West Seattle, Washington
08 Tuesday
Jane Gibson from the Southwest Library shares two collages from the Community Art Showcase that just wrapped up. And she has this reminder: If you participated, please go get your work!
If you’ve been holding off because you didn’t want to bring your art out into the rain – today’s a great day, with the forecast only calling for a slight chance of showers. The library is open 1 pm-5 pm today.
(WSB photo)
10:57 AM: You’ll see something new at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska) next time you go by: The 20-foot-tall kinetic sculpture that’s been in the works for a while. We last reported on the plan when concepts were shown at a Junction open-house event during last February’s West Seattle Art Walk; now, local artist Troy Pillow has completed the work, and it’s being installed this morning. It’s funded by public-benefit money from local development as well as a city grant. Update later, after it’s fully installed!
ADDED: By the time we got back in late afternoon, the base was already in shadow, but you can see the top of the sculpture:
Thanks to Alisa Minnig for the photo and report:
John Van Lierop, Jr. held his annual Halloween Piano Recital at Tibbetts United Methodist Church. There were over 20 costumed piano students performing appropriately spooky selections, capped off with Danse Macabre by Saint-Saens. There were also fun games like “Name that Tune” and “Spooky Musical Chairs.” There was even a surprise guest (see the back row) – looking for a few more last-minute votes, we think. :)
Our video is from the pre-concert performance at Chief Sealth International High School tonight, as CSIHS musicians played a selection by Vivaldi, opening for the free “Side by Side” community concert featuring the Seattle Symphony and West Seattle Community Orchestras. The student musicians are introduced in the clip by Sealth principal Aida Fraser-Hammer and by teacher Jorge Morales, who conducted them.
P.S. Two upcoming galas offer you the chance to support local music and more – flyers were circulated at tonight’s concert:
-Annual Fall Gala and Auction for WSCO, November 12th, 6 pm, @ Alki Masonic Hall – get tickets here
-8th annual Seahawk Spirit Dinner and Auction, November 19th, 5:30 pm @ Brockey Center (South Seattle College), with proceeds benefiting CSIHS PTSA and Athletics and Denny-Sealth Performing Arts – get tickets here
ALSO: WSCO has three concerts coming up in December; we’ll add to the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, but in case you want to set calendar reminders now:
-6 pm December 6th, Debut Orchestra & Brass Sextet
-7:30 pm December 9th, West Seattle Symphony Orchestra
-7 pm December 13th, Intermediate Orchestra & Wind Symphony
All are free (donations appreciated), in the CSIHS Auditorium.
(WSB photo: Musicians from West Seattle Symphony Orchestra @ last year’s joint concert with Seattle Symphony)
Yes, the Seattle Symphony is returning to West Seattle again this fall to perform with local musicians! The West Seattle Symphony Orchestra, part of the WS Community Orchestras organization, will perform “Side by Side” with the Seattle Symphony on October 20th, one week from Thursday, 7 pm in the auditorium at Chief Sealth International High School. According to the Seattle Symphony’s webpage for the concert, “Symphony Associate Conductor Pablo Rus Broseta will conduct both orchestras in Saint-Saëns’ lively Danse macabre.” Admission is free, no tickets required – just show up! (CSIHS is at 2600 SW Thistle.)
On this Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the Duwamish Tribe remains without federal recognition.
The tribe hasn’t given up the fight, and recently circulated a March 2016 document that is interpreted as giving them the right to appeal last year’s decision rejecting their longstanding bid for recognition (a challenge that Duwamish chair Cecile Hansen took directly to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell in West Seattle a few months later).
The Duwamish also are getting new attention via a documentary chronicling both their campaign for recognition and that of another Washington state tribe, the Chinook. It’s called “Promised Land,” and its second Seattle-area screening is coming up one week from tonight. The trailer is above; the screening is at 8 pm Monday, October 17th, as part of the Social Justice Film Festival, at the University of Washington – details here, including how to get tickets.
Closer to home, you can learn more about our area’s First People by visiting the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center (4705 W. Marginal Way SW) Mondays-Saturdays, 10 am-5 pm, free admission, donations accepted.
(2014 photo contributed by Mark Cohan)
You might remember that faded mural, “Alki in the Twenties,” from the east-facing side of the former Huling Brothers building along Fauntleroy north of Edmunds. As shown in the review process for the project that’s being built on the site, The Whittaker, the mural couldn’t be saved but was to be “digitally re-created.” And indeed, it has been. Here’s a sneak peek at the partly visible re-creation:
We took the photo today while checking on the removal of The Whittaker’s second tower crane, which stretched into a third day amid stormy weather. The re-created mural is on a west-facing wall of the building, and we expect to get a closer look soon.
