All-Star art and more, transforming walls south of The Junction

While Seattle basks in the Major League Baseball spotlight, we found Mariners All-Stars Julio Rodriguez and Luis Castillo on a wall south of The Junction – part of a mural in progress alongside the Rite-Aid parking lot’s north side on SW Dawson. You probably won’t be surprised to hear this is the work of prolific West Seattle muralist Desmond Hansen. But the reader tip that led us there wasn’t about that mural – it was about the art on the block-long wall along the alley on the lot/store’s west side.

Multiple artists are contributing to this one – we happened onto two of them when we walked into the alley to check it out. They told us Desmond Hansen is leading this project too and brought in other artists because there’s so much space to fill. Some of the work includes cartoon characters:

Some of it’s complete, and some is not.

We have an inquiry out to try to find out more about the genesis of the multi-artist alley project.

Vanessa July 10, 2023 (11:13 pm)

If we have to live with graffiti, at least have it worth admiring the talent.

Alki resident July 11, 2023 (1:18 am)

This is Desmond that does this work. He’s done all of the electrical boxes up and down West Seattle and much further. He’s also the son of West Seattleite Randy Hanson who also has a huge following and is well loved in the community he too grew up in. This isn’t some random rattle can graffiti.

Tracy July 11, 2023 (5:38 am)

Love it!

Beanie July 11, 2023 (7:48 am)

Very cool murals!

98126res July 11, 2023 (7:50 am)

With all respect to the artist who is talented, I would not want to live by this. Like much of the public art today, it is harsh and hard to understand what the goal is. A giant black crow, a squid, an odd ship… Get real and speak Truth.

Spencer July 11, 2023 (8:05 am)

Wow, Dexter, Dee Dee and Mandy? Haha I get the sense some of these artists have to be in their late 20s to be painting these mid-aughts cartoons. LOVE IT! 💚💚

Crazy 8 July 11, 2023 (8:43 am)

Can’t say I like graffiti of any kind…sorry

Sillygoose July 11, 2023 (8:50 am)

The alley’s in White Center have some amazing rattle can art as well. Take a walk on the wild side and check it out!!

John Reed July 11, 2023 (8:54 am)

To be honest if its legal they have a longer time to concentrate on the art instead of being worried cops are going to arrest them. so maybe graffiti should be legal. then maybe all the graffiti would be better.

Flaunt-Leroy July 11, 2023 (9:47 am)

Dexter, DeeDee, Mandy, all great cartoon characters from my childhood, love this!

April July 11, 2023 (10:21 am)

I live near this and we went to see it yesterday! It is amazing artwork and so beautiful. We need more art in this world!

sgs July 11, 2023 (11:39 am)

IMHO, the difference between graffiti and community art is that people who do community art have permission from the property owner to paint. Uninvited graffiti is not welcome on most people’s properties. Sounds like Rite Aid wants this, so great!

Brian July 12, 2023 (2:24 pm)

Desmond is the coolest dude I know

cJ July 13, 2023 (11:50 pm)

Graffiti is vandalism. This is a residential neighborhood with a pocket of commercial. Rite aid has been unwilling to address the tagging on the side of their building , which gets expensive for them, so they have abdicated to the city the responsibility for the issue. The city has data points!! so there. Desmond does fine work but the urban “art” isn’t appropriate to the hood. At the opposite end of the block the West Seattle Nursery has recently painted their wall. Humming birds and flowers!!! No one is offended by hummingbirds and flowers and it creates a pleasant environment. I don’t think this is the place to have “art” challenge your sensibilities and make you “Feel” something”.

Neighbor July 16, 2023 (3:13 pm)

I live within sight of . this mural. The Rite Aid wall has long been a graffiti target. Nothing major, and some neighbors have used their own time and paint to try to cover it when it happens. It is a perfect spot for a public art piece, with beautiful views of the sound and mountains. Had the many artists who live literally within a stone’s throw of it known it was available, they would have been happy to participate in creating something for it. In a city that looks a mess with all the paint vandalism around, I’m surprised and chagrined that this wall would be offered for more of the same. As cool and professional and prolific as Desmond may be, the piece feels loud, distopic, and out of context in the neighborhood. West Seattle has so much history and natural beauty to celebrate, great spirit and community. Public art should reflect the spirit and context of a site, especially when it interfaces with a residential community. It looks like a string of old boxcars has landed on the block, and doesn’t contribute to the vibe that the neighborhood strives for. And it looks like and invitation for vandalism.

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