What was a student-written/directed/produced show at West Seattle High School last year, “WWE: The Musical,” is now a streaming album. One of the show’s creators, now-former WSHS student Roy Keller, explains, “Recently, we recorded the songs from it and are putting it out on streaming this week!” Here’s the announcement, with links:
The wait is finally over… we’re back. The Musical that Stone-cold-stunned the world returns with WWE: THE MUSICAL: The Album Version! Relive the legendary student-led performance and follow John Cena as he fights, sings, and wins his way to the top! he WILL fight, he WILL learn lessons, and he WILL call his mother.
The breezeway of South Seattle College‘s central Robert Smith Building used to be a blank, bleak passageway through a space framed by unadorned concrete.
Not any more.
Now the college’s first mural “We Carry the Light, We Carry the Sky” graces the walls on both sides, even wrapping around the corners beyond. The mural painted by more than 100 students, staff, and community members was at the heart of a noontime celebration today. It was described as more than a “wall decoration … a radical reimagining” of the hopes and dreams of all who comprise the college’s community.
SSC’s dean of arts, humanities and social sciences Dr. Eileen Jimenez emceed the courtyard event, introducing Seattle Colleges tribal liaison Willard Bill Jr. of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe for a welcome with drumming and singing:
Muralist Toka Valu told the two stories depicted by the mural – one about the coyote carrying fire, the other about collaborating to lift the sky:
Scott Mexcal, SSC art faculty and instructor for the mural class, described the mural as a “seed” that grew “a lot bigger than ever dreamed.” It depicts “what makes us, us,” he observed, “a community in which 80 primary languages are spoken.”
He also called it something befitting “the gateway for the larger community into the intimacy of our learning community.” And so it received a grand unveiling – curtains of gold tinsel draped over it, removed to reveal the panels:
You can see the mural any time by visiting the campus; it’s steps away from the SSC ballot box, among other landmarks. And if you want to support the creation of more murals – this one is envisioned as the first of seven – you can help with a fundraiser by donating here.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School teacher JC Santos was intensely proud of his students as their “Voices for Immigrants and Refugees: A Community Meal” unfolded this afternoon.
“They designed this whole thing,” he exclaimed, gesturing around OLG’s expansive Walmesley Center gym/event venue. “I didn’t even know what it would look like until I got here.”
We previewed the event after receiving postal-mail letters from two students inviting us – and the entire community – to attend. Right after arriving today, we met one of those students, Emmett, near the door, which was attendees’ gateway to an immersive experience.
Emmett was explaining a section of the gym’s south wall that held flags from the more than two dozen countries from which the participating students claim ancestry, and a map where all were invited to place dots near a city from which someone in their family emigrated.
Having been invited immediately to ponder their ancestry, attendees were in the perfect frame of mind to learn the difficulties often faced by the immigrants and refugees of today.
Some of these challenges were interpreted as versions of classic games – you could roll dice on a version of “Chutes and Ladders” and either make progress or face a setback; nearby, another table of students had a version of Jenga.
Many tables were set up for attendees to sit down and enjoy the student-prepared lunch, and each had a card with a factoid such as “40 percent of foreign-born residents own their own homes,” among other stats.
At one table were visitors who were immigrants and refugees themselves, a delegation from the United Methodist Church in Riverton that’s become a magnet for new arrivals. One of them talked with us, saying they had arrived here last year, stayed at the church six months, then got an apartment with their family (including two children ages 8 and 14), and now has a job too. We didn’t discuss their home country, but they repeated multiple times that they came here because it’s “safe” in comparison.
All around the gym, displays expressed messages of welcome and taught lessons about new arrivals, as well as showing examples of “welcome kits” helping set up homes for newcomers, who often arrive with nothing but the clothes they’re wearing. (Go here to donate to the fund for them.) And on the north side of the gym, students were serving the food that made the occasion “a community meal”:
Every dish – from lumpia to lasagna – had a story:
Once everyone was seated, Mr. Santos and some of his students gave a blessing, a welcome, and an explanation:
And there was evidence everywhere of an important takeaway – showing kindness to everyone, no matter where they’re from:
Volunteers at the first welcoming table estimated about 200 people had shown up.
A bright sight on a gray day! Artist Matthew DeLorme has spent almost a week up on that ladder (though not when we passed by in the noontime rain), painting a mural outside Emerald Water Anglers. We showed you an early look this past Tuesday when we reported on the plan for the last vacant space in that Junction building, The Missing Piece moving from 35th/Roxbury by end of summer. EWA moved there from 42nd/Oregon last fall; there’s a mural inside the shop too, as we showed you in coverage of the new location’s grand opening.
The West Seattle Junction Association has already mentioned a few of the headliners for the year’s biggest party, West Seattle Summer Fest – Friday-Sunday, July 11-13 (following an ever-more-festive Summer Fest Eve on Thursday, July 10). Now, the full lineups are revealed!
