West Seattle, Washington
05 Sunday
(WSB photos/video)
Today’s the day Deb Schwartzkopf has been working toward for a long time – the grand opening of Rain City Clay in Arbor Heights. As we first reported nine months ago, it’s an expansion for her, joining Rat City Studios in White Center. This is a big space that facilitates not just art but also classes. Lots of work space – here for example are kilns:
Today’s celebration is on until 7 pm – with tours, refreshments, and art to enjoy – you can see how Rain City Clay has been renovating the former Brace Point Pottery:
Live music, too, with the Bobby Medina Jazz Quartet:
Rain City Clay is in the heart of Arbor Heights, at 4208 SW 100th.
Nine months after artist Deb Schwartzkopf announced her plan to open Rain City Clay in Arbor Heights, the grand-opening day is almost here. Tomorrow (Saturday, April 2nd) from 2 pm to 7 pm, you’re invited to drop in for an extravaganza including food, tours, art (of course), activities from 2:30 to 4 pm and live jazz starting at 4. (The full celebration lineup is here.) Schwartzkopf already operates Rat City Studios in White Center and is expanding to West Seattle by opening Rain City Clay at what was Brace Point Pottery (after 25 years, Loren Lukens sold the studio to move out of state). After the party, classes at Rain City Clay (4208 SW 100th) start Monday.
(Cast of “This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing” – photo by John McLellan)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“One of the most beautiful things about this story is, it’s universal, in so many different ways.”
That’s just one reason Johamy Morales, the West Seattleite directing the current play at ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, recommends you go see it.
“This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing” by Finegan Kruckemeyer isn’t just something to be seen, but also experienced, Morales explains, saying the production is interactive, breaking the “fourth wall.” “This Girl” tells the tale of three sisters, “left in the forest by their woodcutter father,” who take three different paths in life, as the title suggests, and meet again 20 years later.
It’s an all-ages play, Morales says, and “everyone in the audience can see a piece of themselves in a moment or two throughout the show … especially right now resonating … about so much need for creativity and imagination as we grapple with difficult things in our personal lives.”
(WSB photo/video)
Tonight, rising star Maisie Peters, from the UK, is performing a sold-out show at the Vera Project on the Seattle Center campus – but first, she stopped at Easy Street Records in the West Seattle Junction for an acoustic set two hours ago. Here’s part of her song “Psycho”:
Easy Street has another free in-store show tomorrow night (Saturday, March 26th) – Texas musician Scott Ballew, 7 pm, free and all ages.
More thanks to the person who tipped us about Super Supplements‘ closure plan – they also told us West Seattle artist Desmond Hansen was painting a new signal-box mural steps away, on the northeast corner of California/Fauntleroy. His new portrait of Jimi Hendrix is on the back of the cabinet on which he painted the rock legend four years ago this month. That anniversary, he told us today, is the inspiration for the new painting. He’s since branched out far beyond West Seattle; you can see more of his work here.
(WSB photos)
The coterie of artists and poets who have been creating signboard art installations along SW Holden by Highland Park Improvement Club [map] have done it again. They welcomed spring this morning by placing newly painted boards voicing hope – with the flip sides spelling HPIC via bird portraits:
The bird portraits were inspired by David Allen Sibley‘s book “What It’s Like to Be a Bird.” The creators are, from left below, Monica Cavagnaro (lead painter), Judith Camann (poet), Kay Kirkpatrick (themes), and Kelly Lyles (fonts):
Kirkpatrick says, “We just want people to have a good time while sitting in traffic.” The “hope” expressed by the boards this time has multiple meanings – including hope that the West Seattle Bridge will indeed reopen this year, removing some of the detour traffic that’s filled Holden, and hope of a rebirth for the fire-gutted HPIC building. (Next meeting about the rebuilding project is April 6th – watch HPIC’s website for details on that, as well as for word of a community cleanup on the citywide Day of Service April 23rd.)
P.S. It’s been more than a year and a half since the first HPIC streetside-art boards!
Two more murals to show you, if you haven’t seen them already:
FOGUE GALLERY: Art inside, and now art outside too! That new mural by Tyson Krank is now adorning the front of Fogue Gallery (4130 California SW; WSB sponsor). The tree shadow isn’t part of the art, but fits right in!
