West Seattle, Washington
30 Thursday
(WSB photos by Tracy Record)
As highlighted in today’s event list, the Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) is on until 2 pm. And if you stop to talk with the artists, you’ll find everyone has a story. For painter Cleopatra Cutler, this is her first time at the fair:
For painter Jennifer Carrasco, it’s her last time. She is offering cards, as well as prints of fanciful scenes showing horses she had painted on a Spokane carousel come to life, from an unfinished children’s book she wrote – telling the story of their wild times after hours:
Angie Marcelynas from The Little Merle has jewelry that’s recycled art, transforming tidbits of items that once had another purpose:
Corie‘s Hello Image wood art is created with lasers:
And Molly Donovan‘s Cashmere Creatures are billed as “emotional support” – eminently huggable:
Other artists are there too – with holiday gift possibilities, or maybe just something to treat yourself to.
(Photo courtesy WSHS)
That’s a rehearsal photo from the next student production at West Seattle High School, opening tomorrow (Thursday, November 14), “Ophelia.” The student cast and crew are hoping you’ll be part of the audience during one of the performances. Here’s what it’s all about:
Ophelia
Book by By Jeff WanshelDirected by Allison Irvine, this play imagines a world where, rather than being relegated to an unceremonious offstage death, Ophelia takes center stage in the story of Shakespeare‘s most famous brooding prince. Join us for a night of swords, vengeful ghosts, and perhaps more than one person hiding in the curtains…
The show dates are November 14th, 15th, 16th and 20th, 21st, and 22nd at 7:30.
Here is the link to get tickets.
$10 adults and $5 students
The performance venue is the theater at WSHS (3000 California SW).
November’s second Thursday is just three nights out – and it’ll bring you the West Seattle Art Walk featuring The Art of Music. Here’s the list of who’s featuring art and/or food-and-drink specials for Art Walk’ers on Thursday night (November 14):
Individual artists and venues are spotlighted in this preview on the Art Walk website. Highlights this month include Afro SPK‘s reception, 4-8 pm at West Seattle Realty (2715 California SW; WSB sponsor). You’ll also want to roam between the three Junctions to catch this month’s Art of Music performances:
North to south, the Nathan Roz Duo is performing at Soprano’s Antico in Admiral (2348 California SW), Jean Mann is at The Beer Junction (4511 California SW), and Cyd Smith is at Whisky West (6451 California SW). All performances are 6-7:45 pm with a 15-minute midpoint break, no cover. Learn more about the musicians here!
As noted in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and on our daily list, Fauntleroy Church has a concert tonight – music and dessert! We’ve since learned that the musician who has led so many concerts and in-service performances at the church is making way for a successor. Maybe that’s you! Here’s the announcement we received:
After nearly 17 years in the role, Fauntleroy Church Music Director Bronwyn Edwards plans to step down in June. Fauntleroy Church is casting a wide net in search of a new director, who will tie music to a theme for each service and work with volunteer musical talent to promote joy and connection. To review the job announcement, visit www.fauntleroyucc.org/jobs.
“Visitors to Fauntleroy Church often mention three things that help them feel at home—our mission, our focus on children’s programming, and our vibrant music program,” said Rev. Leah Atkinson Bilinski, the church’s senior pastor. “Our music program is powerful, thanks to a great director, our choir, and vocal and instrumental ensembles and soloists who present a wide range of sacred and secular music in many different genres.”
The Music Director position is part-time (on average 28 hours per week) and includes benefits. Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume on or before Tuesday, Dec. 31, per directions found at the link above. Fauntleroy Church is a member congregation of the United Church of Christ.
(Pam Lustig’s ‘Garden Pose,’ winner of 2024 WSGT competition)
Here on the first day of Pacific Standard Time, summer feels like a long way away. But local artists are invited to have summer in their hearts and come up with creations to submit for the West Seattle Garden Tour‘s annual art competition – one week until the deadline, Sunday, November 10:
We welcome your submissions for our 2025 event and look forward to seeing your art!
Each year West Seattle Garden Tour, a 501(c)(3) organization, seeks out other nonprofits whose goals fit our mission—to promote horticulture, education, and artistic endeavors within West Seattle and neighboring communities. Your submissions and the winning art, along with the generous support of our sponsors, allow the West Seattle Garden Tour to fund projects in our community that align with our mission. Our 2024 tour raised and distributed $57,700 for 11 local nonprofits.
Submissions should be reflective of the following narrative with a focus on use of color, composition, texture and contrast to excite interest in the tour.
