattle Public Schools, when she was moved by the students’ performance for the opening of their exhibit at the Frye Art Gallery.” They’re the founding youth of Youngstown Records, which recently launched. The exhibit, created in collaboration with Youngstown-based ArtsCorps, is titled “I Wish I Knew Who I Was Before I Was Me,” is at The Frye Museum – free to see – through the end of May. The DC concert they attended, hosted by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, is scheduled to air on PBS tomorrow night (read more about it here). Youngstown Arts Center, in North Delridge, is a hotbed of artistic exploration and talent – keep up with its classes and goings-on here. (Photo by, and used with permission of, Laura O’Quin) ADDED 6:26 PM: ArtsCorps just shared this update from the youth in DC:
Click to read the rest of From Youngstown to the White House! Local youth in DC…

Art that helps: Mural Project update; “Fundred Dollar Bills”

An update on one of the most recent “West Seattle Help for Haiti” projects mentioned here – Victoria Shaw of The Mural Project asked for art-supply donations (see the original request here). She now sends word that KeyBank in The Junction (California/Alaska) “has graciously volunteered to be the dropoff point for anyone wishing to donate new or used art supplies for the school in Haiti. There will be a box in the lobby through the end of February.” Meantime, we have news of an art project involving a local school, related to a natural disaster within our own borders:

From Madison Middle School art teacher Lisa Baker:

Students in 7th Grade Art at Madison Middle School in partnership with Eckstein Middle School designed Fundred Dollar Bills to help raise awareness about lead-contaminated soil in New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina . The art project focused on contemporary artist Mel Chin who uses his artwork for environmental and social issues. The students learned about certain plants that can absorb chemicals from the soil to return it to safe levels. The bills will be collected in an armored truck from Eckstein Middle School on February 11th, 2010, and delivered to Congress to help raise the necessary $300,000,000 for clean-up of the soil in New Orleans.

Here today, gone tomorrow: West Seattle artist’s poster plight

Speaking of art … From the WSB inbox: West Seattleite Mark Schlipper promoted a music festival with 11 x 17 posters on poles in a local business district – the art you see at left – and says they were gone within a day. He wonders if everyone is aware that posters like his have been legal for years.

I’m a curator of the Cumulus Music Festival. The festival, while not exclusive to it, does have a focus on Seattle and Northwest bands. As individuals and as an organization, we like to support our communities, and the artists in it. This is our second year, and as such I posted some fliers up around my neighborhood, specifically the Alaska Junction. A few local business offered their hand in support, the rest were up on utility poles.

And that’s where the issue lies.

People may not know this, but around 2002, the laws regarding postering changed, and made allowances for posting on utility poles (seattle.gov/transportation/posteringrules.htm). The responsibility for removal being placed on the poster themselves, or be fined. And yet, someone in our neighborhood felt compelled to pull down my posters within a day of putting them up. This didn’t strike me as the act of vandals, but as the act of someone who doesn’t understand the current laws regarding posting, and took it upon themselves to “fix” it.

Frankly I find it disheartening and insulting. Disheartening because we’re a community that celebrates its creative culture, often supports it, and at least seems to generally appreciate its presence in their lives, aren’t we? Because to me this is an attack on that very culture, on people who are trying to better their community with art, and on those artists themselves. Insulting because it’s defacing my legally posted work. Destroying my legally posted advertising, and essentially stealing money from me and my organization by doing so.

I commend people for taking some pride in their community, and would love to see this same enthusiasm in regard to filling the Whole Foods pit, or fining people that don’t clean up after their dogs. But this didn’t benefit anyone, just hurt someone trying to do some good.

We asked a few followup questions to try to figure out if the postering he says he did could have been so over-the-top that it was seen as a nuisance; he said, and added, “Only one poster per pole was posted. No other posters were covered. Staples were used on wood poles, tape on metal, fairly conservatively in both cases.” The issue of posters on poles was a hot one through the late ’90s and early ’00s; the onetime city ban was actually upheld in 2004, but by then city law had changed to permit them.

West Seattle Art Walk preview: Artist listings, map, shuttle!