First, on the Main Stage (California north of Oregon):
FRIDAY 3:00 Mason Lowe
4:00 Mr. Dinkles
5:00 Weep Wave
6:00 Oh, Rose
7:00 Madman Across The Water
8:00 Couch Riffs presents Funkadelic Tribute
9:00 THEM
10:00 Jenn Champion
SATURDAY 11:00 Mode Music Studio Showcase
12:00 School of Rock
1:00 Princess Pulpit
2:00 Jay Cates & Josh Rowling Trio
3:00 Abbigale
4:00 The Dusty 45s
5:00 AnUngulante
6:00 Fan Club
7:00 The Alain Johannes Band
8:00 New Constellations
9:00 Monsterwatch
10:00 Reignwolf
And on the West Side Stage:
FRIDAY
4:00 WSMA/Kenyon students
4:30 Rootbeer
5:00 Birch Pereira & The Gin Joints
6:00 The Potholes
SATURDAY 11:00 Country Dave Harmonson
12:00 Dave Hates Chico
1:00 Narrower
2:00 Cooper Point Road
3:00 The Everlovers
4:00 Reis and Cates Jazz Showcase
5:00 Self Doubt
6:00 asyouwish // Sour and the Krauts
SUNDAY 11:00 Matt Benham & David Weidig
12:00 WSMA + Sweetiest Sweeties
1:00 Sonny Parker
2:00 Baby Crow Flight School
3:00 Massy Ferguson
(WSB photo of California Place Park concertgoers in 2024)
What started more than 15 years ago as Summer Concerts @ Hiawatha will be back this year for its second year as Admiral Music in the Parks (AMP) – three free July evening concerts in other Admiral-area parks! The Admiral Neighborhood Association presents AMP and series coordinator Meagan Loftin just sent the newly revealed lineup:
The Admiral Neighborhood Association, in partnership with our “Producer” sponsors Timeless Kitchen Design and West Seattle Grounds, is excited to announce the lineup for our summer concert series AMP: Admiral Music in the Parks!
Every year, we welcome family, friends, neighbors, and the community-at-large to our Admiral parks for 3 weeks of free family-friendly concerts. New this year, you can also join Seattle Yarn‘s knitting circle at each concert. Mark your calendars now for:
6:30 PM on July 17th @ Belvedere Park: Get your dancing boots ready for PNW country-tonk band Lookout Mountain Lookout
6:30 PM on July 24th @ California Place Park: West Seattle’s fan-favorite Michael Pearsall and Friends return for the second year at AMP!
6:30 PM on July 31st @ Hamilton Viewpoint Park: Enjoy the music of John, Paul, George, and Ringo as we welcome The Flaming Pies to close out our 2025 season.
Which concert are you most excited for? Support your favorite by donating to one or all of our 2025 AMP concerts. Your donation funds local musicians while also providing free community programming to everyone in our neighborhood. AMPlify your summer and consider donating here today!
As of about five o’clock, community volunteers were still hard at work on West Seattle’s newest murals, stretching along about 200 feet of the wall by the Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook waterfront (across the street and downslope from Me-Kwa-Mooks Park). The first two photos are ours from our brief visit last hour:
Lafayette Elementary students painted sea stars toward the left side of the mural wall a few days ago, artist Nalisha Estrellas notes. Dozens of other people signed up for shifts to paint the rest of it today – Jeffrey Johnson sent these photos:
We first wrote about the mural plan back in January. Neighbor David Stockert thought a mural would help deter the vandals who often target the wall, and crowdfunded to make it happen. Local artist Estrellas designed it with a Puget Sound theme.
She organized the community painting, too, which originally was set to happen last Saturday, but the weather looked iffy – today, of course, has been a perfect day for outdoor painting.
That’s why we visited Kenyon Hall to talk with the two men who are now managing the nonprofit venue, moving into for a bright future just a few years after uncertainty it would have much of a future at all.
For many years, Kenyon Hall was run by a memorable music man named Lou Magor. His unexpected death four years ago left the century-old building somewhat rudderless, though board members of the nonprofit that owns it, Seattle Artists, worked to keep it going.
Others got involved with the effort to save Kenyon Hall, including Murphy Janssen and Nick Shadel, who now manage it. They jumped in as volunteers, Nick joining just after Lou’s death, Murphy coming aboard six months later. “That period of time was spent figuring out what was even going on at the hall – tracking down records, understanding the state of (the hall) – a tumultuous but positive time. We learned a whole lot about Kenyon Hall, its history, the players …”
And they learned many other things. Murphy, a drummer among other things, hadn’t been involved with a nonprofit before. Nick, a film composer and music educator among other things, had run companies. The board dwindled, including those who had headed the effort to keep Kenyon Hall going. “Volunteerism alone wasn’t going to bring the hall back to its previous (status),” said Murphy. “So Nick and I both flirted with director roles on our own. Neither of us wanted to do solo.” So with the support of remaining board members, they wrote a job description, “found some money” for it, and as of the end of next month, they’ll have been running Kenyon Hall for two years. Murphy is focused on bookings, Nick on administration.
One of their first tasks was to rebuild the board, which was down to three members at the time. Now there are eight.
“All local West Seattle folks,” notes Nick. Some were already involved with the hall via music classes offered there
“We’ve. also been working to build up our volunteer program, opening arms to a greater group of community members who want to help the community out,” Murphy explains. Lou did so much himself, they observe, but they are trying to delegate – helpers with concessions, chair-stacking, maybe even “help run live sound”; they’ve organized volunteer opportunities online.
