West Seattle, Washington
21 Tuesday
FRIDAY NIGHT: Thanks for the tips! We finally made it over to Camp Long a short time ago to see what was being filmed there. Security told us it’s a TV project titled “Penelope.” According to productionlist.com, this is the plotline: “Feeling out of place in a society that seems to be moving on without her, a 16-year-old is drawn to the wilderness where she begins forming a new life for herself.” Brothers Jay and Mark Duplass are listed as the producers; they are midway through a “first-look deal with HBO,” according to trade publications.
SATURDAY MORNING: After more tips, we confirmed that’s what the crews at West Seattle Stadium today are for, too.
Plans for this year’s West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays are proceeding, and this year will bring something new: GLOWS – Glorious Lights of West Seattle. WSJA executive director Chris Mackay says it’ll have multiple components, but right now they’re starting with a call for artists for a “light fashion show” as part of the biggest Hometown Holidays night, Saturday, December 3rd. There’ll be a community light-costume contest – how brightly can YOU shine? – and that’ll be judged by five artists who will each create a “costume of light” to wear as they promenade around The Junction 5-9 pm that night. Each chosen artist gets a $1,000 stipend, Interested? Here’s the application form.
Sunday looks like the best day this weekend for outdoor events, and we have a few to preview. First – the Makers’ Art Market at High Point Commons Park on Sunday afternoon. This market has brought together dozens of local artists, crafters, and other creators at other locations, most recently Alki, but this time they’re teaming up with the High Point Open Space Association to bring the market to the park. More than 30 local makers and small businesses are participating. It’s a family-friendly event, too. The park is at 3201 SW Graham, and the market is set for noon-5 pm Sunday (October 23).
Back from a few stops along the October West Seattle Art Walk:
New Age Flamenco performed at Verity Credit Union (WSB sponsor) as one of the two groups in this month’s Art of Music lineup. Also at Verity, artist Marie Skoor was showing “The Private Collection of Sir Winston Mumford Johansson III“:
Despite the title, she is actually the artist; as explained on the Art Walk website, the drawings she showed “represent an imagined collection of a turn-of-the century explorer, adventurer, and amateur paleontologist: Sir Winston Mumford Johansson lll. The charcoal drawings have been done on heavily textured board, canvases, and panels to give an overall effect of the fossil subjects having been chiseled out of stone. The stark drawings are balanced with canvases painted in pastel hues. The charcoal drawings are a contrast from the artist’s usual use of a bright color palette using acrylic paints. The storytelling that accompanies the drawings are archival ‘item cards,’ meant to invoke an air of whimsy, returning us to the curio collections and oddities found in museums at the turn of the century.”
We also visited Rain City Clay in Arbor Heights for the opening of a juried show, “Percolate,” featuring “works surrounding the theme of coffee and tea.” Jennifer Fujimoto is the show’s juror:
Also among the 24 artists participating in “Percolate,” Erin Shafkind:
If you couldn’t get to the studio, “Percolate” continues online for the next two weeks. Also remember that many of the Art Walk venues keep display up all month, so you can see local artists’ work even if you weren’t able to go out tonight. Art Walk is always on the second Thursday, so the next one is November 10th.
(Mary Springer, 2013 WSB photo)
It’s the end of an era for West Seattle community theater, in more ways than one. Here’s the announcement sent by Twelfth Night Productions:
After nearly 30 years, Mary Springer has decided to retire as Artistic Director of Twelfth Night Productions (TNP) in 2023. Mary is the heart and soul of this organization and has created a magical community of theater lovers, performers, and artists. Her background in education and incredible gift of community building made her the perfect leader for this endeavor. With her at the helm, TNP mounted technically challenging productions, simple yet soulful radio shows, small ensemble pieces, and everything in-between. This company made our community of West Seattle stronger and richer.
TNP’s mission has always been to create a joyful and supportive place for people to explore the performing arts. With a focus on the process, not the product, the community that was built here is truly remarkable. Many generations of performers have discovered or re-discovered a passion for performing on our stages. Professional actors have sharpened their skills with us before going on to have distinguished careers. There have been multiple marriages and deep friendships forged among community members who met while working with TNP.
