West Seattle, Washington
21 Saturday
For more than a decade, Westside School (WSB sponsor) has participated in the Salmon in the Schools program, learning about salmon’s life cycle while raising fry to release into Fauntleroy Creek. Now the students’ lessons have also hatched an art project – celebrated at the school this past Friday.
Among those on hand for the occasion, local Salmon in the Schools volunteers Judy Pickens and Phil Sweetland. Judy told us, “To engage the community in this project, the teachers recruited a crew of granddads living at Horizon House to cut the dozens of wooden blanks for 2nd and 3nd graders to paint. Horizon House is a retirement community on First Hill, with a well-equipped woodshop for residents.” She shared a photo of the students working on the fish before the installation:
Cathy Walton is the lead salmon teacher at Westside. The students presented a song for the occasion, which was intended to thank their helpers, along with gift bags and mementos:
2nd and 3rd-grade students also read salmon-themed poems.
The celebration happened during salmon-release season at Fauntleroy Creek, which continues through the end of the month.
Been to any of the West Seattle Art Hop & Shop stops yet? As we’ve been previewing, you have 25 options for places to visit and see art as well as the artists who made it, with multiple artists hosted at most stops. We went to the collection of studios known as The Building in lower Gatewood – where you’ll find art throughout, well, the building – work by Stephen Rock is in this stairwell, for example:
Artists there for the Art Hop & Shop include Kelly Marshall:
And Nichole DeMent:
The Building is at 4316 SW Othello. From there, we hopped over to C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor):
Art that you can see and shop there includes paintings by Skye Shadow:
West Seattle Art Hop & Shop continues until 5 pm today, with endless opportunities to browse and buy (need a Mother’s Day gift?). You can decide where to explore via either (or both!) of these two map versions – online, here (click on any location and it’ll open bubbles with artists and samples of their work) and printable, here. This is an all-volunteer event; organizers say they “wanted to create an event that showcases every artist and everything that makes them unique.”
Thanks to Pam for the tip! Crews working on the Pump Station 38 upgrade in the 1400 block of Alki Avenue SW are now installing its artwork. It’s centered on a topographical map in “decorative litho-mosaic concrete,” as Seattle Public Utilities describes it. The design by artist Sarah Thompson Moore was first announced in 2020, and updated in 2021. The artist explains the project in this video made public then:
As of the last construction update two weeks ago, SPU said remaining project components also included the safety railing that will be integrated with the art installation (as explained in the video), plus electrical work, irrigation, and landscaping, with completion expected sometime this summer.
The artist says she hopes the installation will “create a bit of magic” every time someone visits the site.
Art fans, you ready? Saturday brings the second-ever West Seattle Art Hop & Shop, with 25 locations around the peninsula showing and selling work by nearly 100 artists! Many are artists’ studios, not usually open to the public, so this is a rare chance to see behind the scenes. The printable map is here; the clickable online map is here; a 4-minute video preview of all the artists, organized by map stop, is here. Hop to as many stops as you’d like, even all 25 – no admission charge. Art Hop & Shop hours on Saturday (May 6th) will be 10 am to 5 pm.
This week brought the annual GiveBIG campaign encouraging you to support local nonprofits. Mode Music and Performing Arts, based in North Delridge, is making a special request to help build its scholarship fund, to provide music lessons to students who otherwise couldn’t afford them. Received today from MMPA:
Meet Harper, one of Mode Music and Performing Arts’ students! She has been taking private vocal lessons through our scholarship program.
For Harper, singing is part of life; ask her a question, she’ll sing her answer! Harper’s moms, Krystal and Kim, told us that “Harper has literally been singing since the time she could make noise.”
Kim added, “I’m just excited to be able to encourage her to just do whatever she wants to do, and to be able to offer that experience to her, you know? It’s just so great to see her learning and becoming whatever she wants to become with doing it.”
MMPA is dedicating 25% of our GiveBIG donation total toward our private lesson scholarship program, so students like Harper can achieve their musical dreams.