Fundraising has expanded too; they had a telethon-style fundraiser for Kenyon Hall’s Mighty Wurlitzer organ, with both a live audience and live stream. That day alone, they raised $6,000, and that’s since grown to $30,000 to go toward maintaining the organ as well as improvements such as lighting to make it “even more magical.”
The organ has continued to get a workout, with performances including two shows by Bernard Struber, who saw the sign outside the Hall (“Home of the Mighty Wurlitzer”) while visiting his daughter Laure Struber, also an organist, and “stumbled in” to learn about it.
Even before Friday’s Story Slam, the hall has seen other firsts under its co-directors, including a performance of Celtic dance, and novel ways to use the Wurlitzer, such as this spring’s Cartoon Mess, a March performance that also was streamed:
Organist Sawyer Best helped with that, they explained, “using the Wurlitzer in a fun way.” Next month, Murphy adds, it’ll be put into action with Luke Fitzpatrick, integrating it into an experimental work on June 1st (Laure Struber will be the organist).
And while that will be very modern music, the Wurlitzer also is used to celebrate history, as with Dennis James’s silent-film performances. “It’s been a fun fusion.”
Murphy says bringing Kenyon Hall at least partly into the present is a key part of their work. “We’re finally able to take credit cards!” They’re also selling advance tickets online. Previously, they just took reservations, and “maybe half would show up,” which meant not only less compensation for the hall but less for the performers.
“We take a lot of pride in (supporting artists),” Nick says. “We’re artist-focused, not profit-focused,” Murphy adds.
In addition to visiting performers, they’ve been featuring regular monthly programming – an open-mic night, jazz night, and a drag night – Kenyon Hall Cabaret, which has just celebrated its second anniversary and will celebrate Pride with a Wizard of Oz-themed show again this year, two performances this time.
The drag community helped with the Wurlitzer fundraiser in a big way, Nick notes, saying they’re “deeply integrated into our cool little scene here.”
The other regular features have been a resounding success too, they add. The “open mic,” which focuses on songwriters, has had some “incredible” ones show up to play original music, Nick says. “And we record everyone so they get free demos,” adds Murphy. He goes on to describe the jazz jam, with a Chief Sealth International High School trio as the “house band”; this month will be the third one, 6 pm May 30, free admission. It’s meant to be not just a performance opportunity but also a mentoring event and “some moments of a master class,” as Murphy explains it. Nick summarizes, “We’re creating this space for the spirit of jazz-improvisation collaboration. … We’re excited to offer more free programming.”
Friday’s Story Slam will be free too, and another move toward their goal of “diversifying the art that is presented here.” Murphy elaborates that they’re often approached by people with ideas, asking “have you ever thought about this?” and that’s what the Story Slam sprang from: “We’ll have five or six pre-set story tellers and then an open call.” They hope this too will be monthly.
“Our purpose is for people of any skill level to come in and engage in art,” Nick declares. “At every turn the community lifts us up further – it’s amazing to see the level at which people care about this place. It has some magic.”
What’s happening now is synched with what the two co-directors felt when they first got involved with Kenyon Hall. Murphy had pondered “commitment to art as a community support.” Nick had been teaching music at the hall for years before Lou Magor’s death, and came to regard it as a “sacred creative space (that) was capable of more.” He helped sustain it even during the no-live-events pandemic time, when they presented recorded performances online. “I fell in love with it as a space where creation happens.” Now he says, he’s never felt better about the state of Kenyon Hall, which is at the “dawn of a new era in a really exciting way.”
“It’s almost unfathomable that this place is still here,” marvels Murphy. “How can we not (work to save it)?”
That’s more than a matter of keeping performers onstage and keeping audiences in the seats. It’s also a matter of preserving and updating the hall itself. Murphy allows that “the building’s in pretty good shape,” it needs some work. “We want to do some renovations enabling more recording, with more of a control room in the loft,” he says. “We are going to be a great-sounding room for artists that want to record for a bit cheaper.” Nick hosted a sold-out “guerrilla recording workshop” last fall, and Murphy promises they’ll do it again.
Other upcoming events include “Bach and pancakes” (the latter made by neighboring Locöl Kitchen & Bar, which they laud as a “great partner”) on Sunday (advance tickets are sold out), part of a Memorial Day weekend that also includes a klezmer concert on Saturday. “For those who are sticking around (on Memorial Day weekend), we’re gonna be here and it’s gonna be (great).”
Coming to Kenyon Hall for shows is a huge way you can support its future. You can donate money too – “we’re always running Lights On for Lou.” You can volunteer (Murphy says, “The more people we get on the volunteer list, the less I’ll have to wear three or four hats at once” and the more he can focus on actually running the hall). If you’re a music teacher and not already involved with Kenyon Hall, they want it to “be a place for local music teachers to connect with each other.”
For the major renovations, the hall will “go dark” for a few months starting around July 1st; part of the renovations will include demolishing and rebuilding the restrooms, which will then be ADA compliant (among other improvements). They’ll be streamlining the power to reduce things like cable hum. As Murphy summarizes, “The building needs to be recalibrated for the 21st century.” Trying to figure out everything that needs to be done has led to “some fun and laughter and frustration,” as they describe it.