The amount of time and work it requires to lead this community is immense and Mary’s always-present helpers, Kathy Ayer and Rick Springer, are also ready to ease into retirement. Earlier this year, we were also informed that our costume storage warehouse has been sold and will be torn down in 2023. Considering those challenges, it is with both sadness and excitement for the future that we announce we are closing our production company in 2023. The last few years have certainly taught us that you can never say never, but for now we are making the hard choice to close the curtain.
We have had an incredible run and feel confident that our legacy of community building, joy, and inspiration will be remembered well into the future. Our holiday radio play, Miracle on 34th Street, directed by Mary, will be our final production, and then we will work on continuing to liquidate our inventory (check our website later this monthly for sales dates in October and November) and celebrate our 30 years of theater.
Save the date for a huge party to celebrate this amazing community; on 2/25/2023 we would like to invite you all to The Hall at Fauntleroy. We’d love to see community members from our entire history for a night of karaoke, dancing, celebrating… and probably a few tears.
Thank you for joining with us, onstage, backstage, in the audience, and at our work parties. This community we all built together is a true gift.
You can also watch the TNP website for the dates of their final production this holiday season.
(September photo courtesy Katie Kauffman)
Last month we reported on that mural in Puget Ridge, “Lukia e Tenifa” by Toka Valu. The mural at 18th/Myrtle is one of four West Seattle installations that are part of the city’s “Art Interruptions” program; they’re now all detailed and explained here, in a newly published feature on the city’s ArtBeat website. Some are as simple as signs; all are meant to be temporary, the city says, even the mural.
(Photo courtesy WSUP!)
If you’ve got a ukulele, this group is looking for you. Mike at WSUP! sent the announcement:
WSUP! (name includes exclamation mark) – West Seattle Ukulele Players – are people sharing the joy of ukulele and music welcoming all and serving the West Seattle Community. We are open to ukulele players at all skill levels to join together and make music. We meet on Thursdays from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. We supply the links to musical sources we will play from. Currently we are playing outside at assorted locales in West Seattle. To see where we will be playing next, go to our public page or can contact me directly – foxslair (at) seanet.com.
Thanks to Paula for the photos! Two months ago, we reported on the plan to repaint the neighborhood-created intersection mural at 21st/Genesee; today, SDOT crews did the repainting.
Paula says this is actually the third time for the mural designed by Pigeon Point neighbor Toni Wells: “The first two times it was painted by the neighborhood, to be scrubbed away by car tires like big erasers.” SDOT told us they would use a “more durable paint”; Paula said she was told the crew was using a thermoplastic process, which has long been used for certain types of street markings.
(Photo courtesy Senior Center of West Seattle – artist Steffanie Lorig and mural)
The cracked corner windows at the Senior Center of West Seattle building are being replaced today – and that means the temporary murals (explained here before the Alki Arts pop-up week) had to come down. Both were offered for sale, with half the proceeds to the artist, half to the Senior Center. SCWS executive director Amy Lee Derenthal says one mural already has been sold but the other one is available, the one that’s been facing California SW – a 40″ x 80″ mural painted by Steffanie Lorig. If you’re interested, email Alki Arts’ Diane Venti to inquire, at dianeventi@gmail.com.
Mode Music and Performing Arts – the nonprofit sibling to Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) – is about to start fall classes, and some have room to register:
Mode Music and Performing Arts‘s group classes kick off on October 10th, which means there’s one week left to register your kid for one! We’re putting a spotlight on three of our favorites: Ukulele 101, Dungeons & Dragons Campaign, and Songwriting Workshop!
1. Ukulele 101
Grades K – 3
Mondays, 4:00 – 5:00 pmIf you’ve got a little one who loves music and are looking for a place for them to channel that, ukulele classes are a great place to start! Ukulele 101 offers kindergartners through 3rd graders a great chance to learn the basics of an instrument that’s just their size. Our teacher Veronique Littlefield has experience as both a private music instructor and a preschool teacher, making her perfect for intro lessons for our younger students.
2. Dungeons & Dragons Campaign
Grades 4 – 6
Tuesdays, 4:00 – 6:00 pmIs your tween crazy for Stranger Things? Do they love all things fantasy and magic? Sign them up for our Dungeons & Dragons campaign! Our D&D Campaign is led by Dungeon Master Jessie Kuehm, who moonlights as MMPA’s education director when she’s not guiding her fellow campaigners into the forgotten realm. Jessie’s a real expert at the world of D&D, and feels strongly that the game provides students with great social and creative skills like teamwork, collaboration, and the artistry of character building.