That means, if we reach our GiveBIG goal of $10,000, we can allocate $2,500 to music lesson scholarships.
The remainder of what we raise for GiveBIG goes toward making our pay-what-you-can programming possible, helping to cover the operating costs of our programs so that we can continue to offer free and discounted arts education.
Harper is one of the many students we reach through our arts programs. In 2022 alone, we served 234 kids and offered over $15,000 in scholarships to our group classes and camps at our location in Delridge! We also served nearly 100 students in our after-school arts programs in Fall 2022.
Your support for MMPA on GiveBIG matters so much! You will make a difference for our after-school programs, group camps and classes, and private music lesson scholarships. Take a moment today to make a gift to support accessible arts education in West Seattle. Click here to donate! Thank you for giving big and supporting accessible arts education today!
Thanks to Jackie Borg from West Seattle Little League for sending this!
Desmond Hansen painted a new box at Bar-S Little League fields. We’re so excited for the new addition to the fields!
(That’s Mariners slugger Julio Rodriguez, aka “J-Rod,” on the box.)
Emma Yeager has a free ticket to the Admiral Theater for you. It’s the premiere screening of her first documentary at 10 am Saturday, May 6th. Here’s her story:
I have lived in West Seattle with my family for 8 years. Over the last 5.5 years my father (Doug Jackson) and I have been working on my very first documentary film. We are so excited to show it on May 6th at the Admiral Theater at 10 AM (doors open at 9:30 AM). I grew up in Burbank, California where my father worked his entire career on major motion pictures as a sound editor. His favorite works include Schindler’s List, Hairspray, Logan and War For the Planet of the Apes (And More Here). For as long as I can remember my father has shown me and passed on a joy and love of film. For the last 15 years I have done many small film projects myself such as weddings, family history mini documentaries, small company promotion films and some volunteer non-profit films.
However, in 2016 right here in West Seattle, my life came to a halt when I was pregnant with my second child and was diagnosed with HELLP syndrome. HELLP syndrome is a version of preeclampsia that targets the liver and has a 50% chance of fatality for both the mother and child. My son was born as soon as we found out, small but healthy. I spent the next week in the hospital fighting for my life. When the worst of it seemed to pass I found that I had lost the ability to walk. My community came alongside me and my family for the next 7 months, desperately searching for answers and help to be able to walk again.
My documentary called “Oh Me of Little Faith” is about my story when I couldn’t find any medical professional anwsers. I was deeply depressed, unable to live my life when one day my friend from church encouraged me to take a small walk of faith that changed my life.
We made this documentary viewing a free event because we wanted to share it with our West Seattle Community. We are asking for donations to be able to share it with many more all of the USA this year in various film festivals. It is really important that people reserve tickets so we can make sure we have room. So far we have almost 100 attending.
Here is our event ticket/information website.
This has been a labor of love and our whole production team has been just me and my dad. We have paid 100% out of pocket and are hoping to raise money to continue to share this film and be able to make more like it in the future. It is very exciting to share my story and truly begin what I hope will become a career of telling more difficult and beautiful stories in the future.
The film is about an hour long and will be followed by Q&A.
The second-ever West Seattle Art Hop & Shop is less than two weeks away, happening Saturday, May 6th. On that day, 93 artists are showing and selling their work at 25 locations around the peninsula, from North Admiral to North Delridge to Arbor Heights, at sites from studios and businesses to yards and other outdoor spaces. Here’s a printable version of the map/list; the interactive online version is here – you can click on locations to preview the featured artists’ work. Art Hop & Shop stops will be open 10 am-5 pm that day.
Thanks for the tip. If you’re uphill from Lincoln Park, you might have heard the drumming from this gathering – it was audible in Gatewood. Aztec dancers and drummers are gathered in the park this afternoon. We couldn’t get a lot of information (we were interrupting), but we’re told they are there to honor the Earth.
