West Seattle, Washington
23 Wednesday
Today we’re welcoming Fogue Gallery as a new WSB sponsor. When businesses join our sponsor team, they get the opportunity to tell you about themselves, so here’s what Fogue Gallery would like you to know:
Longtime West Seattle resident Patti Curtis has opened a new Fogue Gallery location at 4130 California Ave SW in West Seattle, just a couple blocks north of the Alaska Junction. Her desire to support the community led Curtis to open Fogue Gallery. The Gallery sponsors and participates in the West Seattle Art Walk, an event on the second Thursday of every month where artists and art-lovers gather from 5-8 pm to share work with their community.
Fogue Gallery has set out to phase out the age-out with a collaborative and supportive group of fifteen local Seattle artists, all over the age of 50. Life may not start at 50 years of age, but it sure doesn’t have to end there either. Curtis decided to embrace her age by calling it Fogue, a take on being an “old fogey.” Her idea was to give each artist, musician, or writer a voice and to have gatherings so the artists could share their art.
The artists display and sell their original fine art and jewelry in a 2-story storefront. “Whether they are emerging, established or reemerging artists, all the work is professionally executed, original, and affordable. Art should be accessible and not intimidating,” says Curtis. “It’s about connection and what speaks to the individual. You can’t go wrong with any of our selections.”
Fogue Gallery also offers interior design and art consultations as an additional service. Receive personalized recommendations for art, décor, and lighting for your home and/or home office. Book an appointment online as well as shop for art in the comfort of your own home at foguegallery.com.
At the gallery, hours are Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 12:00 pm-5:00 pm, AND second Thursday of the month 5:00 pm-8:00 pm for West Seattle Art Walk.
We thank Fogue Gallery for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
(WSB photos)
Father’s Day is tomorrow. Gift-buying is one reason to visit the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse (4705 West Marginal Way) for this weekend’s Native Art Market. Among the artists you’ll meet: Margaret Morris, a Tlingit drum-maker from Edmonds:
This hand-crafted/hand-painted art is by Elena Jackson:
You can have lunch at the Longhouse, too – $25 for a salmon-bake meal, until 3 pm today, again noon-3 pm tomorrow – fry bread and corn are available too, and lots of outdoor seating:
The Art Market continues until 5 pm and again 10 am-5 pm Sunday.
You’ve got two hours until sunset … and almost two hours left with Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor) in the house at Best of Hands Barrelhouse (35th/Webster), for the launch of No Surrender, a new brew with proceeds benefiting organizations working to save live-music venues. Outside, adjacent to the Best of Hands patio, visit the TRG table for $5 raffle tickets to turn up the volume on the cause – you could win a swag bag with a pint glass, gift card, and more. And if you haven’t had dinner yet, the Taqueria La Original truck is there too:
What about the beer, you ask? BoH describes it: “NO SURRENDER HAZY IPA features a boatload of STRATA & SABRO hops on a generous, pillowy body. Combining our mutual love for The Boss & for live music, this beer’s name is a nod to the Bruce Springsteen song of the same name. Our mission is to help the struggling independent music venues of WA state, devastated like so many industries by the pandemic.We need the arts and music more than ever. We will see them resurrected. As the song says, ‘no retreat, baby, no surrender’.” The festivities are on until 9 pm.
6:08 PM: By this time tomorrow we might see rain – so get out now and enjoy the sun – this month’s West Seattle Art Walk is on!
(WSB photos by Torin Record-Sand)
Leonardo Lanzolla is one of the artists you can meet tonight. He’s at Fogue Gallery (4130 California SW) until 8 pm with his exhibition “All Creatures Great and Small.”
We’re stopping at a few other venues, so we’ll add more photos later. You can map your own West Seattle Art Walk route, with stops for art as well as for various establishments’ food/drink specials, by checking the official list/preview here!
6:56 PM: Julia Douthwaite Viglione is at West Seattle Grounds (2141 California SW) until 8 pm:
She’s showing her quilts, which are on display all month long, plus having an 8 pm drawing for a free quilt and offering this game:
Participants will find a long table marked with blue tape outlining a 5×3 grid and a pile of 10” sewn quilt squares in various textures and colors and patterns. People will lay out the squares in their own designs, take a photo; voilà – an e-quilt! Then you’ll join the drawing for a real quilt on the same design, in the “WIN YOUR QUILT” drawing. (The winner will receive the very quilt they’ve designed, in 6-8 weeks.) A creative, fun time guaranteed.