But Kenyon Hall won’t lose its charm, which includes the mere fact it exists – “Why is this place here? Because it’s been loved by so many people for so long. It’s amazing how intimate this place is,” despite its placement on a busy arterial. “Whatever has happened over the decades has created a special, intimate place for art.”
(Past “happenings” include the legendary 2008 “secret” Eddie Vedder concerts, you might recall, and if you have a poster for that show, the Kenyon Hall directors would love to hear from you!)
HOW TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE HALL: The calendar of upcoming Kenyon Hall performances/events is here.
OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT THE HALL: Donation and volunteering links are here.
If you wondered why the West Seattle High School Band didn’t play at the West Seattle 5K on Sunday instead of an ad-hoc Alumni Pep Band, here’s one good reason: The band is one of three WSHS music groups visiting Southern California right now, where they were part of a special student showcase. WSHS music director Ethan Thomas sent the photos and report:
The WSHS Band, Orchestra, and Choir traveled down to Southern California this past Saturday to participate in Disney’s Imagination Campus performances at Disneyland and California Adventure. All three groups performed in the parks and attended studio soundtrack workshop sessions.
They planned to wrap up their tour with some time out at Santa Monica before heading home tonight.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) night, you can see West Seattle Community Orchestras members perform their second and final free concert of the spring. Today, WSCO has an announcement that applications are open for a new mentoring program aimed at high-school musicians hoping to continue their artistry:
West Seattle Community Orchestras is excited to announce the Honor Student Program — a new pilot initiative designed to support high school musicians preparing to apply for college music programs. This fully-funded opportunity provides personalized coaching, audition preparation, and involvement in WSCO ensembles.
Who is Eligible?
WSCO members in grades 11 or 12 (junior or senior year)
Actively applying or planning to apply to a college music program
Play one of the following instruments: violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba
What’s Included?
6 hours of one-on-one coaching with professional musicians
Mock auditions and personalized feedback
Participation in WSCO ensembles and community events
How to Apply?
Submit your application by Tuesday, June 17, 2025 by 5 pm PST to: lison@wscorchestras.org
Required materials:
Application letter (1 page)
Music director reference letter (1 page)
Live audition and interview will take place on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 6 pm at the Fauntleroy Church in West Seattle. Honor Students will be announced on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 via email.
Questions?
Contact Lison J. at lison@wscorchestras.org
WSCO was founded in West Seattle in 2002 and has served hundreds of students and adults alike, providing a community for musicians of all ages and abilities with opportunities for performance and growth.
Visit the WSCO website for more information about the concerts or how to become involved as a musician or volunteer.
After looking at the forecast for this Saturday, we’re officially moving the paint day to Saturday, May 24th. The weather will be much better and all volunteer shift times will stay the same.
We understand that it’s a Holiday weekend and some of you may not make it but, please know you’re still an important part of the project and this community mural is for you!
If you’re able to keep your shift on the 24th, we look forward to seeing you! THANK YOU!
Please contact the artist Nalisha Estrellas with any questions nalishaestrellas@gmail.com
Art students at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) have started work on a new mural – and you’re invited to help paint it this Saturday!
Please join South Seattle College art faculty and students on Saturday, May 17 (three time slots available) to help paint the new mural on campus!
A breezeway on the main campus, located in the Puget Ridge neighborhood of West Seattle, is being transformed with a design by Indigenous Pacific Islander Artist Toka Valu.
Valu reflected on artwork and stories created by SSC students, faculty and staff during Winter Quarter workshops and collaborated with Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe (Upper Skagit and Nooksack) to develop a design that incorporates creation stories, the Land that South Seattle College is built on and occupies, and the yəhaw̓ story. The design centers community care, community collaboration and the importance of carrying knowledge into our lives.
Bring clothes you don’t mind getting paint on, or an apron, and comfortable shoes are recommended!
Please RSVP using this form. Additional information will be emailed before the event.
Time & Location:
Saturday, May 17, with 3 two-hour time slots: 9 am-11 am; 11 am-1 pm; 1 pm-3 pm
Meet at the South Seattle College Robert Smith Building – “RSB” on the campus map (near the bus stop up the hill on campus). Parking will be free on Saturday!
By Hayden Yu Andersen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Last Sunday, the Chief Sealth International High School Drama Company wrapped their spring production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” It was a moment of pride for the cast and crew, but also bittersweetness for the graduating seniors. For everyone, though, the predominant feeling was hope.
After spending many years without a theater program, Chief Sealth returned to the stage in 2023 with a production of “She Kills Monsters” (as reported here), a play written by Qui Nguyen. Since then, the Chief Sealth Drama Company has produced five shows. The theater program’s revival is thanks to BAYFEST Youth Theatre, a West Seattle-based nonprofit organization which runs K-12 theater programs across Seattle.
Reflecting on the experience, Satomi Giedeman, who played pianist Schroeder in last Sunday’s show, said it’s been a privilege to be in the program. “It’s changed big time,” said Giedeman, who’s been with the Chief Sealth Drama Company since the beginning. “This was by far the best production I’ve been in. Because the cast was so small, we got the chance to get really close together.”