At the end of an epic Record Store Day at Easy Street Records in The Junction, the grand finale was an all-star performance, first time in a long time that The Rockfords took the stage. Here’s how they’re explained in Easy Street’s latest newsletter:
The Rockfords could be called a Seattle supergroup, but the band was actually a reunion; Chris Friel and Danny Newcomb of the band Goodness and Rick Friel of Jody Watts were in a band called Shadow with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam during the mid-’80s; in the late ’90s they re-formed and added Goodness vocalist Carrie Akre under the name The Rockfords (named after McCready’s favorite TV show The Rockford Files).
The group’s self-titled LP and bonus EP were among today’s Record Store Day releases. We recorded a bit of video during their sound check:
(Our photographer had to bolt after that because of breaking news on the other side of Walk-All-Ways.)
That traffic-camera image from a few minutes ago suggests the crowd has finally thinned a bit at Easy Street Records, where people were lined up well before today’s special early (7 am!) opening for Record Store Day. WSB contributor Jason Grotelueschen got in line at 6:45 am and was still waiting two hours later – he sent this photo showing the early-morning line wrapping down Alaska and onto 44th:
While he waited, Jason reported “seeing happy people coming out with lots of records.” Easy Street’s award-winning proprietor Matt Vaughan said this RSD brings more than 300 “exclusive titles,” and Taylor Swift was the biggest draw. Eddie sent photos, too, and says the line was still going strong around quarter to 11.
You’re likely to see a crowd at the corner again this evening – The Rockfords will wrap up Record Store Day with an in-store performance – their first show in 20 years – at 7 pm. More on that in ESR’s newsletter.
If you’ve read our coverage of Admiral Neighborhood Association meetings – and/or attended them – you know ANA has been resolute in reviving the group’s long-running summer-concert series, even though its past venue, the back lawn of Hiawatha Community Center, is unavailable. Most recently, ANA was zeroing in on the Lafayette Elementary School playground as a site, and has announced today that three concerts will be held there, on Thursday nights as in the past, July 13th, 20th, and 27th. Performers and other details are forthcoming. If you have questions, a good place to bring them would be ANA’s next general meeting, 7 pm May 9th at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill). ANA says the agenda that night also will include a long-sought guest appearance by a Seattle Parks official with an update on Hiawatha’s upcoming projects.
The acclaimed Byrd Ensemble is performing in West Seattle again Saturday night at Holy Rosary Catholic Church. This time, the chamber vocal ensemble’s concert is themed “Prince of Music: Palestrina.” Here’s the concert summary:
Palestrina was the outstanding composer of the late Renaissance in Europe. His long-lasting influence on the development of church music and counterpoint included his most famous mass setting, Missa Papae Marcelli, which served as a model for mass settings during the Counter-Reformation. The program also features music by two other leading contemporaries of Palestrina: Spanish Counter-Reformation composer and possible pupil of Palestrina, Tomás Luis de Victoria, and Franco-Flemish composer Orlando Lassus.
The full program and other information can be seen in our calendar listing. To get the word out, the Byrd Ensemble is advertising on WSB, and offering a deal if you use this code while getting tickets online: WESTSEATTLE30. The concert starts at 7:30 pm Saturday (April 15th); Holy Rosary is at 42nd/Genesee on the north side of The Junction.
Eleven extra reasons to explore the West Seattle Art Walk tonight – mini-concerts at 11 venues as part of the second Muse Fest: The Power of Women’s Voices music festival. Above is Carly Ann Calbero, who performed at West Seattle Grounds in North Admiral; below is jean mann at Verity Credit Union (WSB sponsor) in The Junction:
Tonight’s venues stretched southward to Morgan Junction, where WSB contributor Jason Grotelueschen photographed the performers – first, Sue Quigley – who co-coordinated Muse Fest – at Beveridge Place Pub:
And almost-next-door at Zeeks Pizza, Katrina Kope:
Co-coordinator John Redenbaugh, who also produces The Art of Music, says those performances will be back on second Thursday Art Walk nights this June through December
Last week’s scheduled one-time performance of “Friends Across the Wires” at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center had to be called off at the last minute for COVID concerns. Now producer Tamara Bunnell tells WSB a new date is set – one week from tonight, 7:30 pm Thursday, April 20th. It’s a free performance, presented by the Seattle Historical Theatre Project, of a play telling the story of Japanese American incarceration during World War II through the prism of young people’s experiences. No tickets or RSVP required – just show up next Thursday night. The venue is at 4408 Delridge Way SW. (Here’s our original preview.)
