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WEST SEATTLE ART: Mural proposed for waterfront park wall, with ‘the whole neighborhood involved’
January 23, 2025 4:54 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photo)

By Aspen Anderson
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

An often-tagged wall on the West Seattle waterfront may be painted with a nearly 200-foot-long mural.

West Seattle resident David Stockert is leading an effort to transform the wall along the north shore of Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook Park on Beach Drive into a community mural, working with local artist Nalisha Estrellas.

Stockert believes a mural could deter vandalism, reducing the need for repeated cleanups by Seattle Parks and Recreation. “I walk my dog along there every day,” Stockert said. “It’s such a beautiful little pocket park, and then I look at that wall that gets tagged — it’s pretty ugly … But murals seem to get left alone.”

(Rough concept by artist Nalisha Estrellas)

Estrellas, known for her murals across the city, plans to involve the community in the project through a paint-by-numbers approach. She has already created a rough concept (image above) for the mural, featuring a nautical theme with orcas and Puget Sound, as showcased on project flyers. Estrellas also plans to incorporate additional wildlife into the final design.

“Let’s get the whole neighborhood involved – everyone can have some ownership over it,” Estrellas said. “They can feel more connected to it, and that way we are actually elevating the community.”

Estrellas works with Urban Artworks, a nonprofit that engages youth, artists and communities in creating public art.

“A lot of those individuals who do graffiti just don’t have an outlet,” Estrellas said. “If they have any interest in working with Urban Artworks … it’s the perfect thing because obviously they are creative, obviously they have something to say … Urban Artworks brings people who are interested in painting and in art to an organization that can give them that outlet.”

The proposed mural would span 189 feet along the concrete wall overlooking Puget Sound. Stockert has submitted the proposal to Seattle Parks and Recreation and expects a decision later this month. If approved, painting is slated to begin in early May.

To fund the project, Stockert launched a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of $10,000 to cover materials and Estrellas’ fees, and is about a quarter of the way there.

“It’s been fun to get to know neighbors and work on a project people are excited about,” Stockert said. “It makes me feel really good.”

(WSB photo)

If you are interested in participating in the painting process, you can reach out to Stockert via email at dstockert@theideamachine.biz for more information.

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TUESDAY: ‘Boom: A Film About The Sonics’ screening @ Easy Street Records
January 20, 2025 8:59 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

That’s our video from a decade ago, when legendary Northwest band The Sonics rocked Easy Street Records in a Record Store Day 2015 show benefiting KEXP. Later that night, Northwest rock royalty joined them, musicians representing bands from Pearl Jam to Tacocat, so it was another luminous night in The Sonics’ half-century-plus history. You can watch some of that history tomorrow night, when Easy Street hosts a screening of the award-winning rockumentary “Boom: A Film About The Sonics,” with director Jordan Albertsen scheduled to be there for Q&A after the movie. Here’s the trailer:

Easy Street promises, “There will be exclusive movie merch, drinks, and killer tunes afterward.” Admission is free but space is limited, so don’t be late – 7 pm Tuesday (January 21).

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VIDEO: Piano prodigy plays as Mode Music and Performing Arts accepts a gift from West Seattle Nursery and its customers
January 19, 2025 7:00 pm
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 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

A mini-concert by 8-year-old Ashton Hart Wecker celebrated a big gift today from West Seattle Nursery and its customers to Mode Music and Performing Arts, the nonprofit sibling to North Delridge’s Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor). Ashton is a performing prodigy who has studied at both Mode and MMPA, both helmed by Erin Rubin, who was at the nursery to accept the gift from WSN proprietor Marcia Bruno with a heartfelt hug:

The gift was in the form of a check for $4,000. Almost half was from WSN customers adding a donation to their holiday-season purchases, exceeding the drive’s goal; the nursery rounded the customer-donation total up to $2,000 and matched that. The donation drive’s progress was tracked throughout the season by a “thermometer” – here’s WSN employee Bella posing with it:

(Photo provided by West Seattle Nursery)

WSN’s Marie McKinsey explains, “Bella did the graphics and came up with the idea to stack presents to indicate where we were with donations. William, our carpenter and maintenance person, built it out of scrap lumber.” Marcia said WSN employees stepped up financially during the campaign too, some by donating their tips! The end result – youth immersed in music education – was exemplified amply by Ashton, who’s been playing piano since age 4. The Westside School (WSB sponsor) student performed other classics including Billy Joel‘s “Piano Man,” and even had a sticker on his keyboard in honor of that artist:

You can see and hear Ashton busking at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market most Sundays. As for Mode, Erin says it has new middle-school programming, and registration is open for this year’s camps – watch for more on that soon. Beyond that, Mode’s move to make way for light rail is still looming in the future, but while Sound Transit continues to wait for the federal Record of Decision, businesses like Erin’s don’t have access to relocation money yet.

