By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Back in May, the call went out for a new West Seattle Art Walk director, to transform the year-round, peninsula-wide event – from a volunteer-powered WS Junction Association side project into a standalone nonprofit.

Now, the new director is in place: Mia Manzulli. And you can meet her during the September Art Walk tomorrow night. In advance of that, we sat down with her to talk about what’s ahead.

The West Seattle Art Walk dates back at least 17 years – we found a mention of “revived” art walks organized by Junction businesses in fall 2006. The basic current premise is simple – businesses stay open late on the second Thursday evening each month, hosting an art display, often with the artist there to talk with visitors. The Art Walk is enhanced by participating food/beverage venues offering specials that night. Participating venues sign up quarterly.

The longtime West Seattle Art Walk coordinator is Reeve Washburn, who will join Mia at Thursday night’s meet-and-greet. They’re working together until September 30th, and then Mia goes solo.

She’s an East Coast native who’s lived in West Seattle for a year, moving here with her husband because of his job. They have family on the West Coast and have settled in comfortably. “It feels like we’re finally home!”

Her background is in teaching, writing, and editing, but she has art chops, working as an art coordinator at schools, working with visual-arts programs. Having enjoyed that kind of work, she thought the Art Walk role “looked really interesting.” It’s an opportunity to not only make that transition into a nonprofit organization happen, but also potentially to fold in other events under the same umbrella, for example, the West Seattle Art Hop.

During their transition work together, Mia and Reeve have met with other Art Walk organizers around the city, and she says that was enlightening in an unexpected way – they learned that the West Seattle Art Walk already has more organizational strengths, such as the “library” of artists that businesses can contact as potential exhibitors, rather than constantly launching their own searches. That also results in an array of potential poster art from which to choose each quarter. “Other art walks don’t have that.” And the West Seattle Art Walk doesn’t have to scrounge for participants – businesses often reach out to them, expressing interest in being part of it. “That says a lot about the community here,” Mia observed. “So many artists here, so much potential.”

What’s she going to tackle first, on the path to Art Walk transformation and growth? “Signage and wayfinding – people don’t necessarily know who’s where, or even that the Art Walk is happening.” So consistent signage for participating venues will be a step toward that. Rethinking the Art Walk map will be another step. Right now there are paper maps printed well in advance, not reflecting last-minute changes. “We’ve got to think about the map as an app – get it to be more useful, interactive, tech-savvy.” A bit of website streamlining is likely, too.

Going back to her roots in education, she would like to see more youth involvement in the Art Walk, from student exhibitors to improved connections with schools. She welcomes new volunteers, too – roles include photography and neighborhood coordination. (By the way, as noted when recruiting began, her job is a volunteer position for starters, too.)

And she would love to hear your ideas. Thursday night’s meet-and-greet is one opportunity – you’ll find Mia and Reeve at Verity Credit Union (4505 California SW) 5 pm-8 pm. If you can’t catch up with them then, you can email Mia with your thoughts, volunteering inquiries, etc. – mia@wsartwalk.org.

Most importantly – she hopes you’ll just get out on Art Walk night and explore! The new director says the Art Walk’s value is in supporting artists and getting people into local businesses, “making supporting businesses part of your daily experience.”

This month’s West Seattle Art Walk, coming up Thursday (September 14th), again features The Art of Music, this time with two free mini-concerts.

That’s Trevor Ras, who will perform at Welcome Road Winery in South Admiral (California/Charlestown). At CAPERS in The Junction (4525 California SW), you’ll see and hear Guitar Gil:

Both performances are 6 pm to 7:45 pm Thursday, and you can find out more about the musicians by going here. They’re sponsored by neighborhood groups – the Admiral Neighborhood Association and the Morgan Community Association, with funding from the city’s Neighborhood Matching Fund.

P.S. Of course there’s non-musical art on Art Walk night too – all over the peninsula! – find those previews here.

Tomorrow night, plan to wander West Seattle and enjoy this month’s Art Walk – with the return of The Art of Music. From organizer John Redenbaugh, here’s who’s performing this time:

The next free admission Art of Music performances presented by the West Seattle Junction Association are coming up on Second Thursday Art Walk Evening June 8 at THREE locations — Paul Gerard in The Junction at Wildflour Gluten-Free Baking Co. (formerly Flying Apron); Taylor John Hardin in the Admiral District at West Seattle Grounds, and Larry Murante in Morgan Junction at Zeeks Pizza.

Performances are scheduled to begin at 6 pm and run till 7:45 pm to complement and support the West Seattle Art Walk offerings.

As for the art venues – see the list above, including venues with food/beverage specials; find detailed previews here. Art Walk hours are “5 pm until late” but individual participating businesses set their own schedules.

The West Seattle Art Walk has long been a volunteer-run monthly event under the wing of the West Seattle Junction Association. In recent years, though, it’s grown beyond The Junction – and it’s time for the organization to reflect that. So a plan has emerged to find leadership for the Art Walk who can in turn transform it into its own nonprofit org. The WSJA is getting the ball rolling by looking for someone to start as a 5-hour-a-week volunteer and grow the gig from there. Here’s the context, from WSJA:

The year-round West Seattle Art Walk provides a framework for businesses to work directly with artists to plan and host exhibits, giving the community a chance to engage with businesses and artists.

