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West Seattle schools: Opening night for Lafayette play
March 8, 2012 1:03 am
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

(Photos courtesy Edgar Riebe)
Wednesday night, about 100 third- through fifth-graders from Lafayette Elementary debuted in this year’s school play, “The Wartville Wizard,” at nearby West Seattle High School Theater. The school bulletin describes it as “a story about littering and how
one wizard takes care of the problem,” adapted from a book by Don Madden. The title role is played by Leo Schuehle:

“The Wartville Wizard” will be performed three more times – once for the school, twice for general audiences (Friday and Saturday at 7 pm).

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West Seattle meeting March 29th for public schools ‘arts plan’
February 28, 2012 2:36 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

West Seattle will be the site of one of five meetings just announced regarding creating a “comprehensive arts plan” for Seattle Public Schools. The local meeting is at 6:30 pm Thursday, March 29th, at Chief Sealth International High School. Read on for the full announcement of what the district is hoping to do:Read More

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Web comedy series ‘Local Brew’ pours local humor
February 22, 2012 8:23 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Heard of the new Seattle online comedy video series “Local Brew“? We hadn’t till a week ago, when their clips were used between presentations at the Seattle Metro Chamber of Commerce‘s “IN-NW” conference. Just before a panel including your editor here was introduced, a bit of peninsula-aimed humor turned up on the conference stage’s bigscreen. We asked the “Local Brew” folks if it were available online so we could share; it wasn’t then, but it is now, as part of their “third episode.” We’ve coded the clip above to start with the short-short segment. You can see more of the team’s work (a bit in the spirit of “Almost Live!” though we suspect they hear that ALL the time) at localbrew.com. (We can’t find their “about us” page but Crosscut wrote about them last month.)

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Art under the bridge: What’ll be beneath the Spokane St. Viaduct
February 20, 2012 5:50 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

While at SDOT headquarters downtown two weeks ago to discuss the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project, now in its final months (our story’s here), they mentioned that they would soon be able to share renderings for the art to be included in the work, part of the SDOT Art Plan, which in turn is part of the city’s “1% for art” rule. And here’s a peek:

Project manager Stuart Goldsmith explains:

>Merge Conceptual Design (Franka Diehnelt and Claudia Reisenberger) out of Santa Monica, CA will install a colorful paint treatment for a large number of concrete columns under the Spokane St. Viaduct between East Marginal Way and Fifth Ave. The design will treat much of the space under the viaduct as one artwork; changing the atmosphere and enlivening the space, creating distinct zones to help with orientation, and creating a strong identity that can be experienced by a diversity of user groups.

The artists will create eight different zones, each featuring its own color scheme and iconic imagery. Every zone will focus on a narrative related to neighborhood history or contemporary uses. Each narrative will be “told” using graphic icons and barcode patterns that reference aspects of the neighborhood.

The art work will be one of the final components completed along the westbound surface-level Spokane Street before it reopens as the project finishes up this summer. The artists were chosen almost three years ago – as noted in this city newsletter – from among more than 200 applicants.

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Local café seeks local artists: Chaco Canyon’s invitation
February 20, 2012 4:37 pm
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 |   Triangle | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

The folks at Chaco Canyon Café, the organic vegetarian/vegan restaurant at Link (WSB sponsor) in The Triangle, are inviting artists to come show their stuff. Here’s the invitation we were asked to share:

Call to West Seattle Artists! Chaco Canyon Café is looking for your art to display on our walls!

Criteria:
1. West Seattle and White Center artists preferred.
2. Paintings preferred and we welcome pieces with a bright and vibrant color palette.
3. Artists must be willing to keep their work here for a minimum of 6 months and to host at least one Art Walk event during that period.
4. Have approx. 12 large pieces, or an equivalent number of small or medium pieces available for display.
5. Have all work neatly and appropriately framed with the ability to hang from a single hook provided.
6. Be ready and able to put up art during the week of March 19th.

For those interested, please e-mail photographs of your works to anise@chacocanyoncafe.com. We hope to come to a decision by the beginning of March.

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Launch party for The West: ‘West Seattle people supporting West Seattle arts’
February 19, 2012 11:16 am
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 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Story, photos, and video by Stephanie Chacharon
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Disclaimer: The contents of this evening included profanity, alcohol, and ear-ringing chords.