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VIDEO: Greater Works at 2025 MLK Community Celebration
January 17, 2025 2:53 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Performances by gospel choir Greater Works were a spirited highlight of today’s MLK Community Celebration hosted by Seattle Colleges at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) in West Seattle. We’re working on a full report about the event but first, we’re spotlighting our video of two of the songs the choir performed.

Greater Works is led by director DaNell Daymon.

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Scenes from first West Seattle Art Walk of 2025
January 9, 2025 5:21 pm
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 |   West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

5:21 PM: At venues from North Admiral to Morgan Junction, it’s West Seattle Art Walk night!

(First two WSB photos by Aspen Anderson)

Our first stop – the northernmost venue, West Seattle Grounds (2141 California SW), where members of The Potholes are providing the soundtrack for visitors to look at art by more than 50 West Seattle High School student artists, some of whom are there until 8 pm.

That’s one of tonight’s venues spotlighted on the Art Walk website; you can see a map with all tonight’s participants here. We’re making a few more stops – updates soon!

ADDED 5:53 PM: At Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor), photographer Ashley Harrison is making her West Seattle Art Walk debut:

We asked about her favorite photo(s) as a backdrop – she chose photos from a recent trip to Costa Rica, including colorful toucans. She’s there until 9 pm, and if you don’t get out tonight, Viscon Cellars usually keeps the same artist for a quarter, so her work will be there through March. (PS – If you do get there tonight, tasting fees are waived for Art Walk’ers.)

ADDED 6:30 PM: Watercolorist Gloria Della Vita is showing “Iconic West Seattle” scenes at Verity Credit Union (4505 California SW) until 8 pm. Her Alki Statue of Liberty painting is one of her favorites, she said:

Gloria told us she is “between websites” so you can inquire about her work by emailing gloriadellavitawatercolors@gmail.com.

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4 things to see – and/or hear! – on Thursday’s West Seattle Art Walk
January 8, 2025 11:48 am
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 |   West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Since tomorrow will be the second Thursday of the month, it brings 2025’s first West Seattle Art Walk.

That’s the list of venues where you’ll find art and/or food-and-drink specials on Art Walk nights this quarter (see a larger version here). Artist receptions are spotlighted here, including these four don’t-miss spots:

WEST SEATTLE HS @ WEST SEATTLE GROUNDS: The northernmost Art Walk stop, West Seattle Grounds (2141 California SW), is featuring more than 50 West Seattle High School students’ work on Thursday night, with “a diverse collection of paintings, photography, sculpture, ceramics, and mixed media works” – plus the WSHS-rooted band The Potholes. 5-8 pm.

ART WALK DEBUT PHOTOGRAPHER @ VISCON CELLARS: 5-9 pm, Ashley Harrison will be the featured artist at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor), her first time as an Art Walk participant. From the preview:

Ashley Harrison takes photos around the Puget Sound region. This show focuses on birds of the PNW, especially herons and hummingbirds, and of Costa Rica. Ashley’s overall work includes wildlife photos, event photos, and portraits of families and meaningful relationships.

If you visit Viscon on Art Walk night, tasting fees are waived.

DEPECHE MIKE @ EASY STREET RECORDS: Easy Street (4559 California SW) usually incorporates music into its monthly Art Walk offerings, and Depeche Mike is spinning vinyl this time around – an art form all its own:

Drop in to the shop/café 6-9 pm.

‘ICONIC WEST SEATTLE’: At Verity CU (4505 California SW), watercolor artist Gloria Carmignani-Breslin will be showing work including scenes featuring West Seattle icons (Alki Statue of Liberty, Bruun Idun the troll, among others). She’ll be there 5-8 pm.

Those are just a few possibilities for tomorrow night – check the list again before you go!

(WSB is a community co-sponsor of the West Seattle Art Walk.)