The WSAW is currently volunteer-powered, under the wing of the non-profit West Seattle Junction Association. We have four volunteer team leads (marketing, website, social, content); two neighborhood coordinators; a flexible corps of event photographers, and an Arts Council that meets once per quarter. It will be the job of the (Future) Executive Director to oversee this amazing, self-sufficient group of volunteers.

WSAW has grown past its humble roots in the Alaska Junction with only nine merchants. Today it’s a vibrant monthly event in all three Junctions, with 30–35 businesses hosting art shows, and 15–20 bars and restaurants offering specials every Art Walk night. WSAW strengthens the economic health of our businesses and brings our community together to celebrate the arts.

Our goal is to transition WSAW into its own non-profit organization so that it can continue to grow peninsula-wide. The (Future) Executive Director will guide the formation of this non-profit, as well as ensure its ongoing financial health by seeking governmental and arts funding and/or leading community fundraising for operating expenses. Initial assistance for this transition will be offered by the West Seattle Junction Association. It is our intention that the (Future) Executive Director will become the Executive Director of the new non-profit, and will draw a part-time salary.

See the full job listing, including qualifications and how to apply, here.

P.S. History trivia – the first West Seattle Art Walk was in 2006!

JUNE 16 UPDATE: The position’s been filled.

6:33 PM: As previewed here, you can head out tonight to enjoy art and artists all over the peninsula during the West Seattle Art Walk. Our first stop: West Seattle Realty (2715 California SW; WSB sponsor):

Longtime West Seattle sculptor Warren Pope is at WSR tonight, as is musical guest Aurora Avenue.

You can stop by until 9 pm.

6:49 PM: Next stop, Verity Credit Union (4505 California SW; WSB sponsor), where Heidi Gottshall is showing tonight; she works primarily with color pencils:

7:20 PM: Mason Heckett is showing his mixed-media paintings at Canna West Culture Shop (5435 California SW; WSB sponsor):

If you can’t get out tonight, remember that many venues show art throughout the month, so visit your local businesses and check it out.

That’s the winter venue list for the West Seattle Art Walk, including places you’ll find artist receptions, art displays, and/or food/beverage specials – and tomorrow (Thursday, February 9th) is your next chance to visit them. It’s the pre-Valentine edition of the second-Thursday WSAW, and here are three reasons to fall in love with it:

HEART BINGO: Reason #1 – you can enhance your Art Walk exploration by playing this free game, as explained on the Art Walk website:

The rules are simple: head on down to your favorite participating Art Walk business, and ask for a bingo card on February 9th. Then, visit businesses throughout the walk to find stickers matching your bingo board. Any WS Art Walk guest that collects 5 or more stickers can submit their bingo card to any of the businesses on the back of the bingo card.

All cards collected will be entered into a drawing for a specially curated Valentine’s Day Basket, with lovely items contributed by our art-walk local businesses.

NEW ARTIST: Reason #2 – at least one first-time participant will be displaying work tomorrow night! She’s new to the Art Walk as a participating artist, but not new to the Art Walk itself, as one of its founders when she was a Junction entrepreneur and then (now former) executive director of the West Seattle Junction Association: Lora Radford. Her announcement for 5-8 pm tomorrow:

Join Lora Radford of Extra Glorious for her very first art show during the February 9 West Seattle Art Walk. She will have a curated selection of hand-cast concrete bowls, the popular crow cast, candle orbs, and refill candle kits.

Each item will be wrapped and lovingly placed in a gift box. If you’re looking for Galentine or Valentine gifts – come to Jet City Labs on California Ave to see Glorious.

Jet City is located at 4547 California Ave (former Lika Love). She can’t wait to show you what she’s been creating.

ART & MUSIC: West Seattle Realty (new HQ at 2715 California SW; WSB sponsor) is hosting an artist and musician. Painter, fashion designer, artist/creator Lennon Wiltbank and musician Harrison B will be there 5-9 pm. WSR is offering refreshments, too. This is more than just a show, WSR’s Kevin Broveleit explains: “She’s building an immersive experience and will be encouraging people to wear her art, take part in a photo shoot and surround themselves with positive energy!” See the full flyer here.

Preview more of tomorrow’s venues and artists on the West Seattle Art Walk website!

Even if you wish the fall rains had started by now, you might as well get out and enjoy the dry weather while you can. Tomorrow night (Thursday, October 13th) brings a major opportunity for that, the monthly second-Thursday West Seattle Art Walk:

That’s the official list of participants – both art venues and food/drink-special venues – for the autumn quarter. Another highlight tomorrow night – the October edition of The Art of Music, with two live performances, one in The Junction and one in The Admiral District:

Both performances are set for 6 pm to 7:45 pm. To decide which art displays you want to see – some with receptions hosting their artist(s) – browse this month’s lineup post on the Art Walk website. You’ll see painting, photography, pottery, fiber art, and much more. General West Seattle Art Walk hours are “5 pm until late” but some shows happen/start earlier.