It was a party with prologues: WSB first covered the kickoff for the new arts-advocacy organization The West in November, and on Thursday previewed the posse’s society debut, which happened last night, as The West galloped in to the West Seattle Eagles Aerie, partially removing its veil of mystery.

I followed a fresh trail of cigarette smoke, black leather, cowboy hats, and flyers directing attendees to the Aerie’s back door. Welcome to The West.

Walk through the door to be welcomed by an instant treat: West Seattle’s own DJ Cherry Canoe.

She set the stage for the evening, both with her turntables and with her hoots of delight as neighbors and friends passed her booth.

Hang your coat by the door, and enter a controlled chaos of light, fog, chatter, and a steady hum of expectation. Open bar in the back, free drinks in exchange for the hope of a donation.

The room was a mix of ages, styles, and reasons for being there. This was The West — for now, at least.

Everyone present echoed a common theme: “We didn’t know what to expect … but this party rocks!”

The live music kicked off with Jordan Cook of Reignwolf:

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Video: Damien Jurado’s ‘full circle’ performance @ Easy Street
February 18, 2012 8:49 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

As Damien Jurado performed a free in-store set at Easy Street Records in West Seattle this evening, the art on his guitar seemed particularly appropriate:

He had told the Easy Street crowd that “home” for him was, once upon a time, about a block from The Junction’s iconic music store – and that the songs on his new album “Maraqopa” were written there, so this appearance was like “coming full circle.” The first one, “Nothing Is the News,” starts about 2 minutes into our clip, which caught the back half of another song, plus his explanation of “Nothing …”:

After his set, Easy Street proprietor Matt Vaughan told the audience his store was the only place in the world Jurado’s album was on sale – at the moment (it’ll be officially released next Tuesday):

And certainly the only place anyone could get one autographed tonight! Jurado also lists nearby White Center as a former residence, though now he is based in Shoreline.

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Saturday night, ‘The West’ rides into the West Seattle sunrise
February 17, 2012 9:58 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

When last we checked in with “The West,” it was a concept galloping around a mixer upstairs at Mission three months ago.

Tomorrow night, The West rides out of the stable and into the spotlight. Or might we say, instead of the classic “riding into the sunset” Western metaphor, rides into the sunrise.

If you hang out on Facebook or Twitter, you might have seen the mysterious hints…

What’s been said publicly so far is that tomorrow night’s invitation-only event is at the West Seattle Eagles Aerie in The Junction, and will feature live music. But what’s The West about? We managed to cajole an advance interview out of two people from the core group – Lora Swift from Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) and Swift Media Solutions, and Oliver Little from The Workshop. Lora’s had a high profile not just for her businesses but for organizing popular events such as West Seattle Outdoor Movies and leading the West Seattle Art Walk behind-the-scenes group for quite some time (recently handed over to Twilight Artist Collective). As for Oliver – some of West Seattle’s biggest events wouldn’t have happened without him behind the scenes. Summer Fest, for example.

So if these are representatives of The West, you start to get the idea the group is ready to make things happen. Indeed, that’s where this is going.Read More

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West Seattle schools: 2 Madison musicians to All-State
February 17, 2012 8:14 am
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

We stopped by Madison Middle School on Thursday afternoon for orchestra members’ quick command performance of the Beatles classic “Eleanor Rigby,” after hearing from Madison music director Clark Bathum, who had big news about two of his musicians:

Congratulations to Lauren Estep (viola) and Caroline May (violin), who will perform with the Washington Junior All-State Orchestra at the Washington Music Educators Conference in Yakima this weekend. After a highly competitive audition in the fall, both were selected to join other top musicians from around the state. This is Caroline’s first selection to the group. Lauren was selected to the All-Northwest orchestra last year. Both girls are looking forward to the performance this weekend and are really excited about getting to travel and play together. The staff and students at Madison are really proud of Lauren and Caroline and wish them the best of luck.

In our video, Caroline is at left, Lauren at center, with Samantha Bushman , violin (2nd from left), Annabel Foucault, bass (2nd from right), and Madelyn Hollister, cello (right).

