(Photo courtesy Folklife: Programmers and WS residents Debbie Fant, Michelle Shaevitz, Kelli Faryar)
Going to Seattle Center for the Northwest Folklife Festival next weekend? Though it’s not happening in West Seattle, three West Seattleites are involved in making it happen, as we recently found out. One of them – Deputy Director Debbie Fant – explains:

West Seattle is really well represented at the 2013 Northwest Folklife Festival! First of all, the programming team — Kelli Faryar, Michelle Demers Shaevitz, and Debbie Fant — all live in West Seattle! And second, there are 34 groups from West Seattle performing throughout the weekend!! (Not that we’re biased — there’s just so much talent in West Seattle!)

If you’re among those Folklife performers from West Seattle (or White Center/South Park, since we cover those communities with our other two sites), please let us know (comment, or e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com) so we can include that in weekend mentions. Here’s the schedule – even if you’re not the performer, let us know if you recognize locals who are listed.

A new mural is going up right now in South Delridge – thanks to Angelina for letting us know about it. It’s part of a program called Link, bringing together high-school students and design professionals for a year of mentoring, including monthly workshops. The mural along the 85-foot facade of TAM Industries in the 9400 block of 16th SW is happening during the final LINK workshop of the school year.

The mural was designed by Terry Marks, this year’s life coach for the Link program; the artists are using “both freestyle spray painting and Banksy-type stencil techniques,” according to background information Angelina shared. We were there around noon, and they were expecting to be done by 3 or so, so we’ll be going back for an “after” shot!

(Photo courtesy Edgar Riebe)
‘WILLY WONKA JR.’: 106 Lafayette Elementary students are in the production, performing their hearts out, under the direction of Melia Scranton with choreography by Aaron Swartzmann, and you have two chances to see it at the West Seattle High School Theater – 7 pm tonight, or 7 pm tomorrow (Saturday). Tickets are free but donations are encouraged. (3000 California SW)

WOMEN, WINE, WELLNESS: Free event at 7 pm tonight at Roxbury Spine and Wellness Clinic (WSB sponsor), but you have to RSVP ASAP! Details are in our calendar listing. (2656 SW Roxbury)

MOVIE NIGHT AT HPIC: It’s this month’s free-movie night at Highland Park Improvement Club! 7 pm (doors open at 6:30) – details in the calendar listing. (12th/Holden)

PEARL DJANGO AT KENYON HALL: 7:30 pm tonight, the local legends play historic Kenyon Hall – details in the calendar listing.

SECOND-TO-LAST WEEK … to see “33 Variations” at ArtsWest. Curtain tonight: 7:30 pm. (4711 California SW)

Check the calendar for nightlife listings.

(Photos courtesy Potter Construction)
After some trouble with vandalism, the 13 1/2-foot-tall pencil sculpture that used to point skyward outside the California/Findlay offices of Potter Construction (WSB sponsor) was taken down for a while – but now it’s been refurbished and reinstalled. It used to be perpendicular to the ground, and now it’s parallel, right over the company’s front window.

The pencil was created by West Seattle artist Stephen Rock of Rock’s Studio and originally installed almost two years ago; a Potter Construction crew put it up in its new spot this morning.

As the West Seattle Community Orchestras celebrated 10 years of musicmaking with a gala concert last night at Chief Sealth International High School, there was an emotional moment before the closing singalong: WSCO co-founder Dr. Toni Reineke – leading the WSCO Intermediate Orchestra in our first clip above – announced she’s retiring from conducting:

(Her announcement was followed by the closing singalong, “Rock Around the Clock.”) As was stressed in the announcement, Dr. Reineke – whose bio is here – will remain involved with the organization she founded to give community members of all ages/abilities a chance to be involved with orchestral music. She’ll be teaching beginning winds/percussion in the fall – class information, along with how to join WSCO, is on the organization’s website.

P.S. WSCO has one more concert this season before its summer break – 7 pm June 11th, also at CSIHS, the Symphony Orchestra performs works by Schubert, Schumann, and more!