Even if you don’t fish, the scenery might be reason enough to catch the Fly Fishing Film Tour‘s 2023 West Seattle stop. It’s this Thursday (April 13th), 7 pm at the Admiral Theater (2343 California SW), hosted by West Seattle’s own fly-fishing specialists at Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor). We’re told EWA proprietor Dave McCoy is featured in one of this year’s films! You’re invited to stop by EWA’s gear/apparel shop in The Junction (4502 42nd SW) before Thursday’s screening, “as we will be having some activities to celebrate all things fly fishing.” And you can get your ticket(s) in advance via The Admiral’s website.
Thursday brings this month’s West Seattle Art Walk, with a bonus – the second presentation of multiple mini-concerts as part of Muse Fest: The Power of Women’s Voices. From coordinator John Redenbaugh:
Muse Fest is co-presented by The Art of Music and local musician Sue Quigley on behalf of the West Seattle Junction Association.
A total of 11 free admission Muse Fest performances are scheduled to concurrently take place from 6 – 7:45 pm that night (with one 15-minute break at the midpoint) at businesses in the Admiral District, Alaska Junction, and Morgan Junction.
The Muse Fest performers will provide a variety of music to choose from and enjoy; they, and the genres represented, are:
Carly Ann Calbero (Genre: Folk Rock)
Katrina Kope (Genre: Downtempo Electronic
Megan Krantz Project (Genre : Folk/Pop/Acoustic)
Kim Archer (Genre: Soulful Rock)
jean mann (Genre: Lyric-driven Alt-Folk with an Americana Twist )
Sue Quigley (Genre: Edgy Alt -Folk/Singer Songwriter
K Square (Genre: Rock)
Cami Voss (Genre: Retro Country)
Sheryl Wiser (Genre: Americana)
SAPPHIRE CITY (Genre: Alt pop/RnB)
Caitlin Patterson (Genre: Folk/Soul/Singer-songrwriter)You can find details about the Muse Fest performers and venues on the West Seattle Art Walk website at: wsartwalk.org/2023/03/09/muse-fest-the-power-of-womens-voices-2.
And this is all in addition to the venues where you can see art, meet artists, and/or enjoy food and drink specials, 5 pm “until late” on Thursday – preview those here.
1:13 PM: Just got word from producer Tamara Bunnell that the Seattle Historical Theatre Project has to cancel tonight’s performance of “Friends Across the Wires“ in West Seattle. She emailed to say, “We are very, very sorry to report that tonight’s performance of ‘Friends Across the Wires’ at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center has been canceled because of Covid. We are so sorry to cancel, but need to prioritize keeping the community safe.” This was to be a one-night-only WS performance of the play telling a story of how youth were affected by the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans. We’re asking whether there’s any chance of a reschedule.
1:36 PM: Bunnell says they’re hoping so and will send us word of a new date when they work one out.
12:58 PM: Thanks to the texters who sent photos of the damaged “Welcome to West Seattle” sign along the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge. We reported late last night on the crash at that location. The sign was installed by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce in 2019, funded by a donation from the late philanthropist Ada Cruzen; we have a message out to the WSCC to see what their plans are.
1:05 PM: Quick response from Chamber executive director Whitney Moore: “Absolutely, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce will be repairing the Welcome Sign and restoring it to its former glory.”
