West Seattle’s historical murals can’t be taken for granted. So far just this year, one’s been removed without warning; another’s been defaced with vandalism so big it would take thousands to fix. The quarter-century-old murals are fragile treasures, to say the least. Thursday, during this month’s West Seattle Art Walk, you’re invited to learn about them during two short free walking tours of the murals in The Junction.

These photos are from earlier this spring, when we went along on a sort of proto-version of the tour, with Art Walk committee members and Southwest Seattle Historical Society executive director Clay Eals, who will be the leader tomorrow night and has published this invitation on the SWSHS website.

In The Junction, the murals range north to south from the refurbished Hi-Yu Parade scene on the side of the Post Office (top photo) to the scene facing the parking lot off the west side of California just north of Edmunds, meant to mirror what you’d see if you stepped just a bit to the east from there:

Even if you’ve read the plaques next to most of the murals, you’ll learn something tomorrow night – like their Easter eggs, the tributes, the inspiration. Meet at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (4410 California SW; WSB sponsor) right before the tours start at 6 and 7:30, and check out other Art Walk venues before/after if you have the time!

If you think the West Seattle Art Walk is just a Junction event – not so!

NEW STOP IN ARBOR HEIGHTS: Brand new on the Art Walk map/list tonight, Brace Point Pottery, at 42nd/100th in Arbor Heights. Three artists are featured tonight, including Warren Pope and his “Sea Creatures”:

Two potters are also featured – studio proprietor Loren Lukens and Konstantin Reutov (photo below):

As with most WSAW venues, Brace Point Pottery is open until 9 – plus you’re invited to visit during studio open-house hours 10 am-5 pm tomorrow and Saturday.

ADDED 7:24 PM – SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: The gallery at SSC is in the Brockey Center toward the south end of campus. This month’s exhibit is “Butterflies: A Fantastically Queer Journey,” including Bianca Wright‘s photographs of transgender women and graphic designer Allan C. Carandang, whose work on display includes bright and bold images of drag performers:

The artists weren’t there yet when we stopped by a little while ago, but we talked with gallery coordinator Akiko Masker. She talked with us about the gallery’s mission to encourage and support diversity, working with the Queer Straight Alliance not only in relation to this exhibit but also for an event coming up at SSC on April 30th, Queer Con. “Butterflies” (which includes nude images) will be on display in the gallery until then; admission is free, and gallery hours are usually Mondays-Fridays, 10 am-4 pm (tonight, until 9)

See the map/list of tonight’s Art Walk venues in our daily preview.

(WSB photo)

Winemaking is itself an art … so you could say you’d be enjoying two types of art if you stop by Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) during tonight’s monthly West Seattle Art Walk. Winemaker Ben Viscon‘s tasting room opens on Art Walk night (second Thursdays, 6-9 pm) in addition to its regular Friday and Saturday sessions. We stopped by tonight to admire the art of Jesse Link – also known in West Seattle as a muralist – and the Viscon Cellars tasting-room decor, which Ben explains is 90 percent reclaimed, including shelving from old wooden grape boxes, an antique typewriter, and more. Plus, tonight, four wines to sample. Viscon Cellars is at 5910 California SW, just north of Morgan Junction, with table and bar seating where you can get comfy and unwind with the weekend in view. (The full list of Art Walk venues is in the preview we published earlier today.)

7 PM: In our Instagram video, those are The Silver Belles, with Christmas-carol parodies – making the rounds in The Junction during tonight’s holiday edition of the West Seattle Art Walk. You have two more hours to get out to Art Walk venues – here’s the map:

(Click image to see larger version of the map/venue list)
Our first stop was Wallflower Custom Framing (WSB sponsor), where it’s the seventh annual Puny Picture Show:

Wallflower is across from Jefferson Square, on the lower level of Mural, at 4735 42nd SW.
(added) Among the artists – photographer Michelle Smith Lewis:

If you don’t get there tonight – as is the case with many Art Walk displays – you can check out the art later in the month; many come with puny prices, too, lots of double-digits, so they would make great gifts.