3. Songwriting Workshop
Grades 4 – 8
Wednesdays, 5:30 – 6:30 pmSongwriting workshop welcomes all tweens and junior highers who love to scream-sing Taylor Swift/Olivia Rodrigo/Lizzo in their bedrooms (we relate)! Songwriting is an amazing way for kids to own their stories and learn music skills at the same time, and there’s no better teacher to introduce them to it than our own Jared Mitchell. Jared graduated Belmont University with a degree in Music Business with an emphasis in Songwriting, then stuck around Nashville for several years after, where he had an exclusive publishing deal with a local recording studio. He has a passion for sharing all his knowledge with a new generation of songwriters, and will help the kids not only write their own song, but produce a professional-quality recording of it!
Registration info is here. MMPA and Mode are based in North Delridge, right next to the now-open West Seattle Bridge.
That’s a quick clip with the two stars of the season-starting play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor), “Swimming While Drowning,” which opens this week – there’s a pay-what-you-can preview on Wednesday, and the official opening night is Thursday. The play by Emilio Rodriguez is described as “a story of love, poetry, and new beginnings”; read more about it here. Roy Arauz directs; Brodrick Ryans and Gabriel FitzPatrick are the actors. After Wednesday’s 7:30 pm preview, “Swimming While Drowning” will be presented Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 3 pm through October 23rd. Tickets are available online here.
Thanks for the tips! That mural is close to complete on the northwest corner of 36th SW and SW Barton in Upper Fauntleroy. We went over to talk with the artists, Katie Todaro and Alex Nason.
Katie owns Glam Dusty Studios and also created other West Seattle murals including 35th/Henderson and behind Compass Real Estate in The Junction. This one, she laughed, has “all the things” – from Bigfoot to Mount Rainier to a state ferry (the dock is just blocks to the west). Also, a West Seattle Bridge that Katie points out “is NOT broken.”
A bus, too:
Katie told us the mural was commissioned by the corner homeowner, who had long wanted to do something with his “awesome retaining wall.” (Fauntlee Hills was originally the name of the brick-house subdivision a few blocks west.) They started work Friday evening and hope to finish the mural by the end of today.
There’s an old saying that the ultimate way to celebrate something is to have a “brass band” heralding it. Toward that end, the West Seattle Junction’s day of celebrating the reopening of the West Seattle Bridge has just been wrapped by music from the 8-Bit Brass Band:
Online, the band describes itself as “your geeky, mobile brass band specializing in bringing our brand of brassy, bangy, and nerdly to the streets and stages of Seattle. … We put a new twist on old favorites from video games, science fiction, fantasy, cartoons, and more.” And that they did, for the bit we recorded on video – let’s just call it Empire-ical:
At least one 8-Bit Brass Band member lives in West Seattle, Kevin Freitas. And he tipped us that another brass band is playing The Junction tomorrow – Filthy FemCorps will be in Junction Plaza Park at 12:30 pm Sunday.
(SPL-provided collage of photos featuring artists who participated in 2018)
This year’s Southwest Artist Showcase is almost here – the art show open to everyone! One week until you can take your creation(s) to Southwest Library, September 28-30, for the October 2-30 show. Anyone who lives in the West/Southwest Seattle area can bring in up to two pieces of art. Library staffers set up the show, and then it’s open all month for everyone to see. After the show ends on October 30th, you have until November 4th to go retrieve your work. This is a non-juried show, no entry fees, in its 30th year at the library. If you want to participate, just bring your art to the library during its regular open hours on those three days. One caveat from the library: “Please note that some works may not be included if their size or construction prevents their effective display in the library.” Questions? Call the library at 206-684-7455.
The fall season of the West Seattle Community Orchestras is approaching – and there’s big news in the WSCO announcement:
West Seattle Community Orchestras (WSCO) invites you to participate in the Fall 2022 session!
West Seattle’s very own community music organization once again is boasting three full orchestras! Registration is now open (see below).