Photos by Leda Costa for West Seattle Blog
>(Kyla Scheff’s polymer clay piece “Miniature World”)
It’s that magic month of the year when you’ll find paintings, sculptures, pottery, and other visual art among the bookshelves and other standard fixtures at Southwest Library. The 25th annual community art showcase continues at the branch is on all month, launched with a Sunday reception organized by Friends of the Southwest Library:
They told us this year’s response to the call for art was great – 103 pieces by 46 artists. You can see the artwork all month during regular library hours – 10 am to 8 pm Mondays through Thursdays, 10 am-6 pm Fridays and Saturdays, 1 pm-5 pm Sundays. Some of the artists who were at the reception:
Above, Vera C Stirling has several pieces in the show. She says an art class at the Senior Center two years ago sparked her interest in drawing and creating art. Below, it’s the second year of participation for Tycho Bear, who is displaying two of his creations:
Betty M. Laughlin (below) grew up coming to the Southwest Library:
She says her mom would bring her and they would leave with stacks of books. Years later, here she is displaying her photography and her wearable art – a felted necklace and bracelets.
Another artist there for Sunday’s reception: Ernie Flowers (below), a local film photographer, named his photograph of the swan after Edward Weston‘s iconic 1927 image Nautilus.
This is his first year participating in the show.
Gordon Miller was also at the reception:
In our photo, he’s standing under his resin piece “Rooftop.”
More of what you’ll see when you go check out the art at Southwest Library this month: Read More
Today we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor, West Seattle Performing Arts, now open in The Junction. Here’s what they would like you to know about what they’re offering:
(Main studio at West Seattle Performing Arts)
West Seattle Performing Arts, owned and operated by West Seattleites Armando and Christine Juarez, offers four decades of experience in the performing arts. They harbor a deep love of education; arts education is their specialty. They are now raising their 3rd generation in West Seattle and are highly motivated to provide the best training in the performing arts they can.
Armando is vice president of the West Seattle Eagles and they have been members of Holy Rosary Parish for 23 years. Christine has served on the dance faculty at Cornish College of the Arts for 23 years, running their national summer dance programming, and she has also directed the dance program for Vashon Center for the Arts on Vashon Island for 20 years. Now: “The time has presented itself for us to work in our own community.”
But, Christine Juarez says, “This is not just a neighborhood studio. We have designed a space that is a pure canvas for artists to study and create. We are offering a Performing Arts School. Faculty in Dance, Theater, Music, and Art are all housed within our vision. We believe in the power of collaboration and our faculty are already excited to create works together. Rock Band vocal and instrumental recording, 3D Costume Design, Guitar, Hip Hop, Theatre Games and Improv, Ballet, Contemporary Modern, Jazz, Tap, Power Barre, Men’s Daybreak Stretch, Wiggle and Groove music for tots – those are only a few of the classes we are offering this fall.” Adult classes are listed here; teen classes (13-17) are listed here; classes for children (18 months-12 years) are listed here.
West Seattle Performing Arts has two open, bright studios and one multi-purpose studio, new dressing rooms, bathrooms, and lobby. The walls don’t need much color because the work of the artists in these studios will color them for us. Lobby walls will show art work; windows into the studios allow observers to peek inside classes.
We offer the best instructors in the Pacific Northwest. We are distinguished by our experienced faculty, who hold degrees and professional experience in their fields. West Seattle Performing Arts offers a national standard of training. Our faculty are wide-ranging not only in
experience and disciplines, but they span color, culture, and an inclusive perspective on life and the arts.
West Seattle Performing Arts is at 4210 SW Edmunds, 206-935-3777, and online at westseattleperformingarts.org. Rolling registration for fall classes is under way.
We thank West Seattle Performing Arts for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
It’s time to show off your art at the Southwest Library – the 25th annual community showcase starts this week!
If you make visual art – sign up to display and drop off up to 3 pieces. Dropoffs are this Thursday (September 29th) through Saturday (October 1st).
If you make music – MP3 submissions are open starting now. Upload 3 songs to spl.org/southwestartistsshowcase for the branch’s new music listening station.
And then – show up for the artist reception on Sunday (October 2nd) at 2 pm at the library (35th SW/SW Henderson)! Your work will be showcased throughout October.