More to come!

7:15 PM: Open for Shop Late Thursday and the Art Walk tonight, VAIN (WSB sponsor) at 4513 California SW – which is a shop as well as a salon, if you aren’t already aware! Sandra Farmer is here for the opening of her ceramics show “Polarity“:

The 4500 block of California SW is an epicenter of Art Walk creativity, on both sides of the street. It’s also where you’ll find local authors tonight at Merryweather Books (4537 California SW):

In our photo is Alice Ann Kuder, holding her book “Since I Last Saw You,” which she describes as “a novel which conveys an inspirational message within a heartwarming story about love, loss, and gratitude.” And steps away at CAPERS, we found Chief Sealth International High School teacher Heather and daughter Sparrow helping with sales of the student-program-benefiting West Seattle Wildlife Calendar:

The calendar features wildlife photos by retired Sealth teacher Mark Wangerin – whose beautiful bird photos are often seen here on WSB.

7:37 PM: More music on tonight’s Art Walk – Red Jacket Mine Duo just started their set moments ago at Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor):

Thunder Road is at 4736 California SW and just celebrated its fourth anniversary. We’re off next to see artist Mark O’Malley at Basin Pacific Insurance (4210 SW Oregon, in the building immediately east of Shadowland), who sent us a handwritten invite to come check out his art depicting West Seattle scenes.

8:22 PM: That’s Mark, above, with some of his work, painted on old jigsaw puzzles – which you wouldn’t know unless you turned them over. His show will be up at Basin Pacific past tonight, and many of his pieces are for sale, including whimsical depictions of many local businesses – all with one extra touch (hint: meow). He doesn’t have a website but you can reach him via e-mail at markostudio@aol.com.

Meanwhile, photographer Mark Wangerin had arrived at CAPERS when we peeked in again on our way back south along California:

Follow the calendar link above if you missed this but want a copy for a holiday gift, or your own wall … it’s a limited run, so don’t wait too long.

We then made one last stop, Twilight Gallery and Boutique (immediately west of Easy Street Records), where the artists included Su Laing, with work fusing comic-book heroes to religious icons/stories:

Twilight’s ongoing displays and collections also include jewelry, wallets, and wearables, among other items. Always so much to see on the Art Walk – every month, second Thursday, 6-9 pm, and many of the venues keep the work up through the month.

Two scenes from tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk, both in The Junction on California between Oregon and Alaska:

That’s Sheila Lengle, who spent the evening at Windermere West Seattle (4526 California SW), where her show “Prevail!” raised money to fight breast cancer, which she has survived. As the preview of her show noted, creativity was a pathway to healing for her, resulting in bright, beautiful paintingss.

A few doors south, Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor) is featuring the work of Deanna Baldi (and shared this photo of her, taken tonight):

As you can see, her work is also inspired by the world of plants – her paintings “strive to capture the essence of beauty in bloom,” she says. They’ll be at Click! until next month’s Art Walk, which will be November 12th (remember that WSAW is a great night for artful holiday shopping, especially in November and December).

On our way to the Hiawatha concert, we had time for just one stop on the West Seattle Art Walk – so we visited WSB flagship sponsor Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (4410 California SW in The Junction), which is showing the work of Jessie Summa Russo this month. The work she’s showing fuses her interests and backgrounds in both music and graphic design (note the decorated vinyl toward the right of our photo). You still have half an hour to get out to Art Walk venues of your choice (the map/list is in our West Seattle Thursday preview); you can also enjoy most artists’ work at participating venues all month long, while you’re out shopping/sipping/dining.

Kicking off our look ahead to the rest of your Thursday – it’s West Seattle Summer Fest Eve, starring the July West Seattle Art Walk!