The big news: Our Debut Orchestra now welcomes wind players and percussionists! After existing as a strings-only group due to COVID precautions, our entry-level group will once again include winds (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba) and percussion. Students grades 4 through 12 are especially welcome — and participate FREE! (Adults pay a modest fee.) A few loaner instruments are available to those in need.
Of course, our Concert and Symphony orchestras will be back. Both groups include students and adults. WSCO is hoping to have many wind players and percussionists participate. Also on the agenda again are classes for student and adult beginners wishing to learn to play a violin, viola, cello, or string bass.
WSCO is delighted to have our conducting and teaching staff returning for the new season. They have selected great repertoire, including symphonic classics as well as holiday favorites.
More info is available on the website, but here’s a brief rundown:
— Registration is open through Sept. 25: wscorchestras.org/register
— Tues., Sept. 27: Audition night at Fauntleroy Church. (These are informal auditions, meant to help determine which group is right for you.) A specific time slot will be emailed to you.
— Tues., Oct. 4: Rehearsals begin. (Fauntleroy Church or Chief Sealth International High School)
— More info, email info@wscorchestras.org
Please pass the word to all, but especially to students! We hope to see many newbies of all ages join the many who have participated for years in this great organization!
All around the peninsula, the first-ever West Seattle Art Hop & Shop is on! We visited two of the group sites – above, along the west edge of High Point Commons Park [map], where the crafters showing selling their work included Lillian, who creates with yarn:
Others there include Kevin Marshall with his “fine art functional pottery,” glazed stoneware:
If you’re looking for one-stop shopping, this might be the biggest site – Pathfinder K-8 [map], along the walkway and in the covered area on the north side of the school:
This is the Pigeon Point Craft Fair Festival, and participants are offering a wide variety of handmade items. The breeze drew our ears to the wind chimes at Misty Talkish‘s booth:
A short distance west along the fence, fall colors pop from the handmade “Shabby Chic by Cindy” wreaths:
Other group sites include C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). Many participating artists/makers are set up at their homes/studios too, so you can look at the clickable map (or use this downloadable/printable version) and see what’s closest for a neighborhood stroll. Most of the Art Hop & Shop locations are open until 5 pm today!
A free writing workshop for 8- to 12-year-olds starts meeting in West Seattle next week. The organizers of “Write YOUR Story” say there’s still room for more to sign up, so if you have a young writer in the household, check it out. The first session is Thursday, September 22nd, in the upper-level activity room at Curious Kidstuff in The Junction (4740 California SW). Here’s the flyer. If you have questions, emailjuliawsea@gmail.com.
(Late-summer flowers, photographed by Caity Gerhardt)
Here’s what’s up in the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SPRAYPARK OPEN: The extended season continues through Sunday for Highland Park Spraypark at 1100 SW Cloverdale, open as usual, 11 am-8 pm.
HISTORY HOUR: New series of presentations at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), 11 am, starting with “The Murals of West Seattle.”
DINE-OUT FUNDRAISER: At Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), part of the proceeds 4-10 pm tonight benefit Lincoln Park Co-op Preschool – be sure to mention you’re there to support the preschool!
POSTCARDS TO VOTERS: 5:30-7 pm pop-up at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), gathering for by-mail political action.
ULTIMATE AT WALT HUNDLEY: 6 pm, Thursday night summertime Ultimate pickup games have moved to Walt Hundley Playfield (34th/Myrtle).
POLICE CHIEF FORUM: 6 pm online, the three finalists for Seattle Police Chief answer questions in a live forum. You can watch via Seattle Channel.
BOARD GAME NIGHT: Go play at Meeples Games (3727 California SW), starting at 6:30 pm.
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: Attend tonight’s monthly meeting in person or online, 7 pm, at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds).
BENBOW GOES COUNTRY: Thursday “Nashville Nights“ continue at the Benbow Room (4210 SW Admiral Way), 9 pm. 21+.
Have something to add to our calendar? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Seems like a fitting way to celebrate what’s supposed to be one last day of bridgelessness – travel around the peninsula to meet and buy from West Seattle artists! More than 90 are participating in the first-ever West Seattle Art Hop & Shop, which we’ve been telling you about for a while. Here’s the latest from organizers:
The West Seattle Art Hop & Shop is this Saturday, September 17th from 10 am to 5 pm! This new community-wide arts event features dozens and dozens of artists at more than stops all across West Seattle. On this self-guided, free tour, visitors will discover all kinds of local artists and makers as they hop and shop your way across the peninsula with the tour’s interactive map.