2:06 PM: Former Youngstown Cultural Arts Center director Randy Engstrom [right, above] is back at the center right now for a big city announcement regarding arts education: New money for visual-arts and music education for all students in Seattle Public Schools. Engstrom points out that arts funding is a social-justice issue as well as an important underpinning for industry. The program, he says, aligns at the district level as part of the strategic plan, as well as working with principals of all schools, “so that by junior high we haven’t left any of our students behind.” The funding, he says, comes from higher-than-expected revenue from the city admission tax from venues including the new Seattle Great Wheel; 75 percent of those taxes are supposed to go to “arts-related programming.” (The family behind the big ferris wheel has representatives here too.) The implementation will begin with the Central Pathway, says Mayor McGinn, who’s part of the announcement here too: “Arts really define Seattle as a city, too … this is a very, very exciting day,” he said. Also part of the announcement: Carri Campbell, who is the school district’s program manager of Visual & Performing Arts, and says those arts will be increased “in every single school,” and assistant superintendent Michael Tolley.

2:16 PM: “Arts education is one of the academic assurances we put in place” with the switch to neighborhood schools a few years ago, Tolley points out. In Q/A, we asked how this will be rolled out; it’ll take six years, says Campbell, and the second pathway – after Central, where this will be inaugurated – hasn’t been determined yet, so we don’t know when it will get to West Seattle schools.

3:02 PM: The event’s over; the full news release is here.

P.S. One more note – the value of arts education was touted by a Youngstown veteran, professional breakdancer Sammy Tekle, who is now a teaching artist at Orca K-8, introduced by Engstrom:

July 25th – Glenn Crytzer and his Syncopators

· “Authentic American Jazz from the Roaring 20s through the Swing Era”
· www.bluerhythmband.net
· The band has performed at jazz festivals, dances, concert series, community events and more across the U.S. and Canada, and you can find our music anywhere from a Lincoln Center concert in NYC to a swing dance in San Diego, as well as on NPR, in TV, and in film. Recent festival performances include Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night’s Swing, The Washington D.C. Lindy Exchange, The Redwood Coast Jazz Festival, The Killer Diller Ball (Seattle), and the Balboa Rendezvous (San Diego).

August 1st – The Dusty 45s

· “Rousing horns, sizzling original numbers, and if there’s a saloon in hell, the Dusty 45s will always have a place to play. Genuine talent.”
· www.dusty45s.com
· The Dusty 45s have been thrilling crowds for over a decade. The readers of the Seattle Weekly voted them “Best of Seattle” 3 years in a row. In 2007, (Billy Joe) Huels enchanted the theater crowd, starring as Buddy Holly in Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theater’s production of “The Buddy Holly Story.” With a deep discography, thousands of miles on the tour van odometer, and a committed fan base in the western U.S. and Europe, the Dusty 45s are a professional, talented band with a creative fire that burns bright.

August 8th – Impossible Bird

· “A duo that will shake your bones.”
· www.impossiblebird.com

· Dubbed “The next big musical duo” by Seattle Weekly. Nick Drummond is former front man and songwriter for the hit Seattle band “The Senate.” Tyler Carson is an internationally known fiddler/violinist most recently from “Jack Maple.” Together they have teamed up to combine their unique talents into one formidable pairing. Fiddle, guitar, voice. Welcome, to the new beginning.

August 15th – Massy Ferguson

· “American Rock Band”
· www.massyfergusonband.com
· Also known as “the People’s Band,” this roots Americana quartet combines steady, blue-collar alt-country with Southern rock and an everyman ethos that has helped it land gigs all over the world. –Seattle PI

August 22nd – Fly Moon Royalty

· “Rising Rap/Soul Duo”
· www.flymoonroyalty.com
· The combination that makes up Electro-Soul duo Fly Moon Royalty is Vocalist/Fast Talker Adra Boo and DJ/Producer/Emcee Action Jackson. Their style is soulful, but at the same time experiments with electronic textures, which makes up the backbone of their sound. Fly Moon Royalty has been compared to the Gossip, Janelle Monae, and Gnarls Barkley.

August 29th – Strong Suit

· “New Seattle super-group Strong Suit combine their influences and expertise to create beautifully-crafted guitar-heavy pop music.”
· www.facebook.com/StrongSuit
· A local-area “super-group” consisting of members from Goodness, Sweet Water, Star Anna & The Laughing Dogs, Kristen Ward, Halloqueen, Peter Frampton, etc. They recently headlined the Team McCready fundraiser event for the Wishlist Foundation in March.

Katy adds, “P.S. You’ll notice that there’s no Caspar Babypants on this year’s lineup, but families need not worry – Caspar will be performing July 19th at 12 pm at Hiawatha as part of their Kids Fun Fest.”

