West Seattle, Washington
20 Monday
(WSB photos)
Above are artists Kay Kirkpatrick, Judith Camann, and Kelly Lyles, who – along with Monica Cavagnaro – have just unveiled Highland Park Improvement Club‘s first “outdoor sandwich-board art display.”
They describe “Drive By and Sign Hi” as a “Burma Shave Ad-inspired recycled creation … a multimedia, multicultural, multilingual piece created to amaze and amuse your WS Bridge Detour route drive.”
It’s on the north side of busier-than-ever SW Holden, right outside HPIC (between 11th and 12th SW), and expected to be up into September.
That’s West Seattle High School senior Jonah Elbaum, and if you listen to 88.5 KNKX between 8 and 9 pm tonight, you’ll hear him as a guest jazz DJ! His mom Mindy Elbaum explains, “His band director Ethan Thomas reached out asking if Jonah would be interested in hosting the monthly student DJ segment on KNKX School of Jazz with Abe Beeson. Typically students go in studio to record but because of the pandemic, Jonah recorded from his kitchen table!”
Two beverage/food biznotes:
BEVERIDGE PLACE PUB: The Morgan Junction pub sent the photo and announcement;
Our new Beer Garden is open for you, with 20 well-spaced tables (no seating indoors)!
NEW HOURS (in-house & to-go): Mon-Thu 3-10 pm; Fri-Sun 1-10 pm;FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR STAFF AND OTHER GUESTS: MASKS MUST BE WORN WHENEVER YOU LEAVE YOUR TABLE. NO TABLE-HOPPING/MINGLING – STAY WITH YOUR TABLE
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ORDER HERE (in-house & to-go): Beveridge Place Online Store. We still have our TO-GO on-line store where you can order and pay for growlers, cans, wine bottles, cider bottles, mead bottles, & snacks!
TO-GO Orders: Pick-up at the front door or at our dedicated curbside spot. Please have your ID ready so we can make sure we have the right order…and that you’re 21 or over. CHEERS!
BPP is at 6413 California SW.
IL NIDO: The Alki Homestead restaurant-turned-market is taking the month of August off. They’ve been selling take-home-to-cook pasta as well as salads, bread, desserts, and more, and promise to return in September.
The sun’s not fully out (yet), so maybe you’re inside, looking for entertainment. Here’s a West Seattle creation: The team behind the annual Halloween animatronic extravaganza Skeleton Theatre has something new – online. Team spokesperson Maia Low explains, “We finally launched the side project we teased at the last Skeleton Theatre. It’s a YouTube web series called ‘Two Old Skeletons Talking’ (or T. O. S. T.). Two of our skeletons drive around Seattle talking about various subjects.” Above is the trailer for the first episode; you’ll find the series – episodes and trailers – here.
BACKSTORY: In case you’re new around here – while Skeleton Theatre, staged in an Admiral-area yard each year for more than a decade, happens at Halloween, it’s not spooky – it’s geared for laughs, not shrieks.
(WSB photos)
It’s almost as if Bob Henry has an audience! As we reported Monday, the muralist is at work this week on the north side of 4727 44th SW in The Junction, re-hanging the restored panels that comprise the “Press Day” mural. Today, we got a look at part of the restoration:
It’s been more than two years since the restoration project began.
This is one of nine surviving murals of the original 11 created in the late ’80s/early ’90s – one, “Midnight Call,” was removed four years ago; another was re-created at a new location near the demolished building that originally held it. Crowdfunding is supplementing the philanthropy and grants to pay for the restoration.
(WSB photo, August 2019)
Almost a year ago, we reported on the next West Seattle Junction mural to be restored, “Press Day,” on the north side of 4727 44h SW. This time, the process is different – this mural is on wooden panels that were removed so muralist Bob Henry could work on them. Today, he’s back to start re-hanging the restored panels.
(This photo & next, courtesy of West Seattle Junction Association)
First – scaffolding goes up. Then, the panels.
West Seattle Junction Association executive director Lora Radford tells WSB the process is expected to last all week. It’s one of the murals created ~30 years ago as a celebration of local history; restoration is funded by philanthropy, grants, and community contributions (the crowdfunding page is here).
11:05 AM: Happening right now at California/Alaska – art!
(WSB photos)
As we’ve previewed, today is the day 9 artists commissioned by West Seattle Art for Social Justice are finishing the Black Lives Matter street mural.
They’re working in two shifts – 9 to 11 and 11 to 1 – so they can safely distance while painting. Artists including two family groups were working during our first stop, at the west and east ends.