(L-R: Rowan Loidhammer, Leena Nguyen, Satomi Giedeman, Josey Kent, Katie Ackers, Richie Nguyen – photos by Robert Shampain)
Echoing the sentiment were crew members Josephina Smith Matteucci and Georgia Palmer-Markham. As the Stage Manager and Assistant Stage Manager respectively, both of them are excited to see the program continue to grow. Palmer-Markham has also been with the program since 2023, and said the changes since then have been incredible. “For our first show, we didn’t even use the full stage,” she said. “The program has gotten so much bigger, and the community has kept growing and changing.”
Kekoa Dilay, who directed “Charlie Brown,” said it was great to work with such a small cast, especially with the increased support to the crew this year. Dilay, brought on by BAYFEST to direct the show, is a teaching artist and actor and the first out-of-school director for the drama program.
(Katie Ackers as Snoopy in ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’)
Supporting the program is a challenge BAYFEST has taken on enthusiastically over the last few years, and owner and founder Robert Shampain says they’re committed to expanding the program as much as they can. “There are lessons learned from each show, and we want to make sure that each year we’re stepping it up in terms of sets, costumes, and how things are organized.”
Someday, he hopes the program will become self-sufficient. “We’re really trying to focus on making the program sustainable, without needing outside nonprofits. We all believe it should be funded by the school.” It seems like things are going in that direction, as this year BAYFEST signed a contract with the Career Technical Education program to provide academic credit to students participating in the program.
(Rowan Loidhammer as Charlie Brown in ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’ – p Robert Shampain)
There are big things on the horizon as well, including the upcoming intergenerational theater project, which we wrote about previously here. In short, the program has Chief Sealth students working alongside adults, with priority given to seniors, as part of a six-month program culminating in a final show in June. “The Intergenerational Theater Project is something I’m especially proud of,” Shampain said. “It’s bringing together senior adults and teens for an intergenerational project which is about more than acting, but also themes of intergenerational life together.”
If you’re interested in supporting the program, you can donate to BAYFEST Youth Theatre here.
Tomorrow night is the second Thursday, which brings the West Seattle Art Walk. Four reasons to plan on spending at least part of your night Art Walk’ing:
MUSE FEST – THE POWER OF WOMEN’S VOICES: At 11 venues around West Seattle, female musicians will be performing between 6 pm and 7:45 pm.
That’s Sheryl Wiser, one of the featured musicians; here’s another, Havilah Rand:
Find the full list of Muse Fest performers and locations, plus more previews, by going here. (Muse Fest is co-presented by The Art of Music, which is curated by John Redenbaugh, and local music legend Sue Quigley.)
WESTSIDE SCHOOL X ALKI ARTS: Art Walk nights often spotlight students – this time around, the Lower School from Westside School (WSB sponsor) is presenting an art show at Alki Arts in Morgan Junction. The school sent photos and the announcement:
This joyful exhibition will showcase artwork by our lower school students (Pre-K through 4th grade), all centered on this year’s theme: Grow. From vibrant drawings to imaginative sculptures, each piece reflects our students’ growth, creativity, and self-expression.
The event is free and open to the public — friends, families, and art lovers of all ages are welcome!
DESMOND HANSEN AT CANNA WEST SEATTLE: You might know him best for signal-box portraits, but West Seattle artist Desmond Hansen‘s work goes far beyond that. Visit Canna (5435 California SW; WSB sponsor) to meet him and see some of his other work.
WEST SEATTLE GARDEN TOUR ARTISTS AT CAPERS: The WS Garden Tour is still more than a month away, but you can get into the spirit sooner with the Art Walk night guests at CAPERS Home (4525 California SW; WSB sponsor):
CAPERS is pleased to host The West Seattle Garden Tour 2025 artists for the month of May; featuring winning artist Gay Waldman and her winning piece Pool Party (26”w x 18”h) . Pool Party will be featured on the tour’s 2025 poster and ticket book. We are also pleased to be showing work by competing artists Silvia Bajardi, Marnie Lynn, Stacy Almgren, and Memo Luna. Additionally, we are thrilled to have Thoa Nguyen also with us for May.
You’ll find art all around the peninsula – many more previews, plus the list of venues offering food/drink specials, can be found here.
You might know Lora Radford from her years running Hotwire Coffee (when she was one of WSB’s original sponsors), or her years as executive director of the West Seattle Junction Association. Tonight she celebrated the grand opening of her latest West Seattle business – Potterings, headquartered in a 117-square-foot studio in ActivSpace (3400 Harbor Avenue SW, just north of the West Seattle Bridge’s northwest end). It’s a place where beginners can explore pottery, which is increasingly popular here on the peninsula, including the reopening of the Alki Bathhouse studio (where Lora has been teaching classes too). Among other things, Potterings offers memberships, as explained here. If you missed tonight’s grand-opening open house, you can stop by tomorrow (Saturday, May 3) 12-5 pm for mini-workshops or even just fact-finding. It’s on the ground floor of the main building’s east side.
Those are the updated concepts by artist Nalisha Estrellas for the upcoming mural on the long retaining wall that lines the waterfront section of Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook (4500 block Beach Drive SW). We first told you about the plan for the 189-foot-long mural back in January. Now, it’s almost time to paint it, and your help is welcome! Here’s the announcement we were asked to share with you:
We will be painting the mural on Saturday, May 17, starting at 10:00 am. You will see two-hour blocks for sign up. You are welcome to take multiple spots if you choose. Be sure to wear paint clothes.