The Art Walk poster image changes quarterly – this time around, it’s by Clare Johnson. And the venue list shuffles a bit each quarter too – here’s the new one:

While you’re visiting the Junction venues – which include WSB sponsors Click! Design That Fits (featuring Hannah Viano and a Summer Fest sale!), Emerald Water Anglers, Hotwire Online Coffeehouse, and Wallflower Custom Framing (featuring Jessica Creager) – enjoy the chance to wander in the streets, since the Summer Fest closures start at 6 tonight, as does the Art Walk (more venue previews, including those outside The Junction, on the official website). Besides the art, as previewed here earlier this week, tonight also includes:

*Magic and music offered by Elliott Bay Brewing Company, starting at 6
*Music offered by West 5, starting at 7
*(added) Outdoor beer garden at The Beer Junction – setting up once the streets are closed, plus a tasting event with Lagunitas Brewing 5-8 pm, five beer samples for $4

(Anything else scheduled? editor@wsb.blackfin.biz – thanks! And stand by for another Summer Fest preview later this afternoon!)

Also tonight:

WINE TASTING & LIVE MUSIC: Monthly event at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm – bring an appetizer to share, bring a friend, have a great time! (5612 California SW)

And a note for today:

COLMAN POOL CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC: The first of this summer’s two multi-day swim-meet closures starts today and continues through Saturday.

Haven’t been out to the monthly West Seattle Art Walk yet tonight? You have until 9 pm – find the map/venue list in our daily preview, pick a spot, and go! Maybe VAIN (4513 California SW; WSB sponsor) in The Junction, where you’ll find Julee Nicklaus, whose show “Expressive Espresso” features work painted in coffee! Remember that most shows debuting on Art Walk night (like this one) are up at the host businesses/venues for the rest of the month, so if you just couldn’t get out tonight … stop by another time soon.

It’s West Seattle Art Walk night! That tops our quick look at what’s ahead for the rest of your Thursday. The Art Walk runs 6-9 pm – here’s the list/map of where you’re invited to come see art, and, at many stops, to meet the artists:

Make your plan by browsing the artist/venue previews on the official WS Art Walk website.

Also happening later today/tonight:

STORMWATER POLLUTION SOLUTIONS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD: Come to a community-planning workshop for pollution reduction in the Longfellow Creek Watershed, at the bioswale in the Denny International Middle School parking lot this afternoon! 3:30-5 pm. RSVP if you can to peterdonaldson50@gmail.com, or just show up! (2601 SW Kenyon)

POP-UP JEWELRY SHOW AT THE LONGHOUSE: 5:30-8:30 pm, stop by the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse for a pop-up jewelry show by Heidi Leonard. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)

TOTEM CRUISE INFO/RECEPTION: All are welcome at the Log House Museum 6-8 pm tonight, not only to find out about the upcoming Totem Pole Cruise, but also to enjoy chowder and treats and hear about local history, as previewed here. (61st/Stevens)

CONGRATS, SLHS CLASS OF 2015! Seattle Lutheran High School‘s Class of 2015 graduates tonight at 7:30 pm in the Menashe Family Gym on campus. (4100 SW Genesee)

WINE CLUB AT C & P: 7 pm, wine, music, and art at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – more in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW)

MORE FOR TODAY/TONIGHT/TOMORROW/BEYOND … there for the browsing, when you visit our calendar.

One spotlight stop tonight:

Cheryl Robinson is the featured artist at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) in The Junction. See and read about her paintings and ceramics on the official West Seattle Art Walk website. (Click! is at 4540 California SW, and Art Walk is on until 9 pm – see the full venue list/map in today’s daily preview.

Until 9 pm, get out and enjoy the West Seattle Art Walk – we’ve made a few stops in The Junction:

That’s Michael Doyle, an illustrator who’s at VAIN (4513 California SW; WSB sponsor) for the opening reception of “32 Teacups,” described as “a show about secrets, dreams, and time travel.” Along with his illustrations … you’ll see these teacups:

He explains the inspiration: A friend of his had a dream about him, his art, and teacups. So he built the show around her dream – including the teacups. If you miss it tonight, don’t worry, his show is there through April.