And one more stop – Mystery Made (4312 SW Oregon) in The Junction:
John Keatley is showing some of his renowned photography, also until 8 pm.
Three nights until the next West Seattle Art Walk, which happens on second Thursdays every month, all year long. Art Walk organizers say more venues are hosting in-person artist receptions this time, so you have more places to explore. Those include Zelda Zonk in Admiral and Flying Apron in The Junction, both of which spotlighted “during business hours” displays during the pandemic but are now returning to welcoming visitors during Art Walk hours. Plus, Art Walk coordinator Reeve Washburn says, “We have an Art Walk ‘first’: Warren Pope, local 3-D artist, is doing an artist open house in the Fauntleroy neighborhood.” Along with visiting venues showing art, you can also stop by restaurants and bars supporting the Art Walk with food and drink specials – they’re listed in Thursday’s official preview , too! The Art Walk officially starts at 5 pm Thursday but as you’ll see in the preview, some events start earlier, some later. Wide variety of art, too – from painting to photography to quilting.
(WSB is a West Seattle Art Walk community co-sponsor.)
Another Pride Month event in West Seattle: An exhibition opens tomorrow at Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery in South Delridge. Here’s the announcement:
Pride art exhibition featuring art from queer BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) artists that embody what queerness means beyond rainbows. Queerness is embodied and full and this art exhibition is meant to give queerness room to breath, in all of its beautiful layers.
Come see and/or purchase artwork and visit the gift shop for art from other BIPOC artists as well!
The Divine: Beyond the Bounds of Queerness
June 5 – June 27, 2021Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery
9414 Delridge Way SW,Hours: Thursdays – Sundays 12 PM – 6 PM
(1st three photos by WSB)
Thanks for all the tips. A film (actually TV) crew staging in Fauntleroy today will be working in Lincoln Park tomorrow. Here’s what we’ve found out.
A crew member we found at the park today would only confirm that it’s a show for Adult Swim, a late-night block of programming on the Cartoon Network. According to a post on a social-media group for film-extra gigs, the Adult Swim series “Three Busy Debras’ has been shooting at the Harbor Island soundstage recently unveiled by King County, so that could be it.
The note on the door of that rental truck says “Alive and Kicking Inc.,” which is the Cartoon Network entity that produces live-action programming including “Three Busy Debras.” The signage in the Lincoln Park north parking lot says they’ll be filming 5 am to 9 pm tomorrow, using the lot as well as some of the trails.
(Photo sent by Irene)
Frances Gifford has just opened The Clay Cauldron, a pottery studio, in North Delridge, and plans a Memorial Day open house to introduce her new business to the neighborhood. Stop by 5214 Delridge Way SW between noon and 8 pm on Monday (May 31st). You’ll be able to sign up for classes or studio use. She’s also planning a drawing for 25 percent off a class of your choice. And if you’re there between 4 and 6 pm, you can enjoy live music by Sundae + Mr. Goessl. (You might already know Frances from local involvement including the Alki Art Fair and Fauntleroy Fine Art and Gift Show. If you have questions, email theclaycauldron5214@gmail.com.)
That wasn’t just a beach picnic at Lincoln Park on Sunday – it was a publication celebration! Back in February, we reported on a call for contributions to a zine to be published by West Seattleite Lauren Grosskopf‘s Pleasure Boat Studio. Now the 100-page zine, Kids for Kids, is out and the publisher invited contributors and their families to an informal gathering at the beach. She printed 100 copies of the zine, which features art, stories, poetry, and comics – with contributors getting them free – and while about half are spoken for, the rest are available for purchase at $15 by going here (where you can also download a PDF version free).
Two reminders for tonight:
WEST SEATTLE ART WALK: Celebrate spring, art, and local businesses by joining in tonight’s Art Walk! The official preview has been updated and expanded since we mentioned it last weekend, with a full list of who’s participating this month. Here’s a quick list of who’s open with in-person artist receptions – all over the peninsula from Admiral to Arbor Heights:
West Seattle Grounds (5-8 pm)
West Seattle Runner (5-7 pm)
Wend Jewelry (4-8 pm)
Fogue Gallery (5-8 pm)
Mystery Made (5 pm “till late”)
Verity Credit Union (5-8 pm)
Capers (5-7 pm)
Wild Rose’s (6-8:30 pm)
Snip Its (5-8;30 pm)
Brookdale West Seattle (3-5 pm)
Canna West Seattle (6-7 pm)
Viscon Cellars (5-8 pm)
Resolve Chiropractic (5-8 pm)
Brace Point Gallery (5-8 pm)
Multiple restaurants/bars have food and drink specials, too! For locations, artist details, links, maps, go to the official Art Walk preview.