“It’s been a rough week,” began singer Lady A, going on to urge people to show kindness to each other, before she sang “I Know I’ve Been Changed,” a cappella, to open the Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) event this afternoon that was part of the nationwide Concert to End Gun Violence in America. (Our apologies for the lack of tripod.) Tibbetts’ choir, directed by Elizabeth Nye, followed by singing the 23rd Psalm:
Tibbetts’ pastor Rev. Joanne Carlson Brown opened with a blessing acknowledging that the issue is experienced in many different ways.
The Seattle Flash Choir, Victor Puentes Jr., and Christy McWilson & The West Seattle 2 also performed at the Tibbetts concert, organized by Cindy Jacobs, one of more than 300 concerts across the nation today. The biggest was in New York City, headlined by music stars including West Seattleite Eddie Vedder.
This was announced long before five people were shot and killed last night in Burlington, just an hour north of here, but it’s suddenly and tragically all the more timely: Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) in West Seattle is participating in tomorrow’s Concert Across America to End Gun Violence. Here’s the church’s announcement from early September:
On September 25th there is a nationwide series of live concerts brought together by social media. Please join us at Tibbetts United Methodist Church [3 pm Sunday] as we take part in this important event, and experience the power of music to heal and inspire in the midst of the terrible epidemic of gun violence in our country.
One of the featured musical groups at the concert at Tibbetts will be West Seattle’s own Christy McWilson and the West Seattle 2, along with Seattle Flash Choir, “Lady A,” Pacific Northwest Blues Diva, Tibbetts United Methodist Church Choir.
At the end of the concert, all performers and the audience will join in singing two specially-selected songs together.
Attendance is free, but we are asking for donations to support Everytown for Gun Safety. Please give if and what you can! For more information on the nationwide concert event, please (go here).
On Tuesday, we showed you the first photo mural to go up on the north side of Aura on 35th SW south of Avalon. The management told us another one would be up today, so we just went over to look, and it is:
As noted in yesterday’s story and in a comment today by the SODO firm that treated the historic photos for installation, Grand Image, these 4-story-high installations are based on historic photos – the ferry West Seattle from 1907, and the trolley from 1930 – obtained via the Log House Museum.
Thanks to Eddie for the tip and the photo:
The first of two photo murals went up today on the north side of Aura, the new mixed-use building on 35th south of Avalon. This one is on the northwest side of the building, and the other one is scheduled for installation on the northeast side tomorrow, according to building management, with whom we inquired after receiving Eddie’s photo:
The images are historic photos which we received from the Log House Museum in West Seattle. Both depict historic transportation methods to and from West Seattle, which we felt was important for our location, directly adjacent to the RapidRide stop. The first image is the historic W. Seattle Ferry (photo circa 1907), and the second is the historic Spokane Street (trolley) (photo circa 1930). The digital artist who gave the images a modern twist with the “pixelation” at the corners was a group in SODO called Grand Image.
The aforementioned RapidRide stop was restored just last week.
That’s video from the halftime show at Husky Stadium on Saturday – featuring marching bands from around the state, including the West Seattle High School Band. Laura Martin sent the link as well as photos and this report:
West Seattle High School Band and Flag Squad participated in Husky Band Day this past Saturday! More than 1,000 high school students from across the state joined forces with the University of Washington Husky Marching Band for a halftime show in Husky Stadium during the UW/University of Idaho football game.
(WSHS Drum Majors Lindy Tongol, Neil Gromlich and Kevin Corona with our Husky Band member chaperone, 2015 Sealth grad Chris Laranang)
The all-day event included a morning rehearsal, the UW Husky Marching Band performing for the students during a pre-game lunch in the field house, and tickets to the game.
(2016 WSHS grads LaVera Sheilds and Bonnie Weglin, former WSHS Band members now in Husky Band!)
It was a fun and entertaining day. Great job, Wildcats!
If you couldn’t pick them out in the video – the WSHS band is in the lower right of this last photo:
Look for them at their own home stadium, Southwest Athletic Complex, when the WSHS football team hosts Garfield this Friday night, 7 pm.
The Fauntleroy fish-ladder overlook hasn’t been the same since the fish were stolen from its art installation in June of last year. But new fish are arriving, thanks to the artist. The photo and report are from Fauntleroy Creek steward Judy Pickens:
Artist Tom Jay brought a big drill to begin installation of new coho and cutthroat sculptures at the fish-ladder viewpoint (upper Fauntleroy Way SW & SW Director). The original aluminum fish were stolen in June 2015. This time, Jay built the sculptures using several techniques that have proven to protect art from such vandalism. His “Stream Echo” installation at the viewpoint dates from 1998, when the city built the fish ladder and applied 1% of the construction cost to public art. The new fish will be duly welcomed at the annual salmon drumming on Sunday, October 30, at 5 pm.