The mural creation, in partnership with the West Seattle Junction Association, WS Art Walk, and WS Farmers’ Market – is crowdfunded, to compensate the artists as well as to pay for the supplies and to fund future maintenance.
The artists are:
Adonis Piper
Gloria Cropper
Jasmine Iona Brown
Jaymin Brown
Jolyn GC
Lashanna Williams
Raquel Stewart
Saiyana Suzumura
Vanessa Musonwa
Each artist was assigned one or two letters and artistic license to paint them. Organizer Stevie Kramer says it’ll be complete no later than 2 pm so it’ll be dry before the farmers’ Market barricades come down at 4 pm. We’ll be going back for updates.
12:33 PM: Just back.
We’ll return one more time to see the finished mural.
3:56 PM: A few closeups:
Still to come … the list of which artist did which letter(s), plus a video tour of the entire mural (the SDOT traffic camera is unfortunately turned the wrong way for an overview). ADDED: Here it is:
It’s been almost two weeks since voting began in the West Seattle Bridge T-shirt contest. You have 10 more days to vote. As of Monday, West Seattle Junction Association executive director Lora Radford tells WSB, almost 5,000 people have voted. Here are the top 10 (from among the 70+ contenders):
Thanks to the West Seattle Junction Association for the photo of the newest signal-box mural by West Seattle artist Desmond Hansen – this one is a sort of dual tribute, for women in trades as well as the West Seattle Bridge. WSJA also sent the photo that inspired it:
WSJA executive director Lora Radford was looking into the history; via an online image search, we note that it was featured at her former business Hotwire Online Coffeehouse in a collaboration with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society in 2014, the year the now-closed bridge marked its 30th anniversary.
P.S. The signal box is Hansen’s third in The Junction this summer, after Black Lives Matter at 42nd and Alaska and the Progress Flag at California/Oregon.
(SDOT camera image)
Looking north from California/Alaska’s SDOT camera, that’s the view this afternoon of the first phase of the street mural that West Seattle Artists for Social Justice is creating at Walk-All-Ways. The lettering of BLACK LIVES MATTER was done while that block was closed for today’s West Seattle Farmers’ Market.
(WSB photos from here)
Organizer Stevie Kramer was overseeing the work:
She explained that the nine artists – four youth (Saiyana Suzumura, Gloria Cropper, Vanessa Musonwa, Raquel Stewart) and five adults (Lashanna Williams, Adonis Piper. Jasmine Iona Brown, Jaymin Brown, Jolyn GC) – will be on site during next Sunday’s market. They will each paint one or more letters of the mural – no pre-planned design, they will show up and paint (Stevie says they’ve already been given guidelines on what’s appropriate for this type of mural). T
The paint they’re using is fast-drying and self-sealing. WS Art for Social Justice says their crowdfunding wiil cover future maintenance too – like a touchup next year.
Thanks to David Hutchinson for the photo! He explains, “Artist Naomi Haverland was at the east end of the Alki promenade (Saturday), creating a 3D chalk artwork. She was doing this in association with the Alki Art Fair, which unfortunately had to be cancelled this year due the COVID-19 situation.” A nearby sign directs you to stand on marked “footprints” and use your camera “to see the illusion.”
Two previews in the ongoing community support for Black lives:
(Last Friday)(June photo)
OVERPASS VIGIL: It’s Friday, and organizers again invtte you to be part of this:
Please join us to show support for our Black friends, family, and neighbors, to #SayTheirNames, and remind each other that people are still suffering injustice.
What: #SayTheirNames
When: Friday, July 17th, from 5:30-6:30 pm
Where: Pedestrian overpass on Delridge at the Delridge Community Center/Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.Please remember to wear your masks!
JUNCTION MURAL WORK: Last month, we wrote about the plan for on-street Black Lives Matter mural art in The Junction. This Sunday, while the street is closed to vehicles for the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, the work begins at California/Alaska, with stenciling 10 am-2 pm. The project is led by West Seattle Artists for Social Justice; this update on the WS Art Walk website has more details, including how you can support the project.
5:59 PM: That’s artist Mimi Miles outside Brace Point Pottery in Arbor Heights, with an unusual West Seattle Art Walk sight until 8 pm:
Brace Point Pottery opens its patio and gallery for an outdoor, drive by, wander through sculpture exhibition. Mimi Miles‘ ceramic torsos and portraits are ceramic manifestations of human emotion and movement. Eight larger than life size busts of old white men make up “SENATE MAJORITY” and occupy center gallery, visible from the street. Female torso, “Attitude” conveys its message clearly.
