West Seattle Summer Fest countdown: Artistic touch-up

When you go to The Junction for West Seattle Summer Fest this Friday/Saturday/Sunday, check out what’s new at the southeast corner of California/Alaska: Visual artists from nearby Twilight Gallery have just given the vacant building a facelift:

Twilight co-proprietor Tracy Cilona explains that the work of visual artists Kristina Griffith and Larry Cyr “is part of an ongoing outreach between Twilight Gallery and Equity (Residential) to bring a creative vibrancy to that location, that enhances our community, our local businesses and features our many talented, local artists.” Tracy says the goal was to get the first round of art in place before Summer Fest, and tonight that goal was met:

She adds, “Stay tuned for more collaborations from Twilight Gallery. We have some great, creative ideas brewing to bring more local art to our unique neighborhood to keep our local businesses flourishing while we are in this transition.” (Unrelated to the art – you’re probably wondering when the two-building project at the corner is supposed to start, but after previously announced dates came and went, nothing’s been said publicly for months.)

P.S. Twilight is in charge of the Art Dive at Summer Fest again this year – look for the collection of artists/vendors and their handmade wares under the tent on California north of Oregon!

sean July 9, 2013 (6:58 am)

Thank gods someone is doing something about that blighted-looking corner. Equity Residential surely doesn’t give a damn! REITS are bad for communities.

Jetcitygirl July 9, 2013 (8:22 am)

Fabulous!
Thank you Artists & Twilight Gallery!!!!

Really a wonderful improvement to a dormant site…!

Jetcitygirl July 9, 2013 (8:23 am)

Sean- what is an REIT?

CMP July 9, 2013 (8:34 am)

It’s a Real Estate Investment Trust, which typically invest in shopping malls, apartments and large office buildings. Thanks to Twilight for making the Junction more beautiful and creative…that poor corner has been looking a little haggard over the past few months so this is much appreciated!

Cass Nevada July 9, 2013 (8:42 am)

Thanks, Twilight–fabulous!

mr. the horse July 9, 2013 (8:46 am)

Does this have the approval of the west seattle junction assoc? this looks like the kind of thing they regularly tear down.

sw July 9, 2013 (9:14 am)

Saw this in the works last night. Looks great, and I wish that there was some way to make it permanent!

DW July 9, 2013 (9:20 am)

Great stuff – but any word on when they are starting work on that corner? It’s odd that they were so gung ho to kick the tenants out if they are not going to do anything with it?

NiceOne July 9, 2013 (9:36 am)

vast improvement over the vacant, crappy looking building – nice job, Twilight! and no, the junction association would never tear this down – hell, look at all the janky “yarn art” that’s been adorning the pole right next to that building for the last 4 years, getting older, more dirty and frayed and ridiculous looking every day. the junction association doesn’t give two hot sh*ts about what the junction looks like….

enviromaven July 9, 2013 (10:14 am)

Thank you to Tracy and the Twilight folks for making such a creative and positive contribution to our community! We love you!

villagegreen July 9, 2013 (10:39 am)

NiceOne, thanks for the laugh!

Tracy July 9, 2013 (10:53 am)

Thank you for all the kind words! The Junction Association was paramount in facilitating Twilight’s involvement in this project and we thank them, the West Seattle Art Walk committee and our artists for their support. We are so happy to be a part of this community and we hope to continue to bring local art to this unique neighborhood. We wouldn’t want to be anywhere else! Happy Summerfest!

Diane July 9, 2013 (12:19 pm)

great job Susan Melrose in making this happen; long time coming
~
how many are going up prior to opening of WS Fest? are they only on that corner of the old Super Supplements, or installing art on all the windows where businesses were kicked out, on 3 blocks?