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Ticket time for West Seattle Community Orchestras’ 2nd annual gala
February 17, 2012 1:57 am
|    Comments Off on Ticket time for West Seattle Community Orchestras’ 2nd annual gala
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Tickets are now on sale for the second annual gala benefiting the West Seattle Community Orchestras. This year, it’ll be at Highland Park Improvement Club, 6:30-9 pm on March 10th. Musicians from all three of WSCO’s orchestras (“all ages and abilities”) will perform, and a silent auction is planned, along with a “smorgasbord dinner.” You can buy tickets online now; they’re $20 till March 1st, when the price goes up to $25. Go here to buy yours (that link is also where you’ll find the form to donate an item to the silent auction).

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Want to learn Chinese? Hang out ‘on the Corner’
February 15, 2012 3:08 pm
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 |   Puget Ridge | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Using a concept that originated in China, where people would gather in park corners or on street corners to practice their English, the Seattle Chinese Garden on the north side of the South Seattle Community College campus is hosting a series of “corner” gatherings to teach Chinese language and culture.

The first one is tomorrow.

According to Julia Freimund, program director of the Seattle Chinese Garden, this series is a collaboration between the garden, Chinese Language Teachers of Washington, The Confucius Institute of Washington and Chief Sealth International High School. Instructors from each organization (Freimund, Chunman Gissing, Donna Tang, in photo at right, and Pollyanna Wang, who took the photo) have been creating a curriculum meant to teach Chinese culture and language in a fun, hands-on way.

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West Seattle man performs with Pacific NW Ballet – without dancing
February 12, 2012 1:30 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | WS culture/arts

Story and photo by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

The baristas at Bird On A Wire Espresso probably know Allen Galli better than the average Seattleite, but this actor and West Seattle resident is getting national attention for his role as “Sancho Panza” in Pacific Northwest Ballet’s current production of “Don Quixote,” which wraps with a 7 pm performance tonight.

The attention is due to this production’s unique concept and staging by international dance superstar Alexei Ratmansky. What’s unique about this ballet is that two of the main characters: Don Quixote, played by Tom Skerritt, and Galli’s Sancho Panza, don’t dance. Or speak. Allen Galli does however, get thrown into the air.

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West Seattle weekend scenes: Denny/Sealth’s ‘Soul Jambalaya’
February 12, 2012 4:51 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle weekend scenes: Denny/Sealth’s ‘Soul Jambalaya’
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

(Photos courtesy Jeff Clark)
It was the most star-studded slate of music in West Seattle this weekend – and it was a hit, reports Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark:

The Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School Soul Jambalaya Concert was a big success! The students and special guests provided an amazing evening filled with the rich sounds of Jazz, Gospel, Blues, and Reggae. Another fantastic event made possible thanks to the dedication of Mr. Marcus Pimpleton!

Above, jazz musicians from Denny; next, their counterparts from Sealth:

Next, reggae veteran Clinton Fearon (whose upcoming gigs are listed here):

And here’s Septimus:

The Total Experience Gospel Choir performed as well. While the show was free, donations were accepted for the student music programs, which have some high-profile events ahead, as you can see on their online calendar.

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West Seattle businesses: What’s up in the former Petco space
February 10, 2012 2:47 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(Jason Rudolph with the inner workings of “Dook Larue,” the animatronic drummer of “Rock-afire Explosion“)
Story and photos by Katie Meyer
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

If you’ve noticed recent activity inside the former Petco space in the Junction – Doug did, and tipped us off – here’s what we have found out:

Local resident and West Seattle business owner Jason Rudolph is currently renting the space for an indefinite amount of time to add additional staff for his technology company, Sound Advertising Group. It also gives him the room to work on “a little project that we’re doing just for fun – and if the community enjoys them, that makes it so much better!”

The project is the restoration of a 1980s animatronic band called the Rock-afire Explosion, formerly installed in a Showbiz Pizza restaurant.

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West Seattle schools: ‘Seussical The Musical’ at Alki Elementary
February 9, 2012 9:44 am
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

(Nikolai Siguenza as the Cat in the Hat, Ian Gesellchen as Horton, Jovanna Barron as Sour Kangaroo)
Thanks to Alki Elementary parents for sharing dress-rehearsal photos (both taken by John Hinkey) from the big show that students are about to present: “Seussical The Musical!” 7 pm tomorrow and 2 pm Saturday, at the West Seattle High School Theater – and we’re told there aren’t too many tickets left!

So if you want to cheer on all those local kids who’ve worked hard to put on a show (not to mention parents/volunteers/staff), find your ticket info on the official poster/flyer.