The overlook is across Fauntleroy Way (and up the embankment) from the ferry dock.
Late-in-the-day sun shone on the Children’s Moonlight Festival at the Vietnamese Cultural Center on Sunday afternoon. The Center invited community members to celebrate the traditional “mid-autumn festival,” featuring handmade lanterns:
Dancers and singers performed:
And the center’s flags were at half-staff in observance of the 9/11 anniversary.
(added) Video of the Lion Dance, by the GDPT Van Hanh Lion Dance Team, courtesy of Lynda, via Instagram (mouse over image to reveal clickable “play” button):
While the center hosts several public events each year, you are also welcome to visit on Saturdays, noon-3 pm. Its address is 2236 SW Orchard, just north of Home Depot.
With less than three weeks until the curtain rises on its 2016-2017 season, ArtsWest Playhouse has a crowdfunding campaign under way to support the upcoming productions: Dubbed #TellTheStory, the campaign, says the ArtsWest announcement, “allows our patrons and others in the community to engage with the stories we tell together and connect them to the process of getting a show on its feet. We’re asking the members of our community to donate and help support the show or shows in our season with which they most connect. Their donation is a way to show their support of the stories they want to see told and in return we’ll include them on the journey as each show takes shape. We want to cultivate a new audience with a stake in the art that we make.”
The six productions start with “Ghosts,” opening September 22nd, a change from what was announced back in May, though the six plays are the same. September 22nd is also the final scheduled day of the just-launched crowdfunding campaign. ArtsWest is also offering an incentive for bigger donations – the first 50 people to donate $100 will get an invitation for 2 to the season-launch party, one week from tonight at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.
The donation campaign is on Crowdrise – go here and start by choosing which of the six “stories” you want to support. Tickets for ArtsWest’s upcoming performances, meantime, are on sale via the playhouse’s own website.
All summer long, Seattle Public Library programs have kept kids and teens busy, learning, exploring. Not just through reading – the High Point branch celebrated two programs Monday evening, both of which produced creations you can enjoy. First, the song you can hear below:
That song is the work of the STYLE program – Songwriting Through Youth Literature Education. The students read Maya Angelou‘s poem “And Still I Rise,” talked about it, and wrote music inspired by it.
(WSB photos by Leda Costa)
STYLE, taught by education director Nate Bogopolsky and teen librarian Ken Gollersrud, was a collaborative program – as was the other one celebrated last night, the six-week game designing program Story ‘Hood. It was led by SPL digital media/learning program manager Juan Rubio and intern Tigh Bradley along with Gollersrud. They led ten tweens through the process of designing, coding, testing, and then playing a game. Last night, the gamemakers, with friends and family, walked from the library to High Point Commons Park to play the game, Storm Fighters:
The game is based on High Point-area history/information but ultimately about environmental consciousness, and photojournalist Leda Costa, covering the celebration for WSB, observed that awareness turning into action: “On our walk back to the library, some of the kids actually started picking up litter around the park and saying things like ‘Look! I picked up virtual litter and real litter!'”
The game is “their creation completely,” said Rubio. “They came up with the idea about falling trees, a storm that destroys the environment, they wrote all the text that you see in the game, they decided on the locations, so it’s about working together but it’s also about going through the design process and creating content/creating media.” The game integrates GPS.
You can play it at Commons Park with a smartphone or tablet – go to taleblazer.org and use the game code gsyiykb.
(Photos by Leda Costa for WSB, unless otherwise credited)
6:59 PM: “My Flea Has Dogs” was the opening song for kindie-rock superstar Caspar Babypants at tonight’s season finale of the Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series, and lots of critter songs have followed – spiders, crabs, butterflies, bears …
Adoring fans are hopping and dancing all over the east lawn at Hiawatha, where it’s nice and shady, cooler than the 90-ish warmth out in the sunshine.