Every second Thursday, year-round, 6-9 pm, you can wander West Seattle, enjoying (and if you choose, often, buying) the work of great local artists, during the monthly West Seattle Art Walk. This Thursday is the big night for February, and Lora Lewis from Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) tells us artist highlights are now up at wsartwalk.com – plus you can see, and print, the walking map (get it here). Something new this time around – Sterling Images Gallery is offering a shuttle from The Junction to “Art Walk South” stops, including their gallery at Lowman Beach, The Kenney, West Seattle Cellars, and Gail Ann Photography.

More West Seattle help for Haiti: Any art supplies to share?

Longtime West Seattle resident Victoria Shaw has a request for West Seattle’s art community (and anyone else who sees this):

I am the director of an international children’s art and cultural exchange program called “The Mural Project” (themuralproject.net).

We are working with the organization Art For Haitian Children to help them rebuild an art school in Jacmel, Haiti and to gather art supplies to take to them this Spring.

I know that there are many artists in the West Seattle area, if any of you might have extra acrylic paints, rolls of canvas and/or paintbrushes or would like to donate new items, these children would love to receive them.

If you have any questions please contact Victoria Shaw at (206) 937-9747 or
_amural98@aol.com

West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Super Bowl (& other games) edition

Yes, the Super Bowl on Sunday is the main event – and if you haven’t seen our as-complete-as-possible-so-far West Seattle Super Bowl Watching Guide, check it out here – but there’s MORE! Tonight, for example, the first High Point Neighborhood Night – And Saturday is Neighborhood Appreciation Day, with events at all your local community centers, tours of all your local fire stations, plus a work party in the garden behind C & P Coffee – and neighborliness continues Sunday with a fundraising pancake breakfast at Hiawatha Community Center (you can go straight from there to Free Sunday Yoga at SoundYoga [WSB sponsor]). From tonight through Sunday night, more than 50 events/activities, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club, where you’ll find FREE live music and rockin’ food – like the special Valentine brunch and dinner deals next weekend: Click to read the rest of West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Super Bowl (& other games) edition…

More West Seattle help for Haiti: Bake sale, art sale, and a dress

Several more West Seattle-linked fundraisers for Haiti earthquake relief are in the works. First one is TODAY – thanks to Kristin for sharing the news of a bake sale today at the Community School of West Seattle - an idea hatched by CSWS preschoolers! Kristin writes:

It’s … from 11:45-12:30 in front of the school (22nd and Roxbury) [map] and all proceeds will go to Haiti relief efforts. The preschoolers came up with the idea during discussions of the Haiti earthquake (my daughter is in the class). It certainly isn’t a big event, but its cool for the kids to be able to do something…

And we have an update from local artist/businessperson Stephanie Hargrave (co-owner of smallclothes) about her big event next weekend – she says she has more than 30 artists signed up to contribute to the fundraising sale she’s organizing, many from West Seattle:

I’m hosting an Art Sale / Haiti Fundraiser on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14th from 11 am-6 pm at my studio located at 3234 California Avenue SW [map] in West Seattle. Anyone who would like to donate, simply give me a ring or e-mail, and by all means, forward this information along to anyone who would like to buy some art and help the earthquake victims in Haiti at the same time.

ALL proceeds will go directly to Doctors Without Borders, Partners in Health, or Mercy Corps – the art buyers will write checks to these organizations directly. My goal is to raise several thousand dollars to send off by the end of the weekend.

I’ll be selling encaustic paintings, some ceramics, and hand-made cards – other artists are donating oil and acrylic paintings, photographs, jewelry, and crafts. It should be a great selection! I’ve got painters Juan Alonso (www.juanalonso.info) and Diane Culhane on board, photographer Conrad Chavez of Brightbox Studio, and Smersh Design Jewelry!

Last but not least, we also have heard from Pepper Petersen, owner of The Pepper Boutique on Alki. She says there’s a silent auction, all proceeds to Haiti relief, as part of the art show she’s been having at Alki Starbucks this month:

“… my highest -end couture collection in the most vivid colors imaginable… It’s very beautiful… All the pieces are currently on the walls right now. But more importantly in efforts to contribute my talents in helping to fund raise money for Haiti, I worked unbelievably hard and late into the evenings to create a one of a kind couture dress in the Haitian flag colors of red and blue. It is a beautiful dress that is … hanging above the fireplace in the air from a lighting rail. You can’t miss it as you walk in the door.”

She says the retail value of the dress is $2,000 and the bids start at $500; the silent-auction card is at the store.