Right now, volunteers are prepping the wall. And the day before the volunteer event on May 17, a special group of young volunteers – third-graders from Lafayette Elementary – will be visiting to help.
The evening featured arts and crafts, informational displays and resources from community partners, student performances including dance, music and poetry, and a potluck dinner with samples of cuisines from around the world.
The two primary organizers of the event (and emcees for the evening) were student Afra Mirza and school activities director Angela Ferda:
As guests arrived, they were welcomed by a variety of signs:
A solemn commemoration in West Seattle today marked half a century since a difficult day in history.
This week will bring the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. Today’s attendees and participants at the Vietnamese Cultural Center included South Vietnamese and U.S. military veterans.
Speakers talked about the “complicated” and painful feelings stirred by the anniversary.
The ceremony also included a chapter of the Patriot Guard Riders, who stood with flags throughout the program. The focus was on honoring fallen soldiers. Incense and food offerings were made. Attendees chanted “long live the Republic of Vietnam” and “Down with communism” in both Vietnamese and English.
One speaker who had served in the U.S. military during the war, 81-year-old U.S. Navy veteran Samuel Perkins, offered words in honor of the thousands of refugees rescued from Saigon who came to the U.S. and have worked hard for decades. “You came here with nothing and now you are more than great,” he said. (You can read some of the history of Southeast Asian refugees settling in our state after the war by going here.)
The Vietnamese Cultural Center is at 2236 SW Orchard, usually open to the public on Saturday afternoons. They also welcome community members during multiple cultural events each year, such as Vietnamese New Year and the Children’s Moonlight Festival.k
(Photos courtesy Cookie Couture, who’s in the foreground above)
By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Cookie Couture, founder and hostess of the longest-running drag show in West Seattle, is being bid a fond adieu this Saturday, in what will be her last show — “for a while.” What will happen to the show? Where-oh-where is Cookie Couture headed next? What about her Belle of the Balls bingo night, which she has also hosted to the delight of Skylark crowds? Will the Westside still be the Best Side without Cookie Couture on stage? We asked her to dish on all the deets.
First, she confirmed the West End Girls show will continue with hostess Fraya Love through June. The show, often billed as “A Drag Extravaganza,” has been a monthly staple at The Skylark for more than 8 years, and as Cookie Couture – a West Seattle resident – recalls, “I reached out to them on a whim … I was tired of having to go over to Capitol Hill every time I got booked for a show. At the time, not a lot of LGBTQ stuff was happening in this neck of the woods. I had no expectations of what it was going to be like.” The first show sold out and the momentum never stopped.
West End Girls will at minimum take a hiatus over the summer when Jizzuhbelle Johnson‘s Kenyon Hall Cabaret drag show will take over the Skylark stage during the months when their home stage at Kenyon Hall will be undergoing renovations. The longer-term plan is still up in the air because of the Skylark’s location in the planned path of light rail, but Cookie Couture says she’ll be doing what she can behind the scenes, “…making sure they will continue and thrive regardless of whether I’m involved.”
The Belle of the Balls Bingo night will also continue, with Kimme Kash joining a second host Tuesday nights at 7 pm. Cookie Couture hosted her final bingo night on Tuesday of this week. She recalls collaborating with the Skylark’s bartender Sara when the venue reopened after the pandemic. “We went from 2-3 people [when we started] to [this] Tuesday night, when there was nowhere to sit.”
As Cookie Couture steps away from the show she created, she is celebrating 10 years as a performer, and a drag presence that’s spanned not just her work in West Seattle, but locations citywide where she either performed or produced shows, from Pony on Capitol Hill to “RuPaul’s Drag Race” viewing parties and library story hours for kids to countless appearances for Pride events.
(Cookie and friends from the first West End Girls night in 2017)
That first West End Girls show is still one of her best memories. “The first one we did… I didn’t know what I was doing, A standard show has 5 or 6 performers, and we had 10 or 11. We all walked away with like $30.”
Since then, she’s honed her skills as a producer, and attracted a following that she hopes will continue to show up for the venue that has made it all possible. “I really want people to continue to support The Skylark during these weird uncertain times. There’s really nothing like it in West Seattle: punk rock one night, drag the next. It’s more important than ever to get queer art and things on the fringe out there. [There’s an effort] to minimize people like us and what we do. A “like” and a share online is amazing, but there’s nothing that’s more impactful than directly supporting the businesses.”
So where in the world is Cookie Couture going next? She admits her answer is purposely vague, but she dropped the hint that it does involve the aviation industry. “I’m taking my glamour all over the world in my new position,” she says, adding, very generically, “I’m taking some time off to explore some new opportunities.”
Those opportunities are likely to take her away temporarily, but after living in practically every neighborhood in Seattle, there’s no question where she’ll come back to. “West Seattle will always be home. Regardless if I’m gone for 6 months or 2 years, my heart and home will always be here in West Seattle.”
Cookie Couture is expecting to make appearances here and there in the coming months, particularly during Pride. She says her Instagram page at @cookiecouturequeen is where she’ll post updates. “At this point, I am scraping the bottom of my makeup kit,” she said, but, “Even though I’m putting the wig on the top shelf, it’s never too far out of reach.”