WORDS, WRITERS, SOUTHWEST STORIES: If you’d rather cozy up with an online author presentation, this monthly series presented by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society is happening tonight too. At 6 pm, hear from author David Williams about jhis book “Homewaters: A Human and Natural History of Puget Sound.” Free but you have to register to get the link – go here.
Another highlight of the week ahead: This month’s West Seattle Art Walk on Thursday night. And the early outlook is for a rainless night, so you might as well just go ahead and plan to check it out. While The Junction remains the heart of the Art Walk, other participating businesses cover the peninsula north to south – from Admiral to Arbor Heights. The official May Art Walk preview already has some of the venues and artists listed – see them here, along with some of the venues supporting the Art Walk with food and/or beverage specials that night. Go early, go late, visit one venue, visit 10 … you can choose how to experience the Art Walk (including online!). P.S. WSAW community co-sponsors include WSB.
The musicians are masked and the instruments have special covers, as the West Seattle High School Band gets back to business. The West Seattle Music Boosters shared the photos and some video:
The Marching Band resumed rehearsals a few weeks ago, while the Jazz Band had its first practice today. The Music Boosters note, “Mr. Thomas went to great lengths to obtain SPS permission and put the many safeguards in place. As you can see, proper masks and instrument covers were purchased, and kids are distanced and outside.”
The Music Boosters add, “Other things you didn’t know you needed were clothespins! If you happen to be by Hiawatha on a Wednesday afternoon, cheer them on.”
Following up on the West Seattle Junction public art that was defaced by racist vandalism:
(WSB photo)
Artist Desmond Hansen, commissioned by the West Seattle Junction Association to paint this box and then to fix vandalism, has repainted it with a new look. Now it’s a portrait of Dick Gregory, civil-rights activist and humorist, with a quote on the south side, and a fist – originally part of the street-facing side of the box – on its east side:
(WSB photo)
The restoration cost was $750 and donations covered the cost, WSJA executive director Lora Radford tells WSB. That same fund is covering the cost of Bob Henry‘s work restoring the Hi-Yu Parade mural on the south wall at the Junction Post Office:
(This photo and next, courtesy WSJA)
A vandal attempted to paint out Black and brown people in the crowd, as reported here last winter; Henry’s work restored them:
He also cleaned that mural and gave it a vandalism-resistant treatment. While the signal-box mural dates back to last year, the Post Office mural was one of the original West Seattle murals created ~30 years ago.
(L-R, Sam Llanillo, Gabi Meredith, Michael Smithgall, Dominique Ocaña, Koh Casaba, Henry Parker, Neizer Olivera, Peyton David Smith. Photo by Nate Watters)
Above are the members of Aurora Avenue – a band that’s not quite a year old but recently was chosen to perform in the annual regional showcase SOUND OFF! Founder Koh Casaba says it’s for “the top 12 under-21 musicians/bands in the greater Pacific Northwest.” Five members of Aurora Avenue are West Seattle High School students, and the band practices in Koh’s North Admiral front yard:
(2020 photo from Aurora Avenue’s first rehearsal)
SOUND OFF! is presented by MoPOP, which plans to stream the show two weeks from tonight – Saturday, May 15th, starting at 7 pm. Pay-what-you-can tickets are available at this link. Koh hopes West Seattleites will tune in: “I owe our success to the amazing community I was able to grow up around.” Before SOUND OFF! you can hear a sample of Aurora Avenue’s music – described as “J-Pop influenced” and “bright” – on the band’s Instagram page.