This year’s West Seattle Garden Tour is still more than two months away – June 25th – but in one important way, the WSGT is looking ahead to next year already. This announcement explains:
Each year the West Seattle Garden Tour, a 501(c)(3) organization, seeks out other non-profits whose goals fit our mission — to promote horticultural-based interests, educational projects, and arts programs — within West Seattle and neighboring communities, to provide them the funds they need to continue and complete their efforts. The purchase of garden tour and raffle tickets, along with the generous support of our sponsors, makes that goal possible.
For non-profit organizations interested in requesting a 2024 grant from the West Seattle Garden Tour, applications are now available. Application forms can be found on our website at westseattlegardentour.org/grants along with submission requirements and instructions. Completed applications are due to the West Seattle Garden Tour Grants Chair, Karen Fields, by July 15, 2023. Our Grants Committee will select 8-10 applicants out of all applications for furtheronsideration by our entire West Seattle Garden Tour Committee. Those selected 8-10 applicants will be notified by August 1 and will be scheduled to present their organization’s project at a committee meeting beginning in the fall. Non-profits who receive a grant from the garden tour will not be eligible to apply the following year, to allow more organizations to compete for funds.
P.S. If you want to see gorgeous gardens while contributing to the WSGT’s community giving, tickets for this year’s tour are on sale now via the WSGT website.
We often feature school fundraisers, most commonly for sports or music. Tonight, we have a teacher seeking a community boost for an arts project. From “Ms. A” at Chief Sealth IHS:
Hello, West Seattle community! In the Chief Sealth International High School Art Department, in our Ceramics class, we are grading up for our 4th annual Raku firing event on May 25. This is led by Eric from Seattle Pottery and is a fun technique we’ve been privileged to have students participate in!
This event does cost over what we expect our students to pay in everyday art fees. Typically the cost runs close to $700 plus about $150 for the clay. I am reaching out to you, our community to help make this happen. Please consider donating. It’s a great way to involve all students in the process of firing and see the connection between art and physics in real time! We appreciate your support! Thank you,
Carolyn Autenrieth, Ceramics and IB Art teacher
We asked Ms. A for a few more details: “We have $220 from donations, and I have $200 from a grant, but we still need about $400 for the RAKU event. Of course, anything extra just helps our underfunded department continue! Ceramic Glazes have gone up about 40% for some, and those changes eat into our regular budget.” P.S. If you’re unfamiliar with Raku, here’s an explanation.
Jak’s Grill is revealing a new community-minded mural this Thursday, March 30th, 2023, 6PM at its 4548 California Avenue location.
That depiction of an early-20th-century streetcar is at the heart of West Seattle’s newest mural, “Birth of the Junctions.” It’s on a wall inside JaK’s Grill, and tonight artist B Anthony Nelson drew cheers as he signed it:
Nelson explained in his event announcement, “For generations, the West Seattle community has played, celebrated, thrived and connected around the Junctions. With such a rich tradition of murals and fine art throughout the area, it felt like a hole in the West Seattle story not to represent where the Junctions come from. This is my small contribution to how much they mean to those of us who live here.” Nelson’s mural comes as JaK’s has done some simple interior “refreshing” – new window coverings, for example – and added a few new menu items (including Wagyu beef).
If you haven’t already seen it – or if you want to see it again – you have three more chances to enjoy “Little Shop of Horrors” at West Seattle High School, starting tomorrow (Wednesday) night. Here’s the synopsis:
The meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new breed of plant he names “Audrey II” – after his coworker crush. This foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down and out Krelborn as long as he keeps feeding it, BLOOD. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II’s out-of-this-world origins and intent toward global domination.
Also forwarded in email from readers, this review from WSHS’s student news publication, hailing the “powerhouse vocals” of Lucy Warren as Audrey II – catch a clip of her singing here. Showtimes Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are at 7:30 pm; you can get tickets in advance here – including an online option (choose the “virtual tickets” option at the top of that page). WSHS is at 3000 California SW – to get to the theater, enter through the courtyard off the south end of the school’s parking lot.
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