WEST SEATTLE ART: Desmond Hansen’s newest signal-box tribute

Just noticed this one while headed out on an errand – Ray Charles, painted by Desmond Hansen on the cabinet at the northwest corner of 35th/Thistle. Unless we’ve missed one, this is the first one we’ve heard about since these two months ago.

26 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE ART: Desmond Hansen's newest signal-box tribute"

  • markinthedark November 8, 2019 (11:02 am)

    That’s awesome. He moved to Seattle at 16 and started his musical career here.

    • WSB November 8, 2019 (11:46 am)

      Thanks for pointing that out! I didn’t know that. But here it is:

      https://www.historylink.org/File/5707

    • ACG November 8, 2019 (12:17 pm)

      I didn’t know that either!  I really like Desmond’s transformations of these boxes!

  • dsa November 8, 2019 (12:18 pm)

    3D effect, looks great

  • m November 8, 2019 (12:35 pm)

    Thank you, Desmond, for another great showing of your work!

  • emcat8 November 8, 2019 (12:44 pm)

    I drove by this while he was putting the finishing touches on, and if there hadn’t been cars behind me, would have slowed down for a “woo-hoo!” out the window. It looks really vibrant!

  • ktrapp November 8, 2019 (12:51 pm)

    Hah!  I walk by there every morning and did a double-take myself when I saw it.  I even made a mental note to see if I could find any previous info on the Blog, as I then started to wonder if maybe I just hadn’t noticed it until now.

    • WSB November 8, 2019 (1:18 pm)

      We are not far from there so we go through that intersection pretty much daily and I’m surprised we didn’t see the work in progress. I checked his Instagram feed to verify, and his post about it was timestamped yesterday pm.

  • KD November 8, 2019 (1:56 pm)

    Such a treasure us in WSea are to have you and your talents. How about Quincy Jones and Nes Rodriguez??

    • WSB November 8, 2019 (2:09 pm)

      He painted Quincy Jones on a box outside West Seattle but – I noticed this while checking his Instagram page before publishing this – apparently had to move it, new location TBA.

  • Desmond November 8, 2019 (2:18 pm)

    Thanks, everybody. I’ll be repainting Quincy Jones soon. I appreciate all the love. I need help brainstorming ideas for female Seattle based icons to run past SDOT for new locations. Animals too.

    • odroku November 8, 2019 (2:49 pm)

      non-native here, but a few come to mind: NANCY PEARL, Octavia E. Butler lived here (okay, Lake Forest Park) at the end of her life & she is a legend, Gypsy Rose Lee, Frances Farmer, Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe, Carrie Brownstein, and Carol Channing

    • Marty2 November 8, 2019 (2:52 pm)

      Always enjoy seeing your work around West Seattle, especially when I notice a new one.  Thanks Desmond!

    • sbre November 8, 2019 (4:42 pm)

      “Seattle Slew”Geddie-up little doggie…

    • Seriously? November 8, 2019 (7:37 pm)

      As far as animals: The West Seattle Turkey or Sasquatch

  • Ted November 8, 2019 (3:05 pm)

    Thank you so much for brightening everyone’s day!

  • Graciano November 8, 2019 (3:31 pm)

    I know Terry Kath wasn’t from around here but he was a brilliant guitarist and singer and was always compared to as the “White Ray Charles” too bad you couldn’t put him near Ray!

  • dsa November 8, 2019 (4:10 pm)

    Save one for Dyan Cannon, lived in WS and a West Seattle HS student.

  • DadBod November 8, 2019 (5:41 pm)

    Yay.Another male musician represented.Awesome.

    • Desmond November 9, 2019 (7:44 pm)

      I have a whole list of females on the way. Don’t worry my friend. I’ll have every walk of life covered here soon by the multiples. If you want you can help me add to the list of iconic women like everyone else has been. yay. 

  • RynO November 9, 2019 (6:50 am)

    The turkey!!! JP Patches & Gertrude – ? Bertha Knight Landes

  • Norskgirl November 9, 2019 (10:14 am)

    Ivar Haglund, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Princess Angeline (Chief Seattle’s daughter) are some ideas. Thanks for your artwork and interesting/entertaining contribution to the city. 

    • Desmond November 9, 2019 (7:35 pm)

      I did Ann and Nancy. Thanks for your help.

      • Seriously? November 10, 2019 (6:55 am)

        Is there a map of your work available? This would be a neat walking tour for out of town guests – and local walkers who like to explore (✷‿✷)

  • RynoO November 12, 2019 (12:16 pm)

    Tuba man :)

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