It’s been a big year for West Seattle High School‘s music program, especially the marching band, with two downtown parade appearances including St. Patrick’s Day, as shown in our video above. This Tuesday, you can help the program keep growing by having dinner at Abbondanza in Morgan Junction. WSHS’s first-year music teacher Ethan Thomas explains:

The West Seattle Rotary Club is hosting a dinner fundraiser at Abbondanza Pizzeria (6503 California Ave SW) to support the music program at WSHS.

Abbondanza will be donating 10% of their proceeds and Rotary Club volunteers will be waiting tables and donating their tips.

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, May 14th, and come out and support our young musicians. The restaurant will be open from 5-9 pm.

If you were in the Morgan Junction vicinity on Saturday, you might have noticed some early activity around the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) on Saturday. Hours before its usual 4 pm opening, the Feedback played host to the first-ever music-video shoot for the rising local band Daughters of the Dead Sea – from left, below, Jen, Iris, and Mia:

They were shooting the video for “Trophy,” a “newly recorded, unreleased song” that they tell us “will be featured on a split 7″ with The Heels later this summer, along with another new track, ‘Little Heart.’ ‘Trophy’ is a two and a half minute number that we fondly refer to as our kick-ass punk-rock ‘love song.’ This marks our first-ever music video release and is set to be released early this summer. The 7″ will be the first recordings that the Daughters have released since debut EP The Killroom Sessions back in October 2012.” That one was a hit, the band’s bio info points out – debuting at #1 on local charts including Easy Street Records and voted 2012′s #1 record by Nadamucho.com.

Not to rush things along – but suddenly it’s May, and even summer’s big events are in view – like the West Seattle Junction Association-presented West Seattle Summer Fest (with WSB among the co-sponsors again this year). If you’re an artist/craftsperson and would like to be part of the Art Dive at Summer Fest, Twilight Gallery and Boutique is organizing it again this year, and is calling for applications:

Calling all local artists, craft vendors, upcyclers, jewelers, product makers, etc, etc. This is your weekend festival on the WEST SIDE!

2013 FESTIVAL DATES ARE HERE: (different than the deadline)
Friday, July 12, 10 am – 6 pm
Saturday, July 13, 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday, July 14, 11 am – 5 pm

ABOUT ART DIVE:

Art Dive is an artist flea market housed within Summer Fest. Art Dive consists of dozens of artists and crafts people selling goods to the public. Art Dive is sponsored by Twilight Gallery & Boutique.

Details continue ahead, along with the application link:

Art Dive tables are 8′x2′ and cost $125 each for this three-day event. If you would like to be a part of Art Dive please review our list of qualifications and fill out this form. You will be required to pay a $20, non-refundable application fee. We will confirm your participation in ART DIVE within two weeks! Submission of an application does not assure you a space in the festival.

QUALIFICATIONS:
You must be selling goods made by you in the United States.
You must participate all three days during all vending hours.
You cannot take up more space than is allotted to you.
You cannot purchase more than two spots.

All transactions are direct between you and the customer, we do not process sales for you.
We do not take a percentage of your sales.

If you have questions about ART DIVE, please email info@twilightart.net

and THANK YOU!!!

SUBMISSION FORM IS HERE:
twilightartistcollective.wufoo.com/forms/art-dive-west-seattle-summerfest-2013/

FB is here:
facebook.com/events/505343666182180

WSMA accepts students of almost any age, child or adult (no baby classes as of yet). Many students join us at a very young age and stay on through elementary, middle and high school. Adult students are welcome as from-scratch beginners or to pick up where they left off.

We currently offer lessons in VOICE, GUITAR, BASS, SAXOPHONE, CLARINET, FLUTE, VIOLIN, BRASS and PIANO.

Our summer classes include: ROCK BAND (various levels), GIRL BAND (various levels), RHYTHM GROUP, JAZZ ENSEMBLE, PRE-SCHOOL MUSIC (3-4 yr olds).

Our staff includes: Katie Voss (piano), Matt Benham (guitar), Aaron Jenkins (woodwinds), Birch Pereira (bass,piano, guitar), Nouela Johnston (piano), Heidi Fivash (piano), Coreena Brown (voice), Chara Hokama (violin), Cami MacDonald (piano), Cameron Sharif (piano), Eric Junge (piano), Scott Morning (trumpet), and additional staff for summer classes. Stephanie Hargrave is our trusty office manager. She will help you find just the right teacher to fit your style.

Also in our building at 4214 SW Dakota is Great Start Preschool! Both West Side Music Academy – 206-937-2343 – and Great Start Preschool – 206-779-5299 – encourage you to give us a call and set up an appointment for a free introductory lesson! We look forward to meeting you.

