The photo collage provided by librarian Jane Gibson shows just some of the two-dozen-plus artists participating in this year’s Southwest Artist Showcase at Southwest Library. If you haven’t been by to see their work yet – today is the last full day of the show; the library (9010 35th SW) is open until 8 pm. If you’re a participating artist, SW Library reminds you to please stop by tomorrow, Thursday, or Friday to pick up your work!

This morning, before King County Councilmembers get briefed on budgetary matters related to housing, they’ll watch that trailer for West Seattleite Tomasz Biernacki‘s new documentary “Trickle Down Town.“ The film premiered to a full house Sunday night at West Seattle’s historic Admiral Theater; your editor was among those there to see it. For most of the film, you meet people with different relationships to the homelessness crisis, telling their stories in their own words. Among the people in “Trickle Down Town,” which runs about two hours:

-A mail carrier living in an RV on Harbor Avenue
-A retired machinist living at city-sanctioned Myers Way encampment Camp Second Chance
-A recovering addict who hits the streets to deliver sandwiches, water bottles, and to listen
-An architect who found himself launching a nonprofit
-A couple whose backyard houses a formerly homeless person’s tiny home
-An artist living in a tiny house with his expectant partner

Others seen and heard from include a historian and local politicians. Much, but not all, of the film was shot in West Seattle. Its next scheduled public screening is Saturday, November 3rd, at West Seattle Meaningful Movies (6:30 pm doors, admission free, no RSVP required, Neighborhood House High Point). What else? The filmmaker tells us a few more screenings are planned – no confirmed dates yet nearby (though his website mentions one November 15th on Bainbridge Island). Eventually it likely will be available online. Making the film already has changed Biernacki’s life in one way: “Since making this film, I have joined the volunteers at Camp Second Chance and we are building tiny homes. I feel that is a viable and safe alternative to what is happening now around us. If we cant afford to provide affordable housing to people, then a place like Camp Second Chance is a safe alternative. Its not the prefect or permanent solution, but much better then people dying in our streets.”

West Seattleite Tomasz Biernacki has been working on a documentary about homelessness here and elsewhere in the city. Above is the trailer for his film “Trickle Down Town”; two local screenings are planned in the next few weeks. If you want a free ticket to the Admiral Theater premiere at 7 pm October 21st, go here. “Trickle Down Town” also will be featured at West Seattle Meaningful Movies next month (no tickets required), 6:30 pm November 3rd at Neighborhood House High Point.

You might know Jim Sander best for his quirky Pigeon Point neighborhood signs. At the 27th annual Southwest Library community art showcase, you can see his salute to a notorious chapter in West Seattle (and beyond) history – if the name Rolf Neslund isn’t instantly recognizable, catch up here. Other art at the show – which you can see at the library during its regular hours for the next month – doesn’t have quite that level of backstory:

Above, the balloons are by Jeff Ferry, the orca by Adrienne Salzwedel. The next work is by John deMars:

Here’s one of the artists on hand for this afternoon’s opening reception, Gordon Miller:

His work is titled “Three Tree Point.” Volunteers served refreshments at today’s reception:

Another component of the showcase: Free all-ages art classes at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW) on the next five Saturdays – see the list here!

The announcement and photos are from West Seattle Community Orchestras:

West Seattle Community Orchestras (WSCO) is beginning its fall season under the direction of its new Executive Director, Virginia Wright. Virginia has a Bachelor’s degree in music, with professional experience in online and print design, IT/systems administration, and arts/nonprofit management and administration. She has worked in managerial roles in several music organizations in the greater Seattle area, and remains committed to supporting the continuation of the musical arts in many different ways.

Also new this fall is Nse Ekpo, conductor candidate for WSCO’s Symphony Orchestra. Nse is the first of three conductor candidates who are “auditioning” to become WSCO’s permanent Symphony conductor.

Virginia explains: “At the end of last season, WSCO’s Symphony conductor James Pham left to pursue a conducting opportunity in Germany. During the summer the WSCO Hiring Committee met with a great group of potential candidates to fill the vacant role. Going into the Fall season, we are now ready to enter into the final stages of assessment, which will include each of our three finalists executing a full cycle of planning, rehearsals, and a final concert. This process will provide us with a good look at the working style and ability of each of the three conductors. All three are highly qualified, and it will be a wonderful opportunity to see them work with the orchestra.” (We’ll have more to report about the other two candidates later in the season.)

Nse is not truly new to us, having co-conducted WSCO’s predecessor, the Westside Symphonette, during 2007 and 2008. He says he’s delighted to be back.

Nse (pronounced EN-say) Ekpo enjoys a varied career as a performer, educator, and content creator throughout the United States and abroad. Recent engagements have taken him to Pazardjik, Bulgaria where he guest conducted the Pazardjik Symphony Orchestra. In 2018, Ekpo was named a finalist in two categories of the American Prize: Professional Orchestral Conducting, and the Ernst Bacon Award for the Programming of American Music (Professional Division).

Dr. Ekpo is currently the Concert Band Director at Lakeside School in Seattle, Washington. He holds a doctorate in orchestral conducting from the University of South Carolina, where he studied with Donald Portnoy.

