Tonight: West Seattle artist’s birthday show/party – you’re invited

By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

It’s Charles Smith’s 35th birthday; he’s an artist, his friends are artists and he wants to do something big. So , he and 350 of his closest friends will be gathering at Elysian Fields in Pioneer Square tonight to celebrate his birthday while viewing the work of eleven different artists — four of whom, including Charles, are from West Seattle – and listening to music (also including WS performers)

Charles has studied art and design internationally and currently works for Starbucks’ Technical Design Division. The bags you buy your coffee beans in are his designs—including the latest red Christmas Blend bags. The art he does in his personal life however, is very different.

His friends call him “The Tarantino of Pop Art.” Charles has shown his work in local restaurant/lounges such as Talarico’s and Mission and will have his art featured at Angelina’s in February.

It is this acceptance of his work, and the willingness of others to support him, that inspired him to create a show featuring a group of artists. “This is about sharing what was given to me when I moved here. (This show) let’s me give it back to my friends.” He also had a very clear vision of what he wanted: an amazing birthday party and an opportunity for artists. He says “Look for a lot of diversity and look to be visually challenged.” He gives credit to Elysian Fields curator Michael McGivaren for allowing this diverse group of lesser-known artists to display their works for this event.

Charles works mainly with pen and ink, acrylics and oils; works using these mediums will be featured along with works by sculptors and mosaic artists.

Featured artists from West Seattle include: Scott “Chips” W. Pietz, a sculptor who is also a construction worker and creates pieces using found objects from construction sites; photographer Erik Bell; Alejandra Escobedo, who has had her work featured in art museums in Mexico, and T.s. Pew, of whom Charles says, “His art is everywhere, you can’t avoid him!”

Besides the venue being “filled with artists I think are great,” Charles is providing entertainment; West Seattleites Shannon Sharp and Johnny Smokes, whose band Jar of Flies is a tribute band to Seattle grunge group Alice in Chains, will be performing an acoustic set for part of the evening.

As for opening a major art show in the current economy, Charles says that they were very conscious of making the artwork accessible to people: “People want good art now, at reasonable prices.” (Prices here: $50-$3,000.)

This event is free, including refreshments: 6 pm-1 am. Elysian Fields (Pioneer Square) VIP Room: 542 1st Avenue South (map)

As Charles’ invitation says: “If ya don’t come for my birthday, come for the art, if not the art, come for the drinks, either way, you’re out of excuses!!!”

7 Replies to "Tonight: West Seattle artist's birthday show/party - you're invited"

  • Xana Frost January 9, 2010 (11:53 am)

    I am so proud of my friend. He is sweet, funny, and obviously very talented. I can’t wait to see everyone together, to show their support for him !!

  • Preshe8 January 9, 2010 (12:24 pm)

    I hope for his next picture, he smiles and takes off the dark shades……Best of luck with the show……….

  • Cheryll January 9, 2010 (9:49 pm)

    Bummer I didn’t read about this sooner. Don’t know Charles, but would SO have enjoyed the art showing. I’m always looking for new (& local) art for my home. Hope you had a great birthday & I hope the artists managed to snag some new & enthusiastic collectors. :-)

  • Colby January 10, 2010 (9:43 am)

    Wow…I went to Skylark last night and saw GUNN & THE DAMAGE DONE, MEMPHIS RADIO KINGS & NATHAN WADE & THE DARK PIONEERS and wow..all three bands couldn’t be stopped. Nathan Wade topped off the night of utter guitar awesomness.

    HUGE thank you to the Skylark that puts on shows like this for no cover charge.

    • WSB January 10, 2010 (12:15 pm)

      Yup, as promoted in the lead-in to this weekend’s West Seattle Weekend Lineup, which always features the Skylark lineups for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Jessie SK and team rock in myriad ways – TR

  • Julian Garcia aka Cover Shot Images January 11, 2010 (4:14 pm)

    One word that comes to mind when I hear about Charles, “BADASS!”. He’s talented, he’s friendly, he’s always around enabling other people. I couldn’t have asked for a better friend. The party was phenomenal and for those who didn’t go, ya’ll missed out!! If I didn’t have other committments that night I would have stayed to enjoy the show and art and seeing all my ex-starbucks friends. The Venue was off the chain, the set up was very well put together and art was stuff you’ve never seen. Elysian Fields was definitely the proper choice for this event and celebration! Happy Birthday Charles, dawgs for life! Let the good times roll! 2010 baby!!

  • charles January 12, 2010 (11:47 am)

    Thanks everyone for a great time….. the event was amazing and I had a lot of support from my friends in West Seattle. The art will be hanging for a month, so check it out. I’ll be doing my next show at Angelinas next month bringing it back to the west side… Kids will eat free lot’s of inexpensive comic style work for the kids and high end fine art for the adults, more details soon!!!!

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