(WSB photo, June 2020)
That’s our photo from June 6, 2020, when artist Desmond Hansen painted a Black Lives Matter mural on the signal box at 42nd/Alaska, same day that thousands gathered in the heart of The Junction to call for racial justice. A reader tip called our attention to recent vandalism defacing the mural – a vandal has painted out the fist and the words. The original mural was commissioned by the West Seattle Junction Association, whose executive director Lora Radford tells WSB this box has been vandalized, and repaired, before. Fixing it again will cost at least $250, and WSJA, a nonprofit, welcomes donations, either here, or via Venmo to @westseattlejunction. This follows a vandal targeting depictions of a family of color in the mural on the Junction post office; that’s undergone recent repairs as part of planned restoration work.
You have until 3 pm to sign up to watch this tonight or tomorrow night:
There is still time to get on the ‘Guest List’ for Alki PTA’s Musical Premiere Online Viewing Parties. RSVP by 3:00 PM today! alkimusical.square.site
Alki PTA’s first Online Musical premieres TONIGHT (Super Cast!) and Friday (Awesome Cast!) at 6:30 PM! If you have already donated, purchased from the Bake Sale, or added your name to the Guest List, your Viewing Party Zoom live stream links are in your inbox! Email info@alkipta.com if you do not see them!
The Alki Elementary PTA has a triple invitation for you – involving entertainment, flowers, and treats. Here’s the announcement:
Broadway has been dark for over a year… But the lights are bright at Alki Elementary! Alki PTA is thrilled to announce the 10th anniversary of their musical theater enrichment program with this year’s musical, Super Happy Awesome News! Thursday, April 22nd (Super Cast!) and Friday, April 23rd (Awesome Cast!) at 6:30 PM.
We’d like to extend the invitation to our surrounding West Seattle schools and community to get on the guest list at Alkimusical.square.site for a fun family night joining our Zoom viewing parties to watch our pre-recorded shows! You won’t want to miss 29 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Alki performers bringing you this totally new musical from Beat by Beat Press, written during quarantine about kids in quarantine! In this crazy year, we all need a little Super Happy Awesome News!
In Alki PTA Musical tradition, we will be having a Flower & Bake Sale – ONLINE NOW through Sunday, April 18th at midnight – where all proceeds benefit Alki PTA and our community partners: Admiral Theatre, Jones Soda, Cupcake Royale, Alm Hill Gardens, Treat Cookies, Franz Bakery and more! Pre-order beautiful spring flower bouquets for your home, popcorn buckets for your viewing parties, tasty treats, and cupcakes to celebrate the night! And don’t forget your PBJGBCSWC Sandwich Kit! (Trust us, after watching Chef make this tasty treat during the production, every kid will want to make their own!) Pick up your goods near Alki Elementary April 22nd and 23rd 3:30 – 5:30 PM.
Your $5 suggested donation and/or purchase from the Super Happy Awesome Flower + Bake Sale at Alkimusical.square.site will ensure you are on the Guest List to receive both of the Premiere Viewing Party Zoom links in your inbox the week of the show!
On behalf of the cast and crew of Super Happy Awesome News and Alki PTA, we thank you for your support! For more information please visit alkipta.com
For the first time in more than a year, the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center in West Seattle has opened its doors for a Native Art Market. As you can see in our photo, it’s a distanced layout – Longhouse director Jolene Haas had told the District 1 Community Network this week that they would limit the number of participating artists to allow more space for them and visitors.
You’ll still find a wide variety of art, craft, and apparel items to choose from. The event continues until 7 tonight and again 11 am-7 pm on Sunday. Free admission; mask required. And if you have to park on the other side of West Marginal Way, there is crossing assistance:
The Longhouse’s address is 4705 West Marginal Way SW.
That’s the first West Seattle Art Walk map in a while, now that in-person artist receptions are starting to make a comeback! It’s a beautiful night for the peninsula’s second-Thursday Art Walk, and you still have time to get out and do some art viewing. Here’s this month’s preview – not just showing who’s having an event tonight, but also venues where you can see the featured artists’ work all month. And in some cases, both:
Naomi Amber Dawn is this month’s featured artist at Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor). Her collection (read about it here) debuted at the shop tonight. They’ve closed for the evening now, but drop by tomorrow, or the day after, or any time in April.
Some other receptions continue all the way until 8 tonight – like Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor), showing the work of Jenna Roby (above) and pouring wine in its first Art Walk opening since last year. Or head to the southernmost Art Walk stop, Brace Point Pottery (4208 SW 100th), where Warren Pope‘s sculpture is featured. In the north, 16-year-old artist Austin Picinich is painting live at West Seattle Grounds (2141 California SW). Check the preview for other venues – as well as those offering food/drink specials, a longtime Art Walk feature making a comeback.