A bit further south:
COMPASS: Thanks to Mara Haveson from Compass Real Estate in The Junction for sending the photo of the huge mural recently completed behind her office and the adjacent building on the west side of the 4500 block of California SW. She says, “It was done by Glam Dusty, the same artist that did the mural on the coffee shop off 35th.” (That’s the recently restored Birdhouse mural.)
P.S. Both Fogue and Compass participate in the monthly West Seattle Art Walk – next one April 14th.
(WSB photo)
That’s artist Mike Dupille, who is painting a mural on a garage door in the 7100 block of Beach Drive SW, near the north entrance to the Lincoln Park shoreline – visible to people walking, biking, running, or rolling to and from the park. The mural will spotlight some of the wildlife who live in and near the park. The mural was commissioned by the garage’s owner, Sharon Best, who tells WSB, “This project serves three goals. The first is to allow me to use my small voice to help develop an appreciation of art in the community. The second is to provide one artist a little money he might not otherwise have at a time when arts funding is desperately lacking. The third is to highlight the place of parks as homes for wildlife in the community.” Dupille, who has a West Seattle studio, says he hopes to finish the mural next week, depending on how much the forecast rainy weather gets in the way.
Still time to go out and meet artists during the March West Seattle Art Walk!
That’s Naomi Cox, who’s featured tonight – and all month – at West Seattle Grounds (2141 California SW), where you’ll find her until 8 tonight. She describes the work she’s showing as “using primarily watercolor and pen—loose and full of color. This show is a collection of some of my favorites—from walks, on drives, in the kitchen, and around Seattle—created as a set of art prints. I love it when my paintings brighten someone’s day, show a different perspective, invite a conversation, and help people connect to each other and their surroundings.”
Always a highlight on Art Walk night is Fogue Gallery (4130 California SW; WSB sponsor), with a variety of ongoing displays. Tonight’s featured artist is RobRoy Chalmers:
Also in The Junction, we recommend a stop at Doll Parts Collective (4448 California SW) – we got there too early to photograph featured artist Katharina Pritzl – but her work is fun to see, as is some of the quirky shop’s merchandise.
See the full venue list plus a multitude of artist previews on the Art Walk website, and look for Art Walk flags/banners outside participating venues; the three receptions we’ve mentioned above are all scheduled until 8 tonight.
Young singer in the household? You have until tomorrow to sign up for Endolyne Children’s Choir in time for the spring session. Here’s the reminder sent by ECC:
Registration for Endolyne Children’s Choir’s spring session is now open. We invite children in grades K-12 to join us for our spring session, featuring “Broadway Favorites.” We have a ton of fantastic music, choreography, and fun planned for our singers! Click here to register. Registration ends on Friday, March 11th.
Spring session dates: March 15-June 7, with a concert and celebration on June 12
Rehearsal location: Parish Hall at St. John the Baptist Church: 3050 California Ave SW.
Rehearsal times:
Debut: 4:30-5:30 (for all singers in grades K-2)
Encore: 5:45-6:45 (for all singers in grades 3-5, and new ECC choristers in grade 6)
Advanced Ensemble: 7:00 – 8:30 (returning ECC choristers in grade 6, and all singers in grades 7-12)Tuition: We offer 5 tiers of tuition pricing, from full tuition to full scholarship. You will select your tuition option when registering.
Safety: We will continue to follow our successful Covid Safety Plan.
Our staff and volunteers are fully vaccinated.
Our rehearsal space is large and well-ventilated.
All singers must provide proof of Covid vaccination.
Singers will maintain a minimum 6 feet of distance when singing.
Singers must wear medical-grade 3-layer masks at all times (we always have masks available at rehearsal.)
Please forward this on to friends who might be interested. We are happy to welcome new singers at any choir level.On behalf of all of us at ECC, we look forward to seeing you on March 15.
Received today from the West Seattle Community Orchestras:
West Seattle Community Orchestras reports that after too much of this:
. . . it’s once again eager to return to this:
We invite you to join us! THERE’S STILL TIME TO REGISTER! But hurry! Some sections are filling up quickly!
In addition to our three orchestras (Debut, Concert and Symphony), we once again will offer beginning strings classes for students and adults.
Whether you’re new or a returning member, you will need to register: wscorchestras.org/register. All participants 5 and older must show proof of vaccination at the time of registration.