We thank West Side Music Academy for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

This year marks the 10th Anniversary for the West Seattle Community Orchestras (WSCO). They will hold a celebration concert on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium, 2600 SW Thistle St.

For the first time all three orchestras will be performing in one program. In addition WSCO reveals a rare and special treat performed by cello players in all three orchestra groups. Guest conductor Rob Duisberg leads this wonderful Cello Choir, performing Also sprach Zarathustra, R. Strauss, arranged by Flaherty and Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye and Halsey.

Concert will begin at 6:30 PM. Admission is free and open to the public. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated. All proceeds will benefit free membership for student musicians grades K-12.

The orchestra was founded by Dr. Toni Reineke ten years ago with just 16 student musicians, to give them an opportunity to participate in a full symphony orchestra. Adult musicians were invited to mentor and then perform with the students. The popularity of the intergenerational setting has led the growth to orchestras at three levels, as well as the addition of adult beginners’ classes to accommodate all the interested musicians. Dr. Reineke, who now conducts the Intermediate Orchestra and leads the Adult Beginning Winds classes, expresses astonishment at the growth. “When we began ten years ago, we did not dream it would grow this large and successful.”

WSCO is a unique intergenerational group of three orchestras including the Debut Orchestra for beginning players, an Intermediate Orchestra, and a Symphony for community members and more experienced students. In total 190 musicians take part in the making of music, 100 of them from third grade through high school.

Each week, professional coaching is provided for string students by the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra (SYSO) through a generous grant from the Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs.

For more information or sponsorship opportunities, please visit: www.WSCOrchestras.org

(Another aerial angle of West Seattle photographed this past week by Long Bach Nguyen)
If you can communicate your love for West Seattle through art, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society is looking for you. The announcement from executive director Clay Eals explains:

Calling local artists for our first annual design to celebrate West Seattle!

Are you a local artist with a passion for the Duwamish peninsula? The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is planning a project right up your alley.

The historical society is looking for a design that will celebrate West Seattle in all its glory in 2013. The theme could be history, nature, wildlife, individuality or attitude. The only limitation is that somehow it must “say” West Seattle.

“However you see this unique corner of the world in which we have the good fortune to spend time, we would love to see your version of that and perhaps select it to use on a limited-edition piece – a poster, bag, whatever – that would be offered for sale through our Log House Museum,” says volunteer Amanda Gilbert.

The vision is for this to become an annual undertaking, with a different design featured each year.

Interested? Here’s where to start.

(Side note: The SWSHS’s Log House Museum is hosting one of the 280+ sales that’ll be on the map for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day on May 11th!)

(Trailer for “Clutch”)
West Seattle’s historic Admiral Theater (whose future plans were reported here earlier this week) hosts special events from time to time – like this: On June 29th, a movie titled “Clutch” will have its official public premiere at The Admiral – of special significance because its writer/director/star, Jay Rowlands, grew up in West Seattle and still lives here.

“Clutch” is billed as a “dramatic action film that tells the story of a struggling small-town racer who finds out there are no shortcuts to victory lane.” The filmmaker knows firsthand about the lack of shortcuts; he’s been working on the film for more than a decade. Along with a “100 percent Northwest cast and crew,” the film includes a lineup likely to rev classic-car lovers’ motors, as described in media materials:

Over 150 vehicles were selected for filming in CLUTCH. More than half were highly coveted muscle cars, including “car stars” a 1967 Camaro Z/28 SCCA road race car, a 1969 Camaro RS/ Z/28 and a 1972 Oldsmobille Cutlass, driven by Rowlands’ co-star. A 1969 Charger, a 1966 Ford GT40, Shelby Cobras, Mustangs and many others made appearances. The vehicles, ranging from a $750,000 1969 Penske Camaro road-race car to an $8,000 1968 Camaro stunt car, total more than $5.5 million.

Tickets for the premiere are already on sale on the movie’s official website – clutchthemovie.com. And next weekend, 9 am Saturday and Sunday (May 4-5), watch for Jay on the SPIKE (channel 57 on Comcast cable) network show PowerBlock TV next Friday and Saturday (May 4-5), talking about “Clutch.”

Thanks to Emily for sharing the photo from Friday night’s “Jumpin’ Jive” fundraiser: “It was a fun evening filled with LOTS of jazz music, swing dancing, and good food and fun ….all at West Seattle’s Madison Middle School!” Musicians included the West Seattle Big Band (onstage in the photo) as well as Madison’s Senior Band, Orchestra, and Jazz Bands.