As of this writing “a few tickets” remain for Cookie Couture’s West End Girls “last show, for a while” at 8 pm Saturday (April 26), available here.
P.S. Thanks to the reader who tipped us about Cookie’s impending hiatus and suggested an interview!
Following up on our Friday report that artist Don Fels and the city Office of Arts and Culture had come to an impasse about whether the West Marginal Way bones-of-a-boat sculpture Paragon could be saved, the city’s advisory Public Art Advisory Committee just voted to “deaccession” it – which means basically disowning it so it can be removed. The city says it’s a risk of public safety because of deterioration; Fels says the deterioration is because the city neglected to maintain it. He worked for a year to gather volunteer support and donated materials but said the city wanted him to take on a liability level that he could not. Both he and city reps spoke at the committee meeting before the vote; the action still has to be finalized by the Seattle Arts Commission when it meets next month (the May 13 meeting is hybrid, 4 pm, with attendance info here). The committee’s recommendation today comes with a suggestion made by member Caitlin Truong, that Paragon’s legacy be honored, perhaps by documentation for the city’s archives, maybe even an interpretive plaque at the site. We’ll add more details to this report later.
The Paragon’s artist, Don Fels, sounded the alarm at the time, asking for public support to help save the Paragon, which he declared was in “mortal danger” after deteriorating amid what he said was long-running city neglect. When last we updated, the artist had hope it would be saved.
We hadn’t checked in on the situation recently; then we heard from Fels this week. He wrote:
I am writing to tell you and your loyal readers that after a year of a great deal of effort on my part- and many others like the WSeattle Bloggers [WSB readers] and Nucor Steel – ARTS, the so-called ‘public art’ department of the City of Seattle, intend to ‘deaccession‘ the Paragon sculpture along the Duwamish, at their Public Art Committee meeting next week, April 22nd. I’m very sorry to have not provided you with a more timely notice of this, but I was not given such notice myself. This means that once the committee approves the deaccession, the next step will be for the City’s Seattle Arts Commission to formally agree to destroy the sculpture at their May 13 meeting and then begin taking it to the dump.
I am an experienced public artist, and someone who to date has had an excellent relationship with the City of Seattle arts people. But no matter what I tried to do over an entire year, I couldn’t get them to offer any assistance whatsoever to rebuild the wooden boat atop the sculpture. The final straw came when they sent me a multi-page contract to sign wherein the City laid out numerous requirements that I would have to meet in order to rebuild the sculpture, all with donated monies and services, and though unpaid, I would have to assume any and all liabilities, and indemnify the City against any damages. Several well-versed persons in the arts and the law strongly urged me not to sign. I did not.
I attach a letter here that I sent to Gülgün Kayim, the Director of ARTS, informing her of my decision. I believe it is important that interested people send letters to them as well. To be honest, I don’t expect that hearing from the public will change their mindset, or that of their legal dept, but they do need to know that people care about such insane policy decisions.
People who wish to write should do so to: allie.lee@seattle.gov
I am grateful from the bottom of my heart for the outpouring of appreciation for the sculpture, and only wish I had been successful in saving it.
Here’s the letter Fels sent to director Kayim. Toward the end, he suggests that what has gone awry here could happen to other city-owned public art (in which we all have an interest, given – among many other things – the public funding that goes into it):
… ARTS has forced a legacy, beloved sculpture to be scrapped and made necessary spending a large expenditure of public money to make that happen. That is a long way from not allowing the ARTS conservator to inspect and/or maintain the sculpture every so often. I cannot be expected to make up for what has ARTS failed to do. Nor can my actions undo what ARTS has caused to happen. That is not the role of the artist, nor should it ever be. Clearly, ARTS needs a robust maintenance budget for its large public art collection. And without it, other artworks in the City of Seattle’s collection will meet the same fate at the Paragon. …
We asked Office of Arts and Culture spokesperson Otts Bolisay about the situation; he confirmed that partial demolition is proposed and the next step is a meeting this Tuesday:
We’ve worked with Mr. Fels on this since last year and, unfortunately, are unable to come to an agreement. Since it’s still a safety risk, we are moving forward with deaccessioning Paragon.
We’ll present a proposal to the Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) on Tuesday, 4/22 to remove the hazardous parts of the sculpture. But we’ll keep the steel armature in place for one year should Mr. Fels change his mind about replacing Paragon himself.
If PAAC recommends to the Seattle Arts Commission (SAC) that Paragon should be deaccessioned, SAC will review and vote on it Tuesday, 5/13.
Both meetings are open to the public and we encourage you to attend.
The Tuesday meeting is at 9 am online, and the attendance info is here (we are requesting the agenda document); the May 13 meeting is hybrid, 4 pm, with attendance info here. You can see the “armature” to which Bolisay refers, in this old photo provided by the artist:
(Photo courtesy Don Fels)
Fels was told the Tuesday discussion is scheduled at 10:20 am, to last 40 minutes – broken down by the city as follows:
Public Art team to present deaccession recommendation (10 minutes)
Artist and community response (10 minutes)
PAAC member questions or comments (15 minutes)
PAAC motion for recommendation (5 minutes)
We are seeking information on the city’s budget for the planned demolition/removal work, as Fels contends in his letter, “Asserting that there are no funds to rebuild the sculpture, ARTS will spend an equivalent amount in removing it.”