Some people got candy eggs … some got chocolate bunnies … and at Highland Park Improvement Club, the Easter present was new signage for SW Holden. The photos and report were sent by HPIC:
The Easter Bunny made a drop-in appearance at HPICto help with the installation of our latest “Burma Shave” roadside signage.
We know our fellow West Seattle drivers are feeling the frustration of increasing traffic levels and commute numbers so we wanted to share some of our favorite signs of spring to brighten your commute and a little poem to bring you home westbound on Holden.
Be well and stay safe to all-
HPIC Board, Membership and neighborhood residents
Pictured are Kelly Lyles (bunny), Monica Cavagnaro (straw hat), and Kay Kirkpatrick (green vest), with help remotely from Judith Caman. Photos are by Peter de Lory. P.S. If you missed the previous display – see it here.
(King County Executive’s Office photo)
Call it Hollywood on Harbor Island. Part of the former Fisher Flour Mill – now county-owned – has become a TV/movie-production facility, and King County Executive Dow Constantine showed it off today. From the county announcement:
The 117,000 square-foot sound stage is King County’s first major public investment to bring back a once-thriving film industry and hundreds of family wage, creative economy jobs as the region rebounds post-pandemic.
King County crews and contractors re-wired and built interior sound-proof walls in the former Fisher Flour Mill, purchased by King County 18 years ago to potentially ship solid waste. The work, which cost about $1.5 million, has already attracted a creative economy tenant.
A Hollywood episodic production is preparing to use the space as a sound stage, hiring hundreds of local crew members with family-wage jobs.
As part of his 2019 Creative Economy Initiative, Executive Constantine called for supporting the regional film industry by reducing film permit fees and timelines on King County property, and seeking new ways to promote regional productions. Executive Constantine convened his Film Advisory Board to work with industry veterans to craft the best strategies. The Advisory board quickly identified the need for a regional sound stage to compete with Portland, Vancouver, B.C., and other cities and states.
Attention turned to the former Fisher Flour Mill on Harbor Island.
Film production is classified light industrial for zoning, and a production facility is best suited to be in a commercial or industrial area. Harbor Island’s location is ideal – close to the urban center, but relatively isolated.
The condition of the Fisher Flour Mill warehouse, the height of the ceilings, and the integrity of the structure all make it perfect for long-term film production use. The production currently using the sound stage wishes to remain anonymous. The film industry typically seeks to downplay its presence in a community for a variety of reasons, including security and marketing.
The goal of King County Harbor Island Studios is to create the infrastructure needed to land a wide variety of projects – from feature films to commercials – which pay union wages to carpenters, electricians, prop masters, costume designers, and other trades.
The announcement also notes that the “last major episodic television production in Washington was ‘Northern Exposure.’ (which) set up shop in a warehouse in Redmond and produced six seasons starting in 1990.” King County bought the ex-mill site in 2003.
(WSB file photo)
The Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center is planning its first Native art market in more than a year. April 10-11, 11 am-7 pm each day, the Longhouse (4705 W. Marginal Way SW) will open for the Spring Fling Pop-Up Art Market, promising “deals and treasures from Native artists.” COVID safety precautions are planned – masks will be required, and temperatures will be checked. Admission is free.
That’s Mindi Katzman with what she says is a West Seattle first! She sent the photos and report:
West Seattle now has its own Little Free Art Gallery, set up by me and installed yesterday. The idea is to promote a little cheer, delight, and fun…and of course, art.
Anyone can drop off a small piece, either two- or three-dimensional (potters – think small seconds or firsts; painters – small pieces etc.) This is for everyone and anyone. Take a piece, leave a piece, or both!!! But PLEASE, do not take the figures, easels, or bench.
This was possible thanks to the efforts of Ken Cermak, who built it; Brian Mooney, who installed the post; Natalie Dupille, who cheered me on and helped install the gallery; and Emme Dupille – who contributed the first piece. And of course, Stacy Milrany, Milrany.com, who has made the concept take off. I look forward to seeing what comes and goes.
The Little Free Art Gallery is in Morgan Junction, 38th Avenue SW, between Morgan and Graham.
| 3 COMMENTS