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THURSDAY: ‘The Untold Story of Northwest Rock ‘n’ Roll’
January 7, 2025 4:18 pm
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 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Second Thursday means the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s monthly online speaker series, Words, Writers, Southwest Stories. This month = 6 pm this Thursday (January 9) – “The Untold Story of Northwest Rock ‘n’ Roll” is the topic, and there’s still time to sign up to watch. First, if you haven’t seen it in the calendar already, here’s the announcement:

Northwest Rock ‘n’ Roll’s historical highpoints are well documented — in the late 20th century, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and other grunge gods took the world by storm. Previously, Seattle’s Queensrÿche and Heart had ruled the heavy metal realm. And prior to that, The Wailers, The Kingsmen, Paul Revere and The Raiders, and The Sonics had all fueled local teen dances with garage-rock versions of the region’s signature song, “Louie Louie.”

Yet these iconic bands are only half the story. In this talk, join author Peter Blecha to discover the lesser-known but vitally important bands and scenes that laid the foundation for what was to come—finally connecting all the dots between the fabled Northwest era of Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, and Jimi Hendrix, and the R&B-spiked roots of a distinct regional artform: the “Original Northwest Sound.”

Peter Blecha (he/him) is the director of the Northwest Music Archives, an award-winning author, a founding curator at MoPop, and a longtime staff historian at HistoryLink.org. Blecha’s newest book, Stomp and Shout: R&B and the Origins of Northwest Rock and Roll, draws on his deep knowledge as a leading expert on Pacific Northwest music history to chronicle both well-known and overlooked icons of the early Northwest Sound. Blecha lives in Seattle.

Go here to register to get the viewing link

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Premiere this week for local filmmaker’s new documentary about former West Seattleite Doris Brown Heritage, once ‘best runner in the world’
January 6, 2025 9:21 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

By Aspen Anderson
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Director Andy Yardy, a West Seattle resident, shares the inspiring journey of world-class runner, coach, and former longtime West Seattleite Doris Brown Heritage in his documentary “Last Lap,” having its first local public screening this Thursday.

The film chronicles Heritage’s rise from running on the beach as a child to becoming one of the world’s fastest women –and includes scenes from Alki Beach, not far from her former home in the Fairmount Ravine area.

“People need to hear her story so they can pursue their passion, whether it’s running or something else,” Yardy told WSB in a phone conversation.

After two years of work, “Last Lap” premiered at several film festivals this summer, winning the “Best Washington-Made Film” award at the Gig Harbor Film Festival — Heritage’s hometown. The documentary also won the 2024 “Best Audience Choice Documentary Feature Film” at the Seattle Film Festival.

This Thursday, January 9, at 7 pm, the Seattle premiere will take place on a double bill at SIFF Cinema Uptown in Queen Anne, followed by a Q&A with Heritage and Yardy. Additional screenings will be held on Saturday, January 11, at 1 pm, 4 pm, and 7 pm at the SIFF Film Center downtown. The 46-minute documentary features footage of Seattle, including Alki Beach and Discovery Park, where more than 50 of Heritage’s fans and former athletes she coached joined her for a memorable run.

“That’s the point that pulls everything together,” Yardy said, reflecting on the rainy scene at Discovery Park. “She [Heritage] talks about that day as one of her favorite days of her life.”

Despite being a champion runner — she made history by winning the International Cross Country Championships five consecutive years from 1967 to 1971 and was the first woman to run an indoor mile in under five minutes — Heritage never earned an Olympic medal, a point Yardy found compelling.

“She was kind of the B-list Olympian,” Yardy said. “She was the best runner in the world, but she never got a medal at the Olympics.”

Heritage competed in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, where she placed fifth in the 800 meters, and the 1972 Munich Olympics. Her coaching career at Seattle Pacific University spanned more than three decades; at SPU, she helped shape the careers of numerous athletes and assisted the U.S. women’s team at the 1984 Summer Olympics and the 1987 World Championships. In 1976, Heritage was named “Washington’s Woman of the Year” by the Washington State Legislature. She lived in West Seattle 1977-2017 with husband Ralph Heritage (a West Seattle High School graduate) and now lives in Stanwood. (Read more of her life’s story here.)

(Photo courtesy Andy Yardy, who’s at left with producer Andrea Groenink, Ralph Heritage, Doris Brown Heritage)

Yardy hopes his documentary will inspire cross-country teams and coaches. While the film currently has no public wide-release date, it is expected to be available on Amazon Prime in the future.

Tickets to the upcoming Seattle screenings are free and can be obtained here.