BPP is at 4208 SW 100th. Other Art Walk locations – and online links – are in our preview from earlier today.
6:51 PM: A few sights from the Junction:
Painter Linda McClamrock is showing her work outdoors, at the KeyBank corner. And indoors at Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor), co-proprietor Frances Smersh (below with husband/co-proprietor John) is tonight’s featured artist:
Stop by The Junction before 8.
P.S. Not to get too morose … but if not for the pandemic, tonight’s the Art Walk that would have been combined with what we always called “Summer Fest Eve,” streets closed for setting up our area’s biggest annual festival. Here’s hoping for next year!
With King County going to Safe Start Phase 2 since the last West Seattle Art Walk, that opens more possibilities for in-person participation – so this month’s WSAW is hybrid: Part in-person, part virtual. From the preview on the WSAW website:
Visit an outdoors art show and reception under a shelter tent or overhang:
*Linda McClamrock, Key Bank Plaza, Alaska JunctionVisit an indoor art show and reception, following all state guidelines for masks and capacity:
*West Seattle Grounds, Admiral Junction
*Click! Design That Fits, Alaska Junction
*Capers Home, Alaska Junction
*Wild Rose, Alaska Junction
*West Seattle Cellars, Morgan Junction
*NW Encaustics, Morgan Junction
*Brace Point Pottery & Gallery, Arbor HeightsStroll by businesses that have art featured in their windows during Art Walk or displayed during business hours:
*Flying Apron, Alaska Junction
*Mailbox West, Morgan Junction
Or – online! See the gallery here, which is where you’ll also find the times and addresses for the locations mentioned above. Plus – this YouTube playlist! Support your local artists and businesses however you can; see you on the Art Walk (whose community co-sponsors include WSB).
(SDOT image: Crews on the bridge today)
From the “if you don’t laugh about it, you’ll cry” department … Yes, we’re semi-stuck on West Seattle Island, but every so often, you can’t help but see a little humor in it – evidenced by the stickers and yard signs that have popped up. Today, here’s one of those chances to do more than despair: Your chance to vote in the T-shirt design contest presented by the West Seattle Art Walk and WS Junction Association. As featured here previously, they put out a call for designs – and now more than 70 entries are ready for your consideration! You can see them all here, and vote for your five favorites, before the end of the month. The top three vote-getting designs will be produced as T-shirts and sold locally.
You have one more day to enter the West Seattle Art Walk‘s West Seattle Bridge T-shirt design contest (first mentioned here two weeks ago). The goal as explained here, is “to generate three different shirt designs for sale this summer. The artists of the three chosen designs will each receive $500 for their work.” The guidelines:
We would like all artists to consider the following as they create their designs:
*Capture the essence of the situation
*Raise awareness about the importance of the bridge closure to our community
*Convey the love we have for West SeattleWe recognize that art is a very personal expression and you may have mixed emotions about the Bridge closure. While we do not want to inhibit creativity, we do aim to find a balance among sentiments conveyed in the designs that will appeal to our community, with a suggestion of:
*Humorous
*Proud
*EncouragingDesigns can be all illustration, all text, or a mix of both. One submission per artist.
Please note: While we welcome all submissions, artwork needs to be family-friendly to qualify for voting and selection.
More details here; the form for submitting your design is here. The community will get to vote on the qualifying designs to choose the winners! Then the T-shirts will be sold to raise money both for the merchants who sell them and for the nonprofit West Seattle Junction Association.
(Photo courtesy Bayfest Youth Theatre)
Still sorting out summer? Got a teen or tween in the household who’s interested in theater? West Seattle-based Bayfest Youth Theatre has an offer for you:
Although we are very sad to have to cancel our in-person West Seattle-based drama camp intensive in August due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are really excited to be able to offer a COMPLETELY FREE opportunity for 15-20 students to train and work on monologues, songs, and original performance pieces with some of our top teaching artists.
The camp will use the ZOOM platform for fun and active group and one-on-one meetings over the course of 10 days (up to 2 hours per day, with additional home assignments for participants to work on, with videos we will be posting on our site), and that it will culminate in a performance video that will be posted online and sent to thousands of our audience members.
The camp will run from August 10-21 and is open to participants ages 10-12 and 13- 19 (in two separate groups). Although it is open to all interested Seattle-area young people and is being supported by grants we have received from the City and County, we would love to have some local kids participate, since we are a West Seattle organization and work in local schools. Please tell your own kids or any others you know who may be interested, and have them get their applications in as soon as possible. Further information and a link to the application is available at www.BAYFESTyouthTheatre.org
Please email us immediately at: BAYFESTyouthTheatre@gmail.com if you are interested in applying for the virtual drama camp and if you have any further questions.