Before the show, Caspar B (who grownups also know as Chris Ballew of the Presidents of the United States of America) signed autographs and posed for a few pix;
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
If you’re here, you’ll have a chance to buy CD’s post-show, too (“Away We Go” is a brand-new album, and “Winter Party” is due out this November), as well as art from wife and creative partner Kate Endle:
Since this is the last Hiawatha show of the year, some shoutouts. First, Katy Walum, who was president of the ANA when Summer Concerts launched in the summer of 2009 and has continued to coordinate it each year since:
This year’s gold sponsor, Metropolitan Market (also a longtime WSB sponsor), has a tent here with free brownie bites:
We’ve been proud to be media sponsor every year since the start back in 2009. And the Associated Recreation Council of Hiawatha is a partner for the ANA in making this happen – they’re raising money with a concession stand over by the southeast corner of the center. The show’s on until 8 pm, so you have time to get here – more coverage to come!
8:03 PM: Last song just ended – though Mr. Babypants took a break for some of his riotous commentary, in this case telling the wee ones to understand that when they grow up and have homes and jobs of their own, they’re not going to be able to just take a nap in the afternoon any old time, so they should be sure to do that every day right now – “napping is a privilege, not a right” – and the parents all cheered.
If you missed tonight’s show or want to see/hear Caspar Babypants again – this Saturday morning at 10:30 am, he has a nonprofit-fundraiser show here in West Seattle, at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – details here.
And Katy Walum has just told the crowd this is her last show after coordinating the concerts every season since the start – free shows that have drawn thousands, gathering on summer Thursday nights.
Want to get involved? The Admiral NA’s next meeting will be September 13th, 7 pm, at The Sanctuary at Admiral (42nd/Lander).
EARLY FRIDAY: Photos added, as promised, above and below, including Caspar B with fans post-show:
And a remembrance of the golden sunshine on the edge of the lawn as tonight’s show started:
Some concertgoers brought pets:
Most simply brought their energy, enthusiasm, and wonder:
Thanks to everyone who’s come to, performed at, helped out at, etc. the Hiawatha concerts these eight seasons!
Artist Ryan Fedderson is in search of selfies.
He’s creating a temporary mural for the building shown above, which is at Delridge Community Center/Playfield, and wants to use the faces of up to 50 people, as rendered from selfies they photograph and send to him, with priorities given to photos taken at Delridge CC, Playfield, or Skatepark. But he’s turning this around fast and accepting selfies only through Friday (October 26th). And they have to be submitted through Facebook (we asked about an e-mail address or alternate means – no). The project is about change and evolution in the neighborhood and titled “White Out Delridge” – explained in part:
…Prior to the installation, the artist will collect selfies from park goers that represent the community in the Delridge neighborhood. From these selfies the artist will create drawings that will be applied as stencils to the building prior to a temporary white washing, whiting out the stencils and the building itself. After a brief period, the artist and the public will work together to unveil the portraits by picking and peeling the stencils away. For the remainder of the installation, time and weather will corrode the piece allowing the colors and complexities of the building to re-emerge. …
Full details, including the link for your photo if you’re interested in participating, are on his website, here.
6:25 PM: Just under way in The Junction – a fashion show!
Youth models, designers, and production crew members are all involved as the show takes to the runway at the West Seattle Christian Church Activity Center (4400 42nd SW), with an enthusiastic audience here cheering them on.
Two groups of models are scheduled to appear – the Little Royals are modeling right now, with The Reign of Fashion scheduled around 7 pm, with the TKG Dance Crew performing inbetween (photo added):
The show (free admission) is scheduled to continue until 8 pm, so you have lots of time to get here.
The nonprofit Unified Outreach (headquartered across the street at Ginomai arts center) has organized it with the help of a grant from the city’s Work Readiness In The Arts program.
7:43 PM: Back at HQ now, and we’ve added more photos.
If you missed “Blood Wedding/Bodas de Sangre” Saturday night at Roxhill Park – you have another chance to see it Sunday night. And “see it” doesn’t go far enough, as it involves audience participation – in our top photo, those in attendance learned a dance they would get to do during the show. (As the announcement we published last week explained, “Each performance will preclude with a professionally-taught latin dance lesson, the learning of a song from the show, and an an invitation for the audience to participate in the wedding scene.”) We were only able to stay for a few minutes, but they included the opening moments of the play:
This bilingual drama/dance/music production is the first by 1-Off Productions, “a joint venture between Seattle theatre artists Tina Polzin, Ana Maria Campoy, and Matt Sherrill“; Polzin is the director. The second and final West Seattle presentation is tonight (Sunday, August 14th), 6 pm at Roxhill Park (29th/Barton), free; it will also be performed in nearby South Park at 6 pm, Saturday, August 27th, in Duwamish Waterway Park (7900 10th Ave. S.)
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