At Wallflower Custom Framing (4735 42nd SW; WSB sponsor), oil painter/photographer Taylor Reed is showing her work:

The description of her show notes, “Most recently she has been inspired by gold, silver and copper leafing combined with oils, sometimes using it as a mere accent, and others to fill the canvas with the warmth that it brings.”

More to come … and if you missed the map/venue list earlier, find it in our West Seattle Thursday highlights.

8:01 PM: At Emerald Water Anglers (4502 42nd SW: WSB sponsor), this Art Walk night brings not only art, but another edition of Writers on the Fly:

Martha Silano is reading from her book of poetry “Reckless Lovely.” Video when we’re back at HQ. You’ll also find the art of Leah Hemberry Ricketts at EWA.

Every quarter, the West Seattle Art Walk changes up its poster art and venue list – some new, some continuing – and so, with two hours until this month’s WSAW begins, we present the new versions of both.

So which artists will you see when you go out to tonight’s Art Walk, 6-9 pm? Check out the previews on the official website, where you’ll also find the full-size venue list. (And if you’re looking for what else is up tonight, check our calendar.)

From three stops on tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk map, all in The Junction:

West Seattle High School artist Audrey Martin was showing work in a tent. A ShelterBox tent, to be specific, set up in Junction Plaza Park for Art Walk night, as a pop-up location for the work of Audrey and other student artists, presented by the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s Rotaract group. Also in The Junction, an early Halloween:

Artist Todd D. Martin has “Haunted” work on the walls at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) – which was decorated spookily for the night, including lights and sound effects. Luminarias too! From there, we headed to Wallflower Custom Framing (also a WSB sponsor), which is hosting work by Patri O’Connor this month:

It’s always a party at Wallflower on Art Walk night – proprietor Courtney Sievertson (right) had another special guest – Heidi Herr from Admiral Bird:

Heidi brought beverages and soup. While the treats offered at many Art Walk venues are generally just for WSAW night itself, most shows are up for the entire month, so if you missed them tonight, stop by sometime soon! The list and map are on the WSAW website. (And set a reminder for the November Art Walk – great time to find unique holiday gifts – Thursday, November 13th.)

That’s the venue list/walking map for tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk – click it for a full-size version. The Art Walk tops our list of highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

ART WALK NIGHT! 19 venues from Admiral to Sunrise Heights – the list changes each quarter, so take a look and see who’s ready to welcome you, 6-9 pm. Many artists/venues are previewed on the official Art Walk website – among them, West Seattle High School students presenting their work at Junction Plaza Park. WSB sponsors featuring artists include Hotwire Online Coffeehouse, where you’ll see Todd Martin‘s annual Halloween show ; at Wallflower Custom Framing, you’ll find West Seattle painter Patri O’Connor (along with beverages and soup from Admiral Bird); and Shelli Markee is at Click! Design That Fits, and co-working hub West Seattle Office Junction is highlighting art by Don DeLeva.

Also:

SOUTHWEST YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES OPEN HOUSE: 2-6 pm, come enjoy a barbecue and find out more about the resources you can access via SWYFS – details in our calendar listing. (Delridge/Alaska)

SEALTH OPEN HOUSE/CURRICULUM NIGHT: The annual event for Chief Sealth International High School students’ families is tonight, starting with dinner at 5 pm, open house at 6 pm. Details in the school newsletter. (2600 SW Thistle)

SECOND THURSDAY OUT: LGBTQ community members and friends are invited to the monthly event at the Senior Center of West Seattle (and dinner in The Junction), 6-9 pm. (Oregon/California)

WINE TASTING AND MUSIC: 7-9 pm, enjoy both at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – details here. (5612 California SW)

LOTS MORE GOING ON! See for yourself on our calendar.