Gardens are personal statements that reflect the passions and creativity of their gardeners. They may be places of refuge and retreat or active environments that invite engagement. The gardens featured in our tour exhibit those qualities as well as an artful mix of design, rich color palettes, texture, contrast, creative and inspiring use of plants, art, and hardscaping.
You can find the rules/guidelines here, and send in your entry here. Think bright and beautiful during these long dark nightd, looking ahead to next year’s Garden Tour, set for June 22nd.
Thanks to Mark Jaroslaw for the video! On Saturday, La Chingona Taqueria (2940 SW Avalon Way) celebrated Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) with performances including Aztec dancing and mariachi musicians, plus a procession to remember those who’ve gone before.
Thanks to West Seattle photographer Holli Margell for the photos of the new mural wrapping around the Center for Active Living in The Junction. She says she happened to find out that muralist Brady Black was wrapping up his work while she was in the area on Thursday.
Holli notes, “Fun note is that all of the people in black and white on the mural are referenced from photos of members and employees of The Center.”
You can compare it here to the concept the artist showed off during the center’s August open house.
On Sunday, we published an invitation to a “community paint party” all afternoon at the new “welcoming mural” under the overpass just north of the Luna Park mini-business district. This afternoon, we went by for a look at how it’s coming along.
We didn’t have time to stop and talk with the mural crew but last we heard they were planning to wrap up by tomorrow (Tuesday, October 22).
(WSB photo, Wednesday)
Last Wednesday we reported on the new mural taking shape under the overpass just north of the Luna Park mini-business district. You can contribute to it this afternoon – they’re having a “community paint day” right now until 4 pm and all are welcome to stop by. The official address is 2901 SW Avalon Way.
Tomorrow (Sunday, October 20) night, the Byrd Ensemble returns to West Seattle with a new vocal concert, spotlighting the music of “The Tudors.” The Byrd Ensemble is sponsoring WSB this weekend to make sure you know about a ticket deal – 30 percent off if you order online with the code WSBLOG30. The concert is at 7:30 pm Sunday at Holy Rosary Catholic Church (42nd and Genesee) – here’s what you’ll see and hear:
An exploration of Renaissance music from Tudor England, this program features Latin motets by the finest composers of the era: John Taverner, Robert White, William Cornysh, John Sheppard, and William Byrd. The program also includes a new work by American composer Nico Muhly, Fallings (2023), commissioned by the Byrd Ensemble in celebration of their 20th Anniversary.
The Byrd Ensemble, directed by Markdavin Obenza, is an internationally acclaimed, Seattle-based professional ensemble performing with at least 10 singers.
The wraparound mural at the Center for Active Living is close to complete. Muralist Brady Black has been working on it for a little over a week now; the photo above was sent by Nico on Tuesday. We checked with center executive director Amy Lee Derenthal today; she confirmed it’s “almost done,” with the on-and-off rain delaying the work a bit.
(WSB photos)
After two texters told us late today about that mural taking shape north of the Luna Park mini-business district, on the long wall under the overpasses, we went over to find out about it. (updated) The project is led by Artolution, which describes itself as an “international community-based public art and education organization,” whose co-founder Dr. Max Frieder was on site:
Youth painters are assisting, and Urban ArtWorks is partnering. We’re told the plan for this came together at the last minute because of a grant that was close to expiring. The mural’s intent is to celebrate Seattle as a welcoming place; the project is under the One Seattle Graffiti Plan‘s Many Hands Art Initiative, with other partners including the city Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs and the UN Refugee Agency.
The mural is expected to be complete by early next week; we’ll check back!
THURSDAY UPDATE: Dr. Frieder clarifies, “This mural is not being funded by the city of Seattle, it is being funded by UNHCR, the UN refugee agency. They were able to get external funding to be able to support the project; the city only provided the permits.”
“The show must go on!” That’s the timeless motto for performers – even when they’re faced with adversity such as lack of resources – but they’re never without hope. The theater program at Chief Sealth International High School will get to ensure shows keep going on, if you lend a hand – by attending the upcoming benefit screening the award-winning film featured in the trailer above, “Call Me Dancer.” In case you haven’t already seen this in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here’s the announcement:
Friday evening, October 25th, at the Chief Sealth International High School Performing Arts Center: ‘Call Me Dancer’ is truly an amazing film, and anyone who wants some inspiration and lifting up will adore it.