(WSB photo, West Seattle Junction, June 6th)
Where thousands of people stood in support of the Black Lives Matter movement just two weeks ago in the West Seattle Junction, two street murals are now planned. Stephanie Kramer says two murals are planned on the street itself – one at California/Alaska one at California/Oregon – roughly 53′ by 20′, to be painted on a day when the street is already closed for the Farmers’ Market. The announcement:
West Seattle Art for Social Justice is a collective of educators and local small business owners with an intent of elevating the voices of BIPOC & LGBTQIA BIPOC youth and adults through arts initiatives.
Inspired by the many communities coming together to create art as a beacon for systemic change, we are inspired & honored to be organizing this important art piece at the West Seattle Junction. Artists from the greater Seattle community will be working together to create this important piece of art in late July with support of the West Seattle Junction Association and West Seattle Farmers Market.
Artist bios and information will be featured on the WS Art for Social Justice BLM mural page [on social media] and inquiries can be sent to wsartforsocialjustice@gmail.com. To support this work, please see our gofundme @ gf.me/u/x9pasi
Each letter of the two murals – each reading BLACK LIVES MATTER – will have a separate artist, so, 32 in all.
(Photo by David Hutchinson)
Right after summer’s first sunset, Moon Dancers appeared on Alki tonight, twirling their way along the beach.
We got the advance alert from Denise, who explained that she and some friends created the dance for this year’s virtual version of the Fremont Solstice Parade, and they “had so much fun doing the shoot that we decided to do a guerrilla performance at Alki on the Solstice.”
(Photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
(If you missed the Solstice Parade when it was livestreamed Saturday afternoon, the video is archived here – you can see the Moon Dancers at 1:09:30.)
Two local nonprofits have announced T-shirt design contests – both related to major current issues. First one is just in from the West Seattle Junction Association/West Seattle Art Walk:
March 23, 2020, will go down in Seattle history as the day life in West Seattle was changed forever. The announcement of indefinite closure of the West Seattle Bridge due to rapidly growing cracks, first discovered in 2013, sent shock waves across the Puget Sound. This news, amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and worldwide economic impacts, was a shift felt throughout West Seattle.
West Seattle is a giving community. Since early during the Stay Home order, The West Seattle Junction Association (WSJA) has made significant strides to generate economic relief for merchants throughout the entire peninsula, from the Morgan to the Admiral Junctions. Organized by WSJA, the West Seattle Small Business Relief Fund was established on April 6, 2020. As of June 15, the fund has already provided over $105,000 to our local merchants and service providers to help cover essential monthly expenses like utility bills and payroll taxes.
Today, we announce an additional program to support the businesses of West Seattle and the essential work The West Seattle Junction accomplishes for our community. While businesses are permitted to reopen, there is still considerable work to be done to bring cohesion and spirit to our community, especially around awareness, education, involvement and concern about our future. References to the “West Seattle island effect” have already been seen and talked about since days after the Bridge closure.
The West Seattle Art Walk, a monthly Arts programming arm of the WSJA, has launched an artist-designed and community-driven T-shirt design and sales project where 100% of profits will go to benefit WSJA’s work and to merchants who sell the T-shirts. Artists in the community have been asked to submit T-shirt designs that artistically capture the essence of our situation, deliver a clear message, and inspire connection and involvement. The community will select three winning designs, and the creators of those designs will each win $500 in cash, in the effort to provide financial support to artists who may also be suffering from lack of work during the pandemic.
Once the three designs are chosen and finalized, T-shirts will be available for pre-order and at select West Seattle retailers. Pre-order is $29 (tax and shipping included) and merchant sales are $25.
Artists may submit work through this link from now until July 3. Additional details and announcement can also be seen on the West Seattle Junction Association website and the West Seattle Art Walk website.
And from West Seattle-based Stephanie’s Lifeline:
LOCAL ARTISTS – ADULTS AND CHILDREN: We are having a t-shirt design contest for our United In Change campaign. Create an image that depicts what the Black Lives Matter movement means to you and enter it into our contest!
Entries are being accepted starting June 15 and ending June 30. Finalist will be chosen July 4. Voting and T-shirt fundraiser will begin on July 5 and end July 31. Winner will be announced August 1.