Tour organizers have featured each of this year’s registered artists over the past few weeks, introducing 74 artists and creatives on the tour’s Facebook and Instagram pages, and the tour has put together short videos featuring artists by neighborhood that will post leading up to the event. Artists include emerging and youth participants as well as well-established artists with impressive backgrounds.
“The response to this tour has been beyond enthusiastic,” said one of the volunteer organizers, Johanna Lindsay. “Artists are excited to share their work with the rest of the community, and we hope that people will take advantage of this opportunity to meet their neighbors and support our artist community.”
Many artists opened their doors – or driveways – and are hosting artists they have met through the tour’s artist and host matching aspect. Lorrie Brogan is one veteran artist who is opening her driveway to three artists, “I decided to host other artists as a way of meeting new people in the community and expanding my artist network. Besides, it’s always fun with more people.” High Point Commons Park and C & P Coffee are also hosting multiple artists, and a collective of artists from Pigeon Point have secured space at Pathfinder K-8 to show their work. Take the tour this weekend using the online interactive map to navigate as you go. For those who prefer a paper copy, here is our print-at-home map.
For more information and links to interactive and printable versions of our map, head over to https://wsartwalk.org/west-seattle-art-hop-shop. The West Seattle Art Hop & Shop is organized by an all-volunteer committee of artists and art lovers with generous support from West Seattle Art Walk and West Seattle Junction Association.
Installed this week at 18th/Myrtle [map], just east of Sanislo Elementary, that’s the newest city-funded Art Interruptions work to appear in West Seattle. Thanks to Katie Kauffman for letting us publish her photos – she was there when artist Toka Valu was working with a crew to get the work in place:
The inscription at the north end of the mural explains:
“Lukia e Tenifa”
One of the most cherished ngatu (traditional Tongan mulberry bark paper cloth) motifs from Tonga is the Amoamo Kofe, loosely meaning “caressing bamboo.” Visually, Amoamo Kofe is often depicted to look like 4-5 consecutively larger diamond cutouts stacked on top of one another. This motif can be found on the larger shark and along the water swirls while Octopus displays a series of repeating diamond shapes common throughout Pasifika to represent strength and wisdom in times of conflict. Shark and Octopus continue to honor their peace pact today following their colossal struggle many generations ago.
Summer’s not officially over yet … but the √West Seattle Garden Tour is looking ahead to next summer already, starting with its annual art competition. Here’s the invitation:
The West Seattle Garden Tour is one of the premier garden tours in the Northwest, as well as a fundraiser for local non-profits promoting horticulture, education or the arts. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organized by a group of dedicated volunteers. Since its inception in 1995, WSGT donates about $25,000 annually to local beneficiaries.
In addition to supporting non-profit organizations, the West Seattle Garden Tour provides an opportunity for local artists to showcase their original artwork on tour marketing materials, including the cover of the WSGT ticket book and promotional poster. The winning artist also receives a $500 cash award. Winning and honorable mention artworks will be featured during the May and June 2020 West Seattle Art Walks.
Please accept this invitation to submit your original artwork to the annual WSGT Art Competition. We look forward to receiving and reviewing your submission! Submissions accepted (now through) November 13, 2022.
Submission rules and entry form are available on our website
Thanks for the tips. In our photo, that’s muralist Desmond Hansen, out at 35th/Alaska this afternoon restoring his signal-box portrait of Chris Cornell. As noted here last Sunday, it was defaced (literally, with black paint over the face) about the same time as Easy Street Records‘ south-facing multi-mural wall, which also included a portrait of Chris Cornell. That one, by a different artist, was restored on Labor Day; now this one is restored too. Hansen originally painted it four and a half year ago.
The last West Seattle Art Walk of summer had musical highlights again tonight – two performers for The Art of Music, curated by John Redenbaugh. We got short clips of both – above, Taylor John Hardin outside WEND Jewelry in South Admiral; below, Trevor Ras at KeyBank Plaza in The Junction:
West Seattle Art Walk – with or without music – happens every second Thursday, so set your calendar for the next one, October 13th.
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