Auditions for NEW members are to be held Tuesday, March 15, at Fauntleroy Church. Also on that date Beginning Strings classes will resume, also at Fauntleroy Church.
By the way, this is a great bargain: Students participate for FREE; adults pay a modest fee.
We have a great session planned and hope you’ll join us!
P.S. Brownie points for anyone who can identify the music and/or the composer!
That’s some of the art by Alaina Bryan that’s on display at Locust Cider on Alki. It’s her first show, and you can meet her during a 4-10 pm reception there tomorrow (Saturday, March 5th). Here’s her story:
I’m a 24-year-old artist from West Seattle specializing in a unique art technique that I call “claynting”- that is, painting with polymer clay on glass surfaces. I invented the technique in 2019 while recovering from a traumatic brain injury. Nearly 3 years later, I am fully recovered, much thanks to my art therapy. I work now as a full-time self-employed artist while studying UX Design in online grad school. My injury has made me determined to do what I love with the time I’m given, and given me a passion for accessibility, especially in the arts & entertainment industry.
I have approximately 50 works of art, all for sale, currently being displayed at Locust Cider on Alki, including many of my original clay works. All of my works are created from secondhand or ‘upcycled’ materials, including the large polymer clay windows. Also, many of my pieces are UV fluorescent and/or glow-in-the-dark! This makes for very fun night-time viewing over a delicious glass of cider.
Locust is at 2820 Alki SW, open to all ages.
(Great Blue Heron, photographed by Tom Trulin)
Here’s what’s happening for the rest of this soggy Monday:
SCHOOL CHOICE: Today’s the last day of open enrollment for school choice in Seattle Public Schools – here’s the reminder we published last week.
OPEN D&D: Play 6:30 pm-10 pm Mondays at Meeples Games (3727 California SW).
‘MANIFEST DESTINY JESUS’: Screening of this award-winning Seattle-based documentary, presented online by Alki UCC, 7:30 pm. Discussion afterward. All welcome – registration link is in our calendar listing.
TRIVIA X 3: Here are tonight’s three options for trivia players – 7 pm at Best of Hands (35th/Webster), 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7:30 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Sot something for our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB file photo)
As promised when we checked in last December on historic Kenyon Hall‘s future plans, Dennis James is returning to play the Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ in accompaniment of silent movies next month. Those are two of three live in-person shows just announced by the nonprofit venue. On March 12th, he’ll play at 2 pm for three 1921 films, and then at 7:30 pm for 1922’s “Blood and Sand.” Then at 7:30 pm March 19th, Kenyon Hall will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day weekend with Magical Strings presenting songs, stories, and dances of Ireland. Tickets are $15, $10 seniors and students – request yours ASAP via email at kenyon@kenyonhall.org.
The photo and report are from Bruce:
Fritz Johnston has created a new sculpture at the “Alki” rocks sign, at SW Admiral Way and 59th Ave SW. It replaces the white-painted tree that we used to decorate for holidays.
(Short, silent trailer for ‘Monsters of the American Cinema’)
ArtsWest Playhouse (WSB sponsor) will open its next play soon – but first, you have the opportunity to watch its most-recent production without leaving home. “Monsters of the American Cinema,” by Christian St. Croix, is now available to stream whenever you want to watch it. ArtsWest describes the production – directed by and starring Lamar Legend and also starring Alexander Kilian – as “haunting and humorous.” You can support the playhouse by buying a ticket for as little as $15; they’ll throw in the popcorn (sent to your mailing address)! Start here; it’ll be available online through March 23rd.
The photos are from the Vietnamese Cultural Center (2234 SW Orchard) in West Seattle, during a recent visit by a group from the South Park Senior Center. The VCC is open for visitors on Saturdays, noon-3 pm, or by appointment for group visits like this one.
Haven’t visited the center? It’s been in operation since 2006; here’s some backstory.
Next week is mid-winter break. After that, blink, and it’s suddenly summer. So it’s time to start signing up for camp! In West Seattle, Mode Music and Performing Arts has opened registration – here’s the announcement:
MMPA Summer Camps
June 20th – August 26th
Mode Music and Performing Arts is back in full swing, with camps all summer long! Each week-long camp includes a morning and afternoon session, with a lunch break in between for those who sign up for a full day.
Summer camps will run from June 20th through August 26th. The morning camp runs from 9 AM to 12 PM and the afternoon camp runs from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM.
