The note my niece left for Santa.
"The cookies are on the dining room table...
p.s. Are you lactose and tolerant?"
Adorable!
photo by my sis: Suzanne Strong Photography.
Check out her online portfolio and pencil in the Feb 5th First Thursday opening at 619 Western, where she'll be in a group show.
This picture is of a section of Memento Vitae I. Words in the boxes include excellence, murmur, ripple, clifftop, goodwill, truth. Two similar pieces are also hanging.
I'm not usually a fan of textile-based art: I probably need a greater technical understanding of it in order to appreciate it more. However, the Memento works by Donegan are deeply personal and cleverly executed, so I am intrigued. Stop by Canvas and check it out if you are in the 619 Western Ave area. Particularly if you like a little wordplay in your art.
It's the first Thursday of the month: time to get your Seattle art walk on!
Rather than hit the usual galleries, why not check out a few of these alternative art spots tonight?
We Have Our Own Ways
by Team Nerd
This first solo show by Team Nerd is a fine art printmaking tribute to the women in the artist's family. The show features oversized art books of letterpress poetry and linoleum block portraits, and oversized wood block prints of the ladies. You've most certainly seen Team Nerd work if you walk around the city much.
Zietgiest Coffee and Gallery
3rd and Jackson, Pioneer Square
6pm - 8pm
Works by Brandon Baker
This artist's wry sense of humor is reflected in his color-saturated, 'toon-like artwork of street-jaded creatures. He'll be showing paintings and will have t-shirts and magnets available.
Thursday is also his birthday! Check in to wish him a happy new year, if for no other reason.
Additional artists also showing at this venue.
Heaven Nightclub
172 Washington St
4pm - 10pm
Of course, my favorite haunt:
619 Western Ave building, of which I've already blogged.
Various hours by studio
generally starts early and runs late.
Plus one more, a little out of the usual First Thursday 'hood:
No Wimps: Art Inspired by Tattoo Culture
various artists including Ego, Shawn Barber, and Damon Conklin
This month's show at BLVD Gallery opens a week earlier than usual to kickoff the Seattle Tattoo Expo this weekend. Although the gallery isn't in the Pioneer Square area, it runs late tonight so you have time to wrap up at the square then catch a cab for a short ride up to Belltown to finish off your art walk night.
BLVD Gallery
2316 2nd Ave
Robot Boy, Lucky, and Penguin waited patiently for me to find the laser level. I bought these three pieces from artist Dave Bloomfield last fall and finally hung them in the guest room today. I love the sweet goodness that permeates much of Dave's work and I'd like to think the positive and playful vibe will influence the dreams of all who sleep in this room.
Framing these was a little tricky due to the non-standard size. Fortunately, I found double-glass frames at Fred Meyer for not very much money. Result: perfection on a budget!
If you'd like to get your own Dave Bloomfield art, make your way to 619 Western building on the first Thursday of the month. 619 Western is an old warehouse space with 6 floors of artist studios. It is open to the public once a month and there is always something new to see. Dave typically has some stuff available for $5. He makes sure everyone can afford a little art in their life!
For those keeping track at work home, I saw:
flamenco dance (Barrio Flamenco @ 619 Western)
and hip hop (The Physics @ Sole Repair)
and electronica (Truckasauras @ Sole Repair).
p.s. Barrio Flamenco is performing at Faire Gallery Cafe Saturday March 15th at 9:00 pm. No cover.
Oh, what to do...what to do...
Can I be three places at once? Can I fit all three in?
Here's what's going on Thursday, March 6th in Sea-town:
First Thursday Artwalk (free)
My new favorite activity in town. I love the 619 Western building and seeing what the cutting edge artists are up to each month. I missed February's open house