Send your entry to stephanieslifeline@gmail.com. The winner’s design will be used as Stephanie’s Lifeline’s image for our United in Change campaign,; T-shirts with his or her design will be sold on our website; and the winner will receive a t-shirt with their design, free of charge.
Two summer traditions that are presented by West Seattle neighborhood councils will not be happening this year because of the pandemic. The announcements:
(WSB photo, Bubbleman @ 2019 Morgan Junction Community Festival)
MORGAN JUNCTION COMMUNITY FESTIVAL: Sent by Morgan Community Association president Deb Barker:
It is with a very heavy heart that we announce that cancellation of the 2020 Morgan Junction Community Festival.
The Morgan Community Association (MoCA) has been sponsoring this unique one day festival in Morgan Junction for over 15 years. The 2009 opening of Morgan Junction Park gave us a permanent home to experience the live festival music and watch the Bubbleman make BIG bubbles, while businesses Beveridge Place Pub, Zeeks Pizza, and Whisky West have welcomed vendor booths and food trucks to their parking lots. It’s always been a lot of fun.
But the Coronavirus pandemic has shut down the safe gathering ability of the Festival-loving public. MoCA wants to keep our community safe. So we’re canceling the 2020 festival and scheduling the 2021 Festival date for Saturday June 19, 2021. We’d like to share this reply we got from the City of Seattle Special Event staff when they learned of the cancellation:
“Thank you so much for letting us know. Each time we hear that another event is cancelled, it makes me emotional too. Special events like the Morgan Junction Festival celebrate the health and vibrancy of our community. Cancelling them in some ways feels like a defeat at the hands of COVID. Please know that you are doing the right thing, the prudent thing, the safe thing by cancelling the event. We are all going to come back stronger.”
Thank you, everyone. Stay Safe!! We Will Come Back Stronger!
-Morgan Junction Community Festival Planning Committee
(Caspar Babypants at Summer Concerts @ Hiawatha, August 2019)
SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: From Stephanie Jordan, who coordinates the series for the Admiral Neighborhood Association:
After many weeks of hoping for better circumstances, we’ve made the sad decision to cancel the 2020 Summer Concerts at Hiawatha. During these uncertain times, it’s become clear that gatherings of this size will be difficult to manage in a way that ensures the safety and enjoyment of our community and guests. These events are very important to us, but your health and safety will always be our top priority.
I will truly miss the community that these concerts create – neighbors meeting neighbors, old friends catching up, kids at their first live performances. They represent a true collaboration between the ANA, our sponsors, city partners (Seattle Parks and ARC) and the wonderful team at Hiawatha Community Center. It’s been my pleasure to connect you with some of the best musicians in the region.
To the extent to which you are able, I hope you will continue to support our local music community in other ways. Many artists are being impacted by cancellations like this. I encourage you to see who is performing on social media, releasing new work, or rescheduling shows. Even kinds words can make a difference. Please also consider contributing to any of the several artist relief funds that have been set up in response to COVID-19. A quick Google search for “Seattle artist fund” will bring these up.
When large gatherings are back, we will be too – and we’ll be very happy to see you again. Until then, stay safe West Seattle, and keep well!
It’s the second Thursday of the month, which means West Seattle Art Walk night, online! Just launched and viewable above, a video playlist with what organizers explain as a “curated gallery “movie” with a good selection of work for the artists who are coordinated by local businesses, and a representative 1-3 images for all the artist-led exhibits (plus) a selection of personal videos sent in by some of the artists.” You can see all the artists’ work – and find out about them – by going here.
Libraries haven’t reopened yet, but the Seattle Public Library‘s local branches are presenting this tonight, and you’re invited – just be sure to sign up ASAP!
Virtual Writing Circle with Hugo House: Seattle Writes
Wednesday June 10, 6-7:30 pmDrop into a virtual writing circle, hosted by author Jeanine Walker, for writing exercises, motivation, and ways to connect with other writers. Registration required.
In this group, we’ll focus on generative writing through poetry prompts. The session will begin with introductions and a short warm-up, after which we’ll read two separate poems and write in response to those. At times writers will be invited to create community through sharing words or ideas with other writers in small groups. Attendees will leave the class with 2-3 new drafts of poems. Designed for all writers, this group supports poets as well those working in other genres, as the skills practiced in poetry can be thought of as “cross-training” for memoir and fiction, too.
Library events and programs are free and everyone is welcome. Have a laptop or pen and paper — and be ready to write!
To receive the link for this event, please click here and select the red date you want to attend. Phone registration also available at 206-322-7030.
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