Partial and full scholarships are available, and camp spots are limited.
Learn more and register for your camps now at modemusicandperformingarts.org/camps.
You can also email education@modemusicandperformingarts.org with additional questions.
MMPA is the nonprofit sibling of Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor).
Learn something new Wednesday night at WEND Jewelry (3278 California SW). They’ve sent word there’s still room in an “Embroidery 101” class with West Seattle artist Emily Juarez: “She will introduce us to a simple embroidery stitch for beginners. You’ll use colorful thread to personalize a simple white cotton tea towel with a fun word or message. No previous experience with embroidery is necessary. All supplies are included.” The class is 6-8:30 pm tomorrow (February 16th) at the gallery, and you can sign up online right now.
That’s Seattle singer/songwriter Ariana DeBoo performing at Easy Street Records in The Junction tonight during the record-release party for Rain City Relief. Along with her solo work, you might also know her from Macklemore‘s 2016 song “Drug Dealer.” She’s one of 10 artists featured on the Rain City Relief album, one of three to play mini-sets at tonight’s party. The record is part of an ongoing campaign to raise money for musicians suffering because of pandemic disruptions. You can donate here, with the limited-edition-vinyl record available for a donation of $25+.
For a look at inspiring and charming art, go visit C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) before month’s end! This month, C & P tells us, the coffeehouse is featuring “West Seattle artist, author, and educator Danitra Hunter (whose) beloved character, Purrdie Burrdie, teaches children about self-love and positivity.” You don’t have to be a kid to appreciate those lessons. We’ve spotlighted the artist previously – here and here. C & P (which has outdoor and indoor seating) is open until 8 pm tonight.
Support your local musicians! Here’s one way to do it – Easy Street Records in The Junction is hosting the Rain City Relief record-release party Saturday night, with performers including Beverly Crusher (above). Here’s the announcement:
Easy Street Records is hosting a release party for Rain City Relief’s vinyl compilation record at their West Seattle store on Saturday, Feb 12, 2022 starting at 5.00 PM. This limited edition one-of-a-kind collector’s vinyl album features 10 of Seattle’s best and brightest rising artists including Chong the Nomad, The Black Tones and Shaina Shepherd. Ariana DeBoo, Beverly Crusher, and All Star Opera will perform during the party. Smokey Brights will be in attendance and other artists featured on the album may also be present. The event is free and open to the public with ID and proof of vaccination.
The album was recorded as part of Rain City Relief’s effort to raise $100,000 to provide direct financial support to Seattle artists who continue to be impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Rain City Relief is produced by The Reef and Seattle Would Tour Foundation with generous support from Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy Foundation, and iconic Seattle businesses including Caffe Vita, Rudy’s, The Edgewater Hotel, Li’l Woody’s, Arvin Goods, Ethan Stowell Restaurants, The Derschang Group, Alaska Air, Georgetown Brewery, PAX®, Weedmaps, House of Cultivar, Heylo, and Moxie’s Mints.
Seattle music lovers are invited to support local artists on Rain City Relief’s website. Supporters who contribute a minimum of $25, will receive a copy of the limited edition vinyl album. The vinyl record will also be available to contributors at Easy Street Records on February 12 and starting February 14, at Sonic Boom Records, Silver Platters locations, Light in the Attic Records, and Royal Records; as well as at select locations of The Edgewater, Rudy’s, Caffe Vita, and The Reef Cannabis’ Mercantile Shop.
Saturday Schedule:
5:00-5:15 PM: Performance by RCR artist All Star Opera
5:15 PM: Welcome and update on Rain City Relief’s fundraising efforts
5:35-5:50 PM: Performance by RCR artist Ariana DeBoo
6:00 PM: Rain City Relief will hand checks to artists
6:10-6:30 PM: Performance by RCR artist Beverly Crusher
(Video by Mark Jaroslaw)
That’s Reese T, who will perform at Peel & Press (6503 California SW) Thursday night as part of Muse Fest: The Power of Women’s Voices. These mini-concerts are happening as a celebration of women musicians, during the February West Seattle Art Walk. You can read about all the musicians and venues here; all but one of the performances are set for 6 pm-7:45 pm Thursday (Intisaar is performing 7 pm-8:30 pm at John L. Scott, 4445 California SW). The performances are all free to enjoy, as are Art Walk displays and artist receptions (that lineup for Thursday is here).
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