(Thanks to Frank for the tip on this!)

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New Intergenerational Theater Project inviting student, adult participants
January 6, 2025 9:06 am
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

Student and adult participants are invited to apply for this new “intergenerational” project at Chief Sealth International High School – here’s the announcement we were asked to share:

7-10 students from Chief Sealth International High School will join 7-10 adults (some preference will
be given to seniors, and applications will be considered in the order they are received) chosen by BAYFEST for
a monthly meeting of the new BAYFEST Intergenerational Theatre Project. Fun theatre games and exercises, guided discussions, group collaborations and playwriting will lead to a final “showing” in June.

Project will be led by BAYFEST and CSIHS Drama Company Director Robert Shampain, who has more than 30 years experience leading this type of workshop-format project. Other BAYFEST teaching artists will join us for some sessions.

Over our 35 years, BAYFEST has often worked collaboratively with youth and adult performers, and we always find this kind of cross-generational partnership unbelievably rewarding for all. Now that our Chief Sealth Drama Company has been well established, we want to add this project to our roster of community offerings with the hope of making it a regular and sustainable program each year.

January – June, 2025 – Saturdays or Sundays (group will decide what works best for all). First meeting will take place on Saturday, January 18, from 10 AM – 1 PM at Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium and Little Theatre, 2600 SW Thistle Street.

Interested adults and students (NO THEATER EXPERIENCE NECESSARY – JUST A DESIRE TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES AND, WE HOPE, CHALLENGE YOURSELF A BIT!) can fill out a brief application:
shorturl.at/EEAXw

APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY JANUARY 11, 2025

COST: FREE. This project is being sponsored by BAYFEST Youth Theatre and our funders. We only ask that participants commit to being collaborative, having fun, and following our group-created charter.

NOTE: Because we are affiliated with Chief Sealth High School, adult applicants will also be required to complete the Seattle Public Schools “Volunteer Packet” at: bit.ly/4gTmD4f

YOU MAY SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH FRIENDS WHO MAY BE INTERESTED.
Any questions? Please contact BAYFEST at BAYFESTyouthTheatre@ gmail.com

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WEST SEATTLE ART X 3: Reception tonight, make pottery Monday, Art Walk on Thursday
January 4, 2025 11:10 am
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 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Three events at which you can view or make art in the next six days:

RECEPTION TONIGHT: Painter Christine Sharp of C Sharp Art just sent word of a reception tonight, 5-7 pm, at Alki Arts (6030 California SW) for a new exhibition that’ll be up throughout the month.

MAKE AN EGG HOLDER: Monday night, 6-9 pm, WSB team member Lora Radford has a few spots open in her Potterings class to make a ceramic egg holder. It’s explained here. The class is at The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW) and you can register here.

ART WALK THURSDAY: Again this year, WSB is a community co-sponsor of the West Seattle Art Walk, so we’re reminding you today that the first Art Walk of the year is just a few days away – this month’s second Thursday is January 9th. You can start previewing venues (including those offering food and drink specials) via the map/list you’ll find here.

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WEST SEATTLE GIVING SPIRIT: ‘Find joy, build empathy … make magic’ with ArtsWest, celebrating its first quarter-century
December 27, 2024 5:29 pm
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 |   West Seattle Giving Spirit | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Another one-of-a-kind local nonprofit is in our spotlight tonight so you can demonstrate the West Seattle Giving Spirit: ArtsWest. We’ve been bringing you this special holiday-season opportunity to learn about, and support, some of our area’s nonprofits, in partnership with the Learning Communities Foundation, and tonight, West Seattle’s playhouse and gallery tells you its own story:

ArtsWest is a nonprofit theater located in West Seattle’s Alaska Junction. This season we proudly celebrate our 25th anniversary! Since opening our doors in 1999, we have been producing live theater experiences that celebrate our shared humanity, invite us to ask questions of one another, and imagine a better future together. We firmly believe that theater is for everyone, and by joining us you are automatically a member of our community.

We are the only professional theater between Seattle and Federal Way. We program and produce five thoughtfully crafted and innovative productions per season that invite audiences to explore the human experience with us. When we present beautifully specific stories like Sanaz Toossi’s ‘English’ or John Cameron Mitchell’s ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch,’ we explore universal questions we all have like “Who am I?” and “Where do I belong?”