P.S. We know it’s play/musical season for many schools, so if yours isn’t on our Events calendar yet, please send the info! Thanks!

FRIDAY MORNING UPDATE: As noted in comments, both “Seussical” shows are now sold out.

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‘Soul Jambalaya’: Musical celebration this Saturday @ Sealth
February 8, 2012 7:42 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

Last year, we called it a “talent feast” – a powerful lineup of music, by musicians of all ages, including Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School, under the banner “Soul Jambalaya.” This coming Saturday night, it’s happening again, with many performers from last year returning (including reggae veteran Clinton Fearon, seen above in one of our video clips from the 2011 event). Here’s the invitation from award-winning Denny/Sealth music master Marcus Pimpleton:

Please join music students of Chief Sealth International HS and Denny International MS for our annual Black History month celebration. The event takes place Saturday, February 11th, at 7 pm.

This concert affectionately titled Soul Jambalaya is a musical mélange of gospel, jazz, blues, funk, and reggae in celebration of the influence of black people to the musical landscape of America. The night will feature performances by the Total Experience Gospel Choir, Jamaican reggae singer Clinton Fearon, Septimus, The Chief Sealth International High School Jazz I, and the Denny International Middle School Jazz Band.

The event is free and open to the public, but donations will be accepted to offset costs associated with travel costs for the Denny and Sealth Jazz Ensembles. I assure you this will be one of your favorite school events of the year. Clinton Fearon’s voice is so rich and the Total Experience Gospel Choir is stirring.

It’s in the Sealth auditorium at 2600 SW Thistle.

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West Seattle schools: Author Katherine Schlick Noe visits WSHS
February 6, 2012 6:35 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

(From left, Katherine Schlick-Noe and students Katherine “Kit” Hall, Taylor Chapman, Andres Acevedo)
On any given day, you never know who you will see at a local school. Special-education teacher Paula Tortorice‘s Language Arts class at West Seattle High School hosted a local author today. Dr. Katherine Schlick Noe is the author of “Something to Hold,” which does a turnabout on the topic of discrimination. Tortorice explains that the book is written from the perspective of “Kitty,” a white girl who with her family moves to the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in central Oregon, and that the book also explores topics including bullying. She says Dr. Schlick Noe showed a PowerPoint presentation featuring many of the places in the story, answered students’ questions, and listened to their opinions about “Something to Hold.” During their study of the book, they wrote about it and drew posters depicting “what they thought their favorite scenes in the book might look like,” Tortorice says. (In addition to being a writer, Dr. Schlick Noe is a professor at Seattle University.)

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4 weeks left to enter West Seattle Garden Tour poster-art contest
February 5, 2012 1:24 pm
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 |   Gardening | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

The West Seattle Garden Tour is putting out one last call to local artists – deadline for their contest for the art on this year’s Garden Tour poster is just four weeks away, March 3rd. What they’re looking for: “Artwork content should be an interpretation of the WSGT’s theme ‘The Art of Gardening‘ focusing on color, design and texture in the garden.” The rest of the guidelines, the rules, and the entry form are all on the WSGT website; the winner gets $500, and the top 10 entries will be shown during the May edition of the West Seattle Art Walk. (Speaking of which, this month’s edition is coming up Thursday!) The Garden Tour itself happens this year on July 15th, and WSB is proud to be among the co-sponsors again this year. (Photo from July 2011 WSGT, by Tina Doherty)

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West Seattle youth work with Manhattan Dance Project @ Youngstown
February 4, 2012 8:24 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Youngstown Cultural Arts Center is a hotbed of dance these days. Before too much more time elapses, we wanted to make mention of a big event from last weekend that still has people talking – young local dancers filling the center during a two-day visit by the Manhattan Dance Project, a touring program with professional dancers coming to town to work with youth. Youngstown’s Margaret Way reported, “My rough estimates, there must have been 75 – 100 youth taking classes in everything from ballet to jazz, tap to hip hop. The youth were from all around the area and were mainly connected with various local schools of dance.” One of them was the legendary Kathy’s Studio of Dance in The Junction, whose Miss Kathy shared photos with us (thank you!) – the senior company, above, and a group shot here:

Margaret says the Manhattan Dance Project has “fallen in love with our venue and have already penciled in their dates for their Seattle tour in 2013 right here at Youngstown!”