STart: SOUND TRANSIT ART PROGRAM
FOR ARTISTS: LISTENING AND INFORMATION SESSIONS—PLANNING FOR ARTWORK IN THE WEST SEATTLE LINK EXTENSION PROJECTS
Dates and Locations
Wednesday, May 7, 6-7 pm, Seattle Public Library, Delridge Branch
Thursday, May 8, 6-7 pm, Seattle Public Library, High Point Branch
RSVP by May 2, 2025
Please RSVP by emailing start@soundtransit.org.
Meeting Purpose
In the coming months, the Sound Transit Art Program (STart) will be hiring artists to create artwork for the future West Seattle light rail stations. STart wants to hear from West Seattleites about what is important to them in their neighborhoods while art projects are being developed. In addition, STart seeks to inform West Seattle artists about how they can apply for inclusion in an Artist Candidate Pool for art project consideration.
Listening and information sessions geared toward artists will be held in two West Seattle branches of the Seattle Public Library from 6-7 pm on Wednesday, May 7 (Delridge) and Thursday, May 8 (High Point). The conversation and content will be the same each evening, offering two opportunities for participation on different nights.
About the West Seattle Link Extension Artwork Opportunities
STart incorporates artwork in its stations and facilities to create welcoming spaces for passengers, and to contribute to the character of the communities connected with light rail. At these listening sessions, STart will describe what is known about the West Seattle Link Extension (WSLE) stations, and how artwork will play a key role in making its planned Alaska Junction, Avalon and Delridge Stations distinct and memorable. Hearing about the neighborhoods where the stations will be located is valuable to STart. The stations are currently in design and planned to be in service in 2032, connecting West Seattle with the existing Link 1 and 2 Lines. You can learn more here.
STart is working to identify locations for permanent integrated artwork and long-term rotating displays of temporary artwork. Due to the layout of the West Seattle stations, most of the opportunities will be for two-dimensional works that will be translated into a durable medium—such as cut metal, glass, porcelain enamel or mosaic—either fabricated by the artist or a third-party fabricator contracted by STart. This can be a chance for painters, photographers and printmakers to be part of the stations’ public art display. There may also be a few opportunities for works of sculpture to serve as station landmarks and draw passengers to entrances.
Artist Candidate Pool Application
STart will soon accept applications to create a pool of artist candidates for future commissioned permanent and temporary public art projects. Application materials will focus on artist’s past work, not on proposals.
This Artist Candidate Pool will be used to identify and review candidates for opportunities at the Alaska Junction, Avalon and Delridge Stations currently planned for the WSLE. Selected artists for the Artist Candidate Pool will not be under contract with Sound Transit and are not guaranteed a commissioned public art project but will be eligible as candidates until May 31, 2028. STart reserves the right to use the Artist Candidate Pool for additional art opportunities on other Sound Transit projects and to reopen the application process as needed to support additional development projects.
STart projects are developed to welcome passengers to our stations, help them find their way and relate the stations to their surrounding communities. Artists selected for STart opportunities should expect to adhere to those goals.
Questions? Please email any questions and/or interest in the Artist Candidate Pool to start@soundtransit.org.
Never a dull day at Easy Street Records in the heart of The Junction, but as previewed in our Saturday list, this one is really jumping – it’s Record Store Day, which offers special deals, treats, and sights. WSB contributing journalist Jason Grotelueschen sent a few scenes:
Making an appearance for just a few hours, that’s the legendary touring van used by The Melvins, featuring art by Kurt Cobain. Past the van and on down Alaska, people were still lined up as of about an hour ago:
Inside the shop, Easy Street proprietor Matt Vaughan is the busiest man in showbiz, with freebies as well as sales – he told us about 500 people were in line when the store opened at 7 am!
Vaughan said some of the hot albums of the day (all of which sold out quickly after the store opened) included Wicked: The Soundtrack (purchased by the first two people in line), Gracie Abrams, MJ Lenderman, Charli XCX/Billie Eilish, Oasis and The Cure.
The shelves continue yielding treasures, curated and restocked by staff including “Upstairs Andy” Nelson, Easy Street’s “vinyl czar:”
Outside, legendary Seattle music scene photographer Charles Peterson shared stories (of the early days of Mudhoney, Nirvana, Green River, Sub Pop Records etc) with a crew from Julien’s Auctions, as the van makes its last public appearance before it goes to auction in New York City in late May:
Easy Street is open into the evening – this year’s RSD show features SYML, already sold out, so if you see a crowd at the corner tonight, that’s what it’s all about.
NOON UPDATE: Still a good crowd of people waiting to get into the shop (the line is shorter than it was this morning, though – it stretches to the alley near Darby Winery) as of noon.
The wait is finally over… we’re back. The Musical that Stone-cold-stunned the world returns with WWE: THE MUSICAL: The Album Version! Relive the legendary student-led performance and follow John Cena as he fights, sings, and wins his way to the top! he WILL fight, he WILL learn lessons, and he WILL call his mother. 
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