Last season at ArtsWest we…
– Provided our community with over $22,000 in free and reduced tickets
– Employed over 70 local artists
– Increased our audience by 43% and welcomed 2,000 new audience members

At its best, live theater helps us find joy, build empathy, and in Joseph Campbell’s words, have an experience of being alive. That kind of magic can transcend what happens on stage and impact each of us for a lifetime.

It’s no secret that arts organizations across Seattle and the nation are struggling. Live theater is an expensive business and less than 35% of our revenue comes from ticket sales.

A donation to ArtsWest, no matter the size, makes a tremendous impact. The magic we make in the theater is only possible with support from artists, crew, staff, and most importantly you!

DONATE
VOLUNTEER
LEARN MORE

We have one more West Seattle Giving Spirit spotlight for you on Monday. Learn about all the nonprofits we’ve already featured by scrolling through this archive!

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SUNDAY PREVIEWS: Bonus food drive; local dancers’ ‘Nutcracker Suites’
December 21, 2024 6:13 pm
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 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Advance alerts about two Sunday events of note:

EXTRA FOOD DRIVE: Robbin Peterson from the West Seattle Food Bank tells us the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle will be back at the south end of the Farmers Market tomorrow – California/Alaska – with “a final push to collect non-perishables for WSFB. While the holiday spirit inspires generosity, January often brings a sharp drop in donations—but the need remains. Contributions now will ensure we have the food to support families when regular distributions resume after the holiday. Let’s stock the shelves and start the new year with hope and abundance for all!” Find the booth at the market 10 am-2 pm.

DANCE! WEST SEATTLE: Back during the November West Seattle Art Walk, we recorded that video of Dance! West Seattle previewing “Nutcracker Suites” at Alki Arts. Tomorrow, 1:30 pm at Highline Performing Arts Center, you can see the full show, and Dance! West Seattle asked us to share this final invitation:

On the search for holiday cheer this Sunday? You are cordially invited to join Dance! West Seattle as we perform Nutcracker Suites, a newly choreographed ballet offered to the greater community. This fresh, engaging, charming show is filled with holiday spirit, providing the perfect opportunity for a delightful afternoon out at a great price!

Our 1st Act will be performed by all D!WS students showing demonstrations of what they are working on in classes, followed by our 2nd Act of Nutcracker Suites! Limited tickets are still available for ONLY $28, with no additional taxes or fees, and going quickly! Less than 100 tickets remain! Please email us at info@dancewestseattle.com to secure your seats for tomorrow’s incredible show!

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VIDEO: West Seattle Big Band delights Admiral Church crowd with Christmas classics
December 15, 2024 8:18 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB video)
In a weekend full of holiday concerts, this was no doubt the biggest, boldest, brassiest sound to be found … the West Seattle Big Band performing this afternoon at Admiral Church. We recorded most of the first half, in case you missed it. Above are the first three songs – a medley, “The Christmas Song,” and “Home for the Holidays“; below, “Winter Wonderland,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and “Marshmallow World”:

Jenaige Lane and Sam Henry sang with the Big Band today; they teamed again during “Let It Snow.”

Jim Edwards directs the West Seattle Big Band, whose musicians donate their time and talents, often for students, but in this case, as a fundraiser for Admiral Church itself, getting ready to move out of its longtime home, after choosing to replace it with 21 housing units (primarily affordable homeownership) and a new church.

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VIDEO: Taste of West Seattle Community Orchestras’ holiday music, with another concert Wednesday
December 10, 2024 10:45 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

This is a big week for holiday-season/winter concerts in West Seattle (you can see the list in our Holiday Guide). Among the groups performing are the ensembles within West Seattle Community Orchestras; two presented their free winter concert on Monday night, and two more are performing tomorrow (Wednesday, December 11), 7 pm at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle). Above is a clip sent tonight by Dawn Hepburn, a member of the WSCO Concert Orchestra, from its performance of “Sleigh Ride” on Monday night. No tickets required for tomorrow’s concert – just show up! (Here’s more info about the WSCO.)

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THEATER: ‘Rake’s Progress’ opens Thursday at Chief Sealth IHS
December 4, 2024 9:32 pm
|    Comments Off on THEATER: ‘Rake’s Progress’ opens Thursday at Chief Sealth IHS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

(WSB photos from Tuesday’s dress rehearsal)

Bayfest Youth Theatre‘s Robert Shampain says his students in the Chief Sealth International High School drama program are about to open “one of our best shows ever”! We stopped by last night for their dress rehearsal of “The Rake’s Progress” – here’s how they’re inviting you to come see:

What do Mozart and Lady Gaga have in common? Their music is great, they both like to have a good time, and they’re both featured in our fall play, “The Rake’s Progress” – a modern 18th century fable about Love, Temptation, Greed, and the wages of sin.