WSCO is also pleased to welcome back our long-time outstanding conductors — Rachel Nesvig, Debut Orchestra; Mike Jauregui, Intermediate Orchestra; and Anton Coleman, Wind Symphony — as well as our excellent professional string coaches, Clare Bresnahan and Daniel Mullikin.

Rehearsals for the Debut, Intermediate, and Wind Symphony will begin October 2, with the Symphony starting up October 9. All rehearsals are held Tuesdays at Chief Sealth International High School. Specific start times for the rehearsals and more details are listed on our website, www.wscorchestras.org, or you can contact info@wscorchestras.org.

WSCO especially encourages student musicians (through grade 12) to sign up. No charge!

Finally, WSCO also offers classes for adults who wish to learn (or relearn!) a string (violin, viola, cello) or band instrument (flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone).

It’s not too late to join WSCO for the new season! Sign up here.

Enjoy creating art? Share it with your West Seattle neighbors! Everyone’s an artist when it’s time for the Southwest Library‘s annual Artist Showcase – and the 27th annual showcase is just days away! Your first step – create up to three pieces of visual art to show off, or choose up to 3 works you’ve already created. Second step: Take your entries to SW Library (9010 35th SW) this Thursday through Saturday (September 27th through 29th). Then be there for the artists’ reception at 2 pm Sunday (September 30th)! The artists’ creations are shown at the branch through October, and the month is highlighted by opportunities to “See Art/Make Art.” (See the event list here.)

Now that fall is here (as of 6:54 pm) – it’s time to think about ways to stay warm. The West Seattle Quilters‘ first-ever showcase, this afternoon at the Senior Center/Sisson Building, was inspiration for that contemplation – as well as an occasion for admiration of the quilters’ skills.

The 40+ quilts on display spanned a variety of quilting styles and techniques, as well as quilters from kids to seniors.

The West Seattle Quilters welcome you to join them at their meetings, 7 pm on first and third Mondays at the Senior Center (4217 SW Oregon).

Group members not only work on their own projects but also collaborate on community-service quilts, made from donated fabric, given to people in need. Every year they also make a quilt that’s raffled off to benefit the Senior Center (they sold more tickets at today’s show, and the raffle will be at the Senior Center during Rainbow Bingo next Friday).

A free weekly writing workshop for kids starts tomorrow at the library in Admiral and the leader tells us there’s still room:

Sign up now for the free semester-long writing workshop for kids, “Write YOUR Story“! Starts Wednesday, September 12th.

Free writing and book-making workshop for kids ages 8-12, Wednesdays, 4:30 to 5:30 pm, from 9/12/18 to 12/19/18. SPOTS AVAILABLE! Now enrolling, space limited. Price: $0. Classes to be held in meeting room of the West Seattle (Admiral) Public Library located at 2306 42nd Ave SW. Please note that this event is not sponsored by The Seattle Public Library.

Write YOUR Story workshops: check out our site!

Taught by writer-designer Julia Douthwaite Viglione, emeritus professor of French literature, Univ. of Notre Dame, with the help of West Seattle writer Ann Perrin.

In this workshop, participants creatively explore and expand their sense of self by thinking and writing about their life – past, present, and future. Students will receive individual attention and gradually realize how easy good writing can be when approached cooperatively.

Fall 2018 theme: perseverance. Books we will read: 1) Rascal and Gert Bogaerts, “Socrates” (1992); 2) Patricia Polacco, “Thank You, Mr. Falker” (1998). 3) Christine Ross, “The Whirlys and the West Wind” (1993).

To enroll, or to get more information, call 574-400-9362 or email juliawsea@gmail.com.

Back-to-school time is also back-to-after-school time – and you’re invited to sign your kid(s) up for what Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) and Mode Music & Performing Arts are offering in West Seattle. Here’s the announcement:

Mode Music Studios and Mode Music & Performing Arts (MMPA) are pleased to announce our fall music and performing arts classes. After a successful summer of rock band and performing arts camps, group classes and private lessons are now open for registration. All fall group classes begin in mid-September 2018.

Now enrolling for fall music lessons and classes at Mode Music Studios. Find out more at modemusicstudios.com.

Mode Music Studios Fall offerings include:

1. Private music lessons for all ages
2. Year-round Rock Band sessions
3. Tiny Modes (ages 0-4)

Now enrolling for fall performing arts group classes at Mode Music and Performing Arts. For a complete list of all the fall performing arts classes, full class descriptions and prices visit modemusicandperformingarts.org

MMPA Fall after-school classes include:

1. Hogwarts Scene Study, 2nd-5th grades
2. Comedy Combat, 5th-8th grades
3. Elephant and Piggie Story Drama, K-2nd grades and more!

Scholarships are available for Rock Bands, Drama Camps and Classes. For details on scholarships, email info@modemusicandperformingarts.org.

Mode Music Studios and MMPA are partner organizations located in West Seattle, near the West Seattle Bridge. Mode Music Studios offers private music and vocal lessons, rock band camps, toddler music, and more. MMPA is a nonprofit that strives to provide exciting and innovative performing arts training. MMPA believes that it is vital every child experience the arts and have the opportunity to create on and off stage. Our professional teaching artists are skilled at offering a wide variety of performing arts classes from acting technique to musical theater to play creation and performance.

Questions? 206-388-6688 and info@modemusicstudios.com or info@modemusicandperformingarts.org.