A truly great film is always interesting in itself, but soars above the subject matter as well — to astound and
inspire, to draw out strong emotions from the viewer and, ultimately, to make us look at our own lives in a
different way. The true-life adventure Call Me Dancer does all of this and more, winning it prizes and accolades
all over the world. It soars and twirls and summersaults and inspires, while telling the story of Manish Chauhan, a young Indian street dancer pursuing his unlikely but burning passion to become a ballet dancer. Shot in India, UK, Israel and the US, we get to experience Manish’s incredible charisma and talent, as well as his wonderful family and some of the extraordinary people who help change his life. The film is directed by Leslie Shampaine and Pip Gilmore, and features music from legendary singer/songwriter Jay Sean and hip-hop artist/rapper Anik Khan, with a sublime score by Nainita Desai and Nina Humphreys.The non-profit BAYFEST Youth Theatre runs the drama and performing arts program at Sealth, but we have recently suffered an almost total funding cut from Seattle Public Schools, due to their current huge budget crisis (and of course the arts seem always to be one of the first things to go…) But the Show Must Go On, and we have gotten exclusive rights to hold a screening of the film Call Me Dancer, which has won awards all over the world in the past year, as a fundraiser for the program, which we are very excited about. Besides being VERY anxious to sell as many tickets as we can to raise program funds, this is a rare opportunity for people to see this wonderful and inspirational film.
Some tickets might be available at the door, but the price is lower in advance; a share of the proceeds also will benefit West Seattle Performing Arts. The film is just under an hour and a half, in English and (subtitled) Hindi. The screening will be followed by an audience Q&A.
(WSB photo, THEM at Easy Street Records in July)
Hot headliners will rock your world at Friendsgiving, benefiting arts education for all, via Mode Music and Performing Arts – nonprofit offshoot of Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor). Tickets are available now, while they last, and this announcement has full details:
Mode Music and Performing Arts (MMPA) is excited to announce its annual Friendsgiving Fundraiser Dinner and Auction, set to take place on Friday, November 8, 2024, at Emerald City Trapeze Arts. The event will run from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM and promises a memorable evening filled with live performances, delicious food, and unique auction items — all to support a great cause.
The Friendsgiving event aims to raise funds for MMPA’s vital programs, which provide access to arts education for children across Seattle who might not otherwise have the opportunity. These programs include after-school arts enrichment, in-school arts programs, pay-what-you-can group classes and camps, and private-lesson scholarships for music instruction, ensuring that every child has the chance to explore their creativity through the arts.
Event highlights include:
-Special performances by THEM and Brittany Davis, and Mode students and staff
-Live and silent auctions
-Dinner provided by Blue Ribbon Catering with drinks included
-Emcéed by KEXP DJ Troy NelsonMMPA is grateful for the generous support of Perfect Day Games, whose sponsorship has helped make this event possible.
“We are proud to continue our mission of creating accessible and equitable arts education for all children,” said Erin Rubin, Founder of MMPA. “Friendsgiving is a celebration of community and creativity and we’re so excited to get together with supporters for a fun evening that directly benefits Seattle’s youth.”
Tickets are available now and can be purchased online at auctria.events/Friendsgiving2024 . Those who can’t attend can also support the fundraiser with a donation through the event website. Sponsorships and donations to the auction can still be made through the contact below or through the event website.
MMPA is based in North Delridge; the event venue (Emerald City) is at 2702 6th Ave. S. in nearby SODO.
6:10 PM: Our first stop on tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk – Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor), where Jessie Summa Russo is the guest artist. She’s highlighting work made with oil and cold wax on collage. And in addition to Viscon wines – you’ll find a table full of snacks (while they last):
From North Admiral to Morgan Junction, you have many choices for tonight’s Art Walk – see the map here, and venues’ featured artists here! Plus the Art of Music‘s three mini-concerts, until 7:45.
6:37 PM: Our second stop was one of the Art of Music hosts, Alki Arts (6030 California SW):
Terra Nova Duo is serenading Art Walk-ers there, while gallery proprietor Diane Venti hosts a multi-artist show – more on that, and photos, shortly!
6:53 PM: Diane explained that she chose “Rising Above” as the theme of the show – and the participating artists rose to the challenge.
Joanne Shellan (above) explains that she took inspiration from literally rising above – a flight in a private plane piloted by a friend. The work of Steffanie Lorig (below) is symbolic – “each animal represents strength, hope, and resilience.”
Also participating in the Alki Arts show – with a reception until 8 tonight – are Lisa Lamoureux and Steve Jensen.
Back in July, after this year’s Alki Art Fair, we reported that paintings had been stolen from at least two participating artists. This week, after almost three months, half a dozen stolen paintings mysteriously reappeared and are being returned to the artists. We just received that news from Elizabeth Rudrud of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s Log House Museum (which is on Alki, about a block and a half inland from where the fair was held). She tells WSB via email:
This week, I found, and am in the process of returning to the artists, six canvas paintings that were stolen during Alki Art Fair.