Sound heavy? IT’S NOT!!!!

It’s fun, sweet, rollicking, funny and a little devilish (at times…) With great costumes, sets, and lights in our newly-upgraded Performing Arts Center, this is fun for the whole family, and by buying tickets you will be supporting the Sealth Drama Program, which has lost a huge amount of funding this year due to school district budget cuts. Come and support our very hard working teen actors, designers and techs, and crew, who have been putting this show together since September.

Showtimes in the CSIHS auditorium (west side of campus, 2600 SW Thistle):

Thursday, December 5th – 7:30 PM,

Friday, December 6th – 7:30 PM,

Saturday, December 7th – 2:00 PM,

Saturday, December 7th – 7:30 PM,

Sunday, December 8th – 2:00 PM

You can buy advance tickets online here – $14 adults, $9 students – or at the door, $17 adults, $12 students.

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WEST SEATTLE ART: Genesee Hill’s student-designed street mural
December 4, 2024 11:58 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Genesee Hill | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

11:58 AM: Thanks to teacher Vincent Della Pella for the photo! That’s the newly installed street mural on SW Dakota in front of Genesee Hill Elementary. The mural features fox tracks in honor of the school’s mascot, and we’re told the tracks were all designed by GHE students! (Students at GHE have been involved in a mural before, too – here’s our report on a 2023 project.)

12:45 PM: Just talked to GHE principal Liz Dunn by phone, and we learned the mural has quite a backstory – “three years in the making,” she says. It’s part of a “School Street” – closed to through traffic during school hours – she’s long been working toward, in collaboration with SDOT. After that was settled, principal Dunn says, she asked how she could get some art on the street, and SDOT worked with her on that too. The mural components are actually thermoplastic applied to the street, not paint (so we updated the original report to “installed” rather than “painted”). In addition to the fox pawprints, other aspects of the school’s logo – trees, books, music – are incorporated into the mural. Overall, Dunn says, it’s intended to help bring more joy to the school and its students. “This really frames the school beautifully!”

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BIZNOTE: HomeStreet Bank hosts ‘Snowed In (Again)’ playwright for prize drawing
December 1, 2024 11:02 am
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 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

If you’ve been to ArtsWest to see the holiday musical “Snowed In (Again),” that’s playwright Corinne Park-Buffelen at left in our photo. Corinne visited HomeStreet Bank (4022 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) to celebrate the conclusion of ArtsWest’s monthlong showcase at the bank; she and HomeStreet’s Andrew Tento drew two winners for pairs of tickets to see “Snowed In (Again).” Every month HomeStreet’s West Seattle branch showcases a different community business or organization, concluding with a prize drawing – you can enter just by visiting the branch, which is open Mondays-Thursdays 9 am-5 pm, Fridays 9 am-6 pm. The featured business for December is Meeples Games.

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VIDEO: The Dusty 45s delight full house @ Easy Street Records
November 23, 2024 11:50 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

The floor and the loft at Easy Street Records were packed tonight for hometown faves The Dusty 45s, celebrating their new album “All the Beauty in Between.” We couldn’t stay for the whole show but caught several songs including, above, “One Girl,” and below, “Cash in Her Soul“:

Easy Street proprietor Matt Vaughan introduced Billy Joe Huels and his band as “relentless” (and might we say, Vaughan knows a thing or two about relentlessness). Huels, for his part, told the crowd, “I’m Billy Joe, I live right down the street.” He explained the songs were largely written “during the COVID break,” including “Thursday Afternoon,” recalling the simple pleasure of going out for a walk during pandemic times. You can get the album via links here (and listen to clips from the rest of the songs). And if you want to see the band again, albeit outside West Seattle, they have a show at Tractor Tavern next Wednesday.

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MUSIC: The Dusty 45s’ new album out, with Easy Street show Saturday
November 22, 2024 9:12 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Four months after playing at West Seattle Summer Fest, a beloved West Seattle band has a new album out! The Dusty 45s have released “All the Beauty In Between,” produced by West Seattleite Johnny Nails. Saturday night, they celebrate with a live performance at 7 pm at Easy Street Records (free, all ages, as always) plus a vinyl release of the new album. Billy Joe Huels of The Dusty 45s tells us you also can stream the new album at thedusty45s.hearnow.com/all-the-beauty-in-between.