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Video: Year of the Dragon welcomed at Vietnamese Cultural Center
January 28, 2012 7:05 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

The Vietnamese Cultural Center in West Seattle welcomes visitors every Saturday afternoon (noon-3 pm), but this afternoon was special – a New Year celebration, with lion dance and firecrackers, as you can see (and hear!) in our video, welcoming the Year of the Dragon. Before their fiery performance, members of the Au Lac Vovinam Lion Dance Team – based in High Point, not far from the Vietnamese Cultural Center – gathered to prepare:

This was a busy day for the team; they also performed at a shop in White Center (as reported on our partner site White Center Now). Awaiting their appearance in West Seattle were spectators including veterans who fought for Vietnam’s freedom and are fixtures at the center’s events:

Two weeks ago, the Cultural Center dedicated a new monument to fallen heroes. And in the background of this photo taken during the dance, you can see both the statue of 13th-century hero General Tran Hung Dao, and the new structure built nearby to complement the statue.

It was under construction when we covered last year’s New Year celebration. You’re invited to visit the center next (or any) Saturday, noon-3 pm, 2236 SW Orchard.

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Super String Saturday! Young musicians’ showcase coming up
January 22, 2012 7:26 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

Come celebrate young musicians and the artists who have been mentoring them! Next Saturday is Super String Saturday in south West Seattle – here’s the official announcement:

On Saturday January 28 from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. young violin, viola, cello and bass players from South West Seattle schools will fill the Chief Sealth High School auditorium with the sound of their hard work and dedication. The second annual South West Seattle Super String Saturday showcases elementary and middle school string players who have been working with professional string musicians hired by the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras in their instrumental music classes. These musician “coaches” lead small group and individualized instruction to deepen the quality of the students’ musical skills. Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras (SYSO) provides the coaches free to the following schools: Concord, Roxhill, Sanislo, Arbor Heights, Gatewood, and Highland Park elementary schools and Denny International Middle School.

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West Seattle snow: The ‘Snow Goddess’ of 35th SW
January 16, 2012 10:49 am
|      33 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather | WS culture/arts

Nick Worsford sent us the photo last night and took credit for what he calls the “Snow Goddess.” She’s topless, headless, and on 35th SW. This being a G-rated site, we didn’t just add it into the middle of our photo roundups, but here in a standalone item, you can choose to click ahead, if you haven’t driven by and done a double take already:Read More

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West Seattle High School student’s poetic moment at Benaroya
January 13, 2012 2:10 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

Word is just getting out about an achievement by a young poet at West Seattle High School. Freshman Charli Elliott read one of her poems at a Seattle Arts and Lectures poetry event at Benaroya Hall in December. The headliner was award-winning poet Terrance Hayes, in the next photo with Charli, who read a poem inspired by his work.

WSHS shared it with us, to share with you:

Freedom of Speech
by Charli Elliott

I want to always rise to the
Challenge. I want to never sit alone.
I want to learn to talk and be heard.

I want to watch as the grass grows
Old and dies. Month after month. Year after year.

I want to see. If the moon can rise
Every night, I want the taste
Of freedom on the tip of my tongue

I want to touch you, dance with you on
A cloud made of light. I want to lose myself

In the labyrinth and rolling waves
Of your eyes. I want to free myself
Of hate. I want to be free from the shackles of freedom.

I want to be free, and free of freedom,
With its cold irons clasped on your wrists. Its

Frenzied thoughts, its open plains, and definition
Tied neatly with a bow. I want to be free of
Words without meaning and listlessness. My anger,

My loss and apologies, my doubt.
If the rain can cleanse the earth

I want a fresh soul. I want the stones wisdom
And the earth’s flexibility. I want the lights
Ubiquity, but not its invisible touch

I want the reliance of the sun, but not its fury.
I want the strength of the universe. I want to search

The rolling hills of elsewhere and find
You there. I want the tips of your fingers

In the small of my back. I want to be the tree
But not the leaves. I do not want to be the grass
I do not want to be the dew covered spider web,

Or the spider. When I leave this body
I want to be sheer power. I want to have a voice.

(Charli’s proud mom, by the way, is Sonya Elliott, who coaches her and other athletes on the WSHS girls’ basketball team, and is also a writer.)

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