Tuesday, I arrived at the Log House Museum and found six canvas paintings placed behind a bench on our protected porch. I initially thought someone had left these as an anonymous donation for the museum, which, as this is a good opportunity to remind your readers, is always, always discouraged and doing so creates significant work for museum staff.
It was immediately apparent, however, that these paintings were not intended as a museum donation. Taped to the back of one of the canvases was a note that said “Return Paintings to Artist” with two artist names. The paintings appear in great condition. I found their websites, confirmed that these were in fact stolen artworks, and contacted the artists.
It is likely the person who initially stole these original paintings, or someone close to them, who made the right decision to return them and correctly believed that our historical society would assist. I am glad that I found these before a passerby decided to take them or weather damage occurred.
Richard Jahn picked up his paintings yesterday and described how devastated he was when they were taken. He said it felt as though he lost a family member. I have been in contact with the second artist and these will be returned to her soon.
We don’t know if that leaves any other stolen paintings unaccounted for, but will try to find out.
The Boeing Employees Choir, which rehearses in West Seattle, is inviting singers to any of three upcoming open rehearsals. Despite the name, you do not have to be a Boeing employee to join. The rehearsals are at American Legion Post 160 (3618 SW Alaska), at 6:30 pm October 15, 22, and 29. If you’re interested in participating on one of those dates, they’d love to hear from you at president@boeingchoir.org – but RSVP isn’t mandatory. The choir has openings in all sections; read more about it here.
One more mural note this morning – painting is finally under way for the mural planned to wrap around the Center for Active Living on the southeast corner of California and Oregon. The center’s executive director Amy Lee Derenthal says a permitting delay kept the painting from starting sooner. Artist Brady Black was chosen to paint the mural; we previewed it in this report on the center’s August open house.
Before getting into the news of the day … an art break. We don’t often get news releases from artists announcing new murals. For this one, we did. Artist Christopher Hydinger has added that mural to those already on the wall along the alley leading south from SW Dawson behind Rite Aid; we went over for a look. Here’s what the artist has to say about their creation, describing it as “big, bold, with a pinch of comedy, completely unafraid to spotlight the truth”:
Christopher Hydinger invites you to experience their new pro-environmental mural, ‘Breaking News: Alien Messiah Engages Portal, Presses Delete‘ at West Seattle’s world-class art alley West Side Wall (located behind the Rite Aid at 5217 California Ave SW). Installed at the north end of the alley, this large-scale drawing created using only small paint pens took over 65 hours to complete and vibrantly visualizes in great detail the absurdity of a Messiah coming to Save Us illustrated through the comically dramatic lens of an Alien Messiah at the moment they have decided to press the Delete button.
“Compositionally, the viewer is able to enjoy the expansive view through the Portal and into the Universe of the Alien Messiah, but because the floating Delete button (designed using the principles of chromostereopsis to create a no-glasses-needed 3D illusion) has been oriented facing the Alien Messiah (all “recycle” icons feature arrows pointing clockwise), this also gives the viewer the physical sensation of simultaneously inhabiting the inside of something while also looking out from it (a world inside a box, a cage, a computer, a more expansive ecosystem). Combined with the larger-than-life presence of the beautiful but intimidating Alien Messiah and the ominously designed Delete button, this is intended to create an unsettlingly eerie shock. But hopefully this shock will inspire a deeply motivating pro-environmental perspective to emerge. And just in time for Halloween!”
If you haven’t been to the wall – it stretches a full block southward along the alley, plus a short ways east along Dawson too. We first reported on it more than a year ago.
That’s Cami Voss, who is performing one of the three mini-concerts set for this Thursday’s West Seattle Art Walk, October’s edition of The Art of Music. All three mini-concerts are set for 6 pm to 7:45 pm Thursday, with a 15-minute break halfway through; Terra Nova Duo is performing at Alki Arts (6030 California SW); Sue Quigley is performing at West Seattle Realty (2715 California SW; WSB sponsor); and Cami Voss is performing at Jet City Labs (4547 California SW). All are free – stop in for one, two, or all three. For more on the Art Walk itself – with dozens of venues, some featuring artist receptions, 5 pm Thursday “till late” – go here!
Artists of all skill levels and talents are invited to be part of the annual Southwest Artist Showcase at Southwest Library. The four-day window to bring in your creations for display starts tomorrow – here’s the invitation we received today:
It’s that time of year again: the 32nd annual Southwest Artist Showcase is gearing up for October 6 – November 4! This free, month-long event features artists from all over west and southwest Seattle.