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WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: Every artist has a story at C & P Coffee’s Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair
November 16, 2024 11:30 am
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photos by Tracy Record)

As highlighted in today’s event list, the Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) is on until 2 pm. And if you stop to talk with the artists, you’ll find everyone has a story. For painter Cleopatra Cutler, this is her first time at the fair:

For painter Jennifer Carrasco, it’s her last time. She is offering cards, as well as prints of fanciful scenes showing horses she had painted on a Spokane carousel come to life, from an unfinished children’s book she wrote – telling the story of their wild times after hours:

Angie Marcelynas from The Little Merle has jewelry that’s recycled art, transforming tidbits of items that once had another purpose:

Corie‘s Hello Image wood art is created with lasers:

And Molly Donovan‘s Cashmere Creatures are billed as “emotional support” – eminently huggable:

Other artists are there too – with holiday gift possibilities, or maybe just something to treat yourself to.

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THEATER: West Seattle High School’s ‘Ophelia’ opens Thursday
November 13, 2024 9:00 am
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

(Photo courtesy WSHS)

That’s a rehearsal photo from the next student production at West Seattle High School, opening tomorrow (Thursday, November 14), “Ophelia.” The student cast and crew are hoping you’ll be part of the audience during one of the performances. Here’s what it’s all about:

Ophelia
Book by By Jeff Wanshel

Directed by Allison Irvine, this play imagines a world where, rather than being relegated to an unceremonious offstage death, Ophelia takes center stage in the story of Shakespeare‘s most famous brooding prince. Join us for a night of swords, vengeful ghosts, and perhaps more than one person hiding in the curtains…

The show dates are November 14th, 15th, 16th and 20th, 21st, and 22nd at 7:30.

Here is the link to get tickets.

$10 adults and $5 students

The performance venue is the theater at WSHS (3000 California SW).

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THURSDAY: West Seattle Art Walk and The Art of Music, all around the peninsula!
November 11, 2024 6:23 pm
|    Comments Off on THURSDAY: West Seattle Art Walk and The Art of Music, all around the peninsula!
 |   West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

November’s second Thursday is just three nights out – and it’ll bring you the West Seattle Art Walk featuring The Art of Music. Here’s the list of who’s featuring art and/or food-and-drink specials for Art Walk’ers on Thursday night (November 14):

Individual artists and venues are spotlighted in this preview on the Art Walk website. Highlights this month include Afro SPK‘s reception, 4-8 pm at West Seattle Realty (2715 California SW; WSB sponsor). You’ll also want to roam between the three Junctions to catch this month’s Art of Music performances:

North to south, the Nathan Roz Duo is performing at Soprano’s Antico in Admiral (2348 California SW), Jean Mann is at The Beer Junction (4511 California SW), and Cyd Smith is at Whisky West (6451 California SW). All performances are 6-7:45 pm with a 15-minute midpoint break, no cover. Learn more about the musicians here!

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New music director sought for Fauntleroy Church. Maybe you?
November 8, 2024 2:54 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

As noted in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and on our daily list, Fauntleroy Church has a concert tonight – music and dessert! We’ve since learned that the musician who has led so many concerts and in-service performances at the church is making way for a successor. Maybe that’s you! Here’s the announcement we received:

After nearly 17 years in the role, Fauntleroy Church Music Director Bronwyn Edwards plans to step down in June. Fauntleroy Church is casting a wide net in search of a new director, who will tie music to a theme for each service and work with volunteer musical talent to promote joy and connection. To review the job announcement, visit www.fauntleroyucc.org/jobs.

“Visitors to Fauntleroy Church often mention three things that help them feel at home—our mission, our focus on children’s programming, and our vibrant music program,” said Rev. Leah Atkinson Bilinski, the church’s senior pastor. “Our music program is powerful, thanks to a great director, our choir, and vocal and instrumental ensembles and soloists who present a wide range of sacred and secular music in many different genres.”

The Music Director position is part-time (on average 28 hours per week) and includes benefits. Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume on or before Tuesday, Dec. 31, per directions found at the link above. Fauntleroy Church is a member congregation of the United Church of Christ.

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