From Admiral to The Triangle to The Junction to Morgan Junction, the September West Seattle Art Walk is on until 9 pm. Here’s the map/venue list. Photos to come – watch the WSB Instagram feed in the meantime.

8:01 PM: Had to divert to breaking news, but we made it to two stops and have a photographer at a third. First, at Mind Unwind/Treehouse Lounge in The Admiral District, even before tonight’s featured artist arrived, we found customers exploring creativity:

That’s Mariah and Justin. Then it was on to The Junction, where Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) is featuring two artists tonight – first, in a meet-the-maker event, it’s Steve Lawler of rePly Furniture:

Shelli Markee, best known for her wire birds on the Click! walls, is there too.

ADDED: West Seattle Cellars north of Morgan Junction had two artists tonight, too – Rich Lehl:

… and ET Marsden:

WS Cellars has free wine tastings every Thursday night, by the way, not just Art Walk nights. And it’s just steps away from West Seattle’s only co-working center, WS Office Junction (WSB sponsor):

That’s the WSOJ team posing with some of the art on display in their quarters at 6040 California SW, where you’re invited to a free coworking meetup every Wednesday, noon-1:15 pm. Meantime, next month’s West Seattle Art Walk will be October 9th – in the meantime, many venues keep their displays up all month, so check the WSAW website and check out art in the days and weeks ahead.

6:21 PM: Sun’s out and the West Seattle Art Walk is on – two dozen venues around West Seattle, welcoming you to come enjoy art and meet the artists, until 9 pm. See the map/list here; we’re out stopping at some of the venues – coverage to come.

(Added below over the ensuing two-plus hours, which also now have transitioned to drizzly weather post-8 pm…)

The party’s on the Hotwire (WSB sponsor) patio at 4410 California SW – among the guests, David Kelliher, who designed the T-shirt art for “Bridging the Gap” used for publication 30 years ago and gracing a commemorative T-shirt now:

Also there, Clay Eals, executive director of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, which is presenting an exhibit of 19 historical photos spanning West Seattle bridges’ history – which dates back to the 1890s, as you’ll learn from an explanatory sign just inside Hotwire’s front doors. If you miss the chance to buy a T-shirt tonight – benefiting SWSHS – they’re also on sale at the museum (61st/Stevens, noon-4 pm Thursdays-Sundays) and at West 5 in The Junction.

Fritz Rud is at Click! (WSB sponsor) with his attention-grabbing creations:

Click! co-proprietor John Smersh says they’ll be on sale at least for the rest of the month, if not beyond – while they last; as explained on the Click! site, each of the no-power-supply-required creations is one of a kind.

The 20th annual West Seattle Garden Tour (co-sponsored by WSB) is coming up July 20th, and tonight, art from the WSGT poster contest is at Windermere in The Junction – as are many participating artists:

From left – this year’s winner Sue Madill, Gretchen Flickinger, Bonnie Bennedsen, Theresa Neinas, Sheila Lengle, Paul Illian, and Bob Tasler. Copies of the poster are on sale, as well as WSGT tickets. The tour raises money for local nonprofits; Sue’s contest-winning painting will be sold via silent auction on tour day, and the others’ work is available for purchase now.

Opening night tonight at Wallflower (WSB sponsor) in The Junction for Rodolfo Rios Garza‘s show “Arboles: Serenity, Beauty, and Mystery of Trees.” If you didn’t get there tonight, you can check it out at the gallery through July 8th.

Most if not all Art Walk venues continue displaying their highlighted exhibitions through the rest of the month, so you can continue Art Walk-ing around West Seattle in the days and nights ahead. Next Art Walk is an extra-special one – the annual West Seattle Summer Fest Eve edition, starting after the streets in the heart of The Junction close Thursday, July 10th, for festival setup – watch for more on that as July gets closer – and of course, there will be venues outside The Junction as well, as always.