We welcome submissions from people of all ages and experience levels for our non-juried, non-profit showcase. Submit up to 3 pieces of art between Tuesday, October 1 – Friday, October 4 at the Southwest Branch during our open hours.Artwork will NOT be offered for sale at the Library. All works must be picked up by 6pm on Sunday, November 10. You may have another person drop off (or pick up) your art. If you have an easel or display structure that you’d like us to use to display your work, please bring them along with your art.
Please note: we strive to display all submitted works, as space allows. Some works may not be included if their size or construction prevents their effective display in the library. Library staff will determine the placement and display of each piece, and artwork will not be moved once it has been placed.
For more information about the Southwest Artist Showcase, please visit spl.org/southwestartistshowcase or call the branch at 206-684-7455.
The branch is at 9010 35th SW; its hours are listed here.
(Photos courtesy Kenyon Hall)
Perhaps the most distinctive feature of historic event venue Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) is its “Mighty Wurlitzer” organ. The nonprofit venue is raising money to keep it operational – and next Saturday (September 28) brings a specific way for you to help – here’s the announcement:
The Wurlitzer, a rare and historic organ that represents PNW theater and music history, is threatened with disrepair unless more funds can be raised to repair and restore at beloved West Seattle community theater, Kenyon Hall. Three rank pipes shy of being the same size as a similar organ in the Paramount, the Wurlitzer is one of the remaining organs of its type nationally.
The Wurlitzer organ was created to provide the soundtrack to new and emerging technologies in both film and entertainment in the early 1900s, whereas before theaters often used small live orchestras. Seattle was the first city nationally to have an organ accompany a movie.
Kenyon Hall’s Wurlitzer stands as a wonderful achievement of the pre-digital age but is in need of repairs to ensure it will survive. While many of these organs are “going digital,” Kenyon Hall’s Wurlitzer organ remains completely analog, which means there are thousands of wires that need to be kept in good working order, and an entire three-room series of pipes and switchboards that need to be kept clean and climate controlled. Completely electro-pneumatic, every time a key is pressed by a performer an electrical current runs a wire which then activates a windchest, sending an air current to the corresponding pipe or ranks of pipes.
The Wurlitzer rests at historic Kenyon Hall, a West Seattle community theater built in 1916 that hosts regular theater and concerts. The most notable concert was an exclusive performance by Pearl Jam’s lead singer, Eddie Vedder. In addition to hosting concerts and theater, the Hall is used as a rental space for music recitals, private concerts, social gatherings, and educational events, and is run by local nonprofit Seattle Artists. Kenyon Hall aims to provide living wages to performing artists and teachers while also keeping ticket prices manageable for interested audiences and lesson rates for students affordable.
The COVID-19 pandemic saw with it a drastic decrease in the amount of public arts venues in West Seattle and Seattle in general, and it is Kenyon Hall’s goal to keep the spirit of public arts alive, providing stages for artists new and old to perform and space for audiences to congregate and commune with each other. A fundraiser is planned for Saturday, September 28th from 4 pm-8:30 pm with local performers such as Tomo Nakayama, Erik Walters of Pedro the Lion, and hosted by local Kenyon Hall Cabaret drag performers.
Details of the event can be found at www.kenyonhall.org. Tickets can be purchased via Kenyon Hall’s website or directly through this ticket link (2 seatings). The live stream of the event will be hosted on Kenyon Hall’s YouTube page. This giving campaign will run through the Fall through links provided on Kenyon’s Hall’s “donate” page or directly through this campaign site.
If you’ve never seen/heard the Mighty Wurlitzer being played, you can find many videos online – including this one.
Until 5 pm, you can visit any or all of 14 West Seattle places where art is made and/or shown. The West Seattle Art Tour is a much-more behind-the-scenes experience than the monthly West Seattle Art Walk. We’re just back from one stop – we went to Gatewood to see the artists featured today at The Building (4316 SW Othello), a former church school converted into artist studios:
Upstairs, you’ll find Rebecca Woodhouse, who’s had a studio at The Building for almost three years. You can also talk with Nichole DeMent, a mixed-media-encaustic artist who’s been creating there for 10+ years, and Stephen Rock, who works in “a variety of processes”:
With more than 50 artists participating at the 14 Art Tour stops, some are hosting visiting artists as well as resident artists. At The Building, Kelly Marshall – a mixed-media painter from Queen Anne – is visiting today:
Throughout The Building, there’s art on the walls and along the stairways, making it a great stop for wandering (the upstairs west-facing windows have Puget Sound views, too). But the 13 other stops have their charms – we chose this one for proximity to HQ, but as the map shows, you have options from Admiral to Roxhill. Find maps and the artist list here; the free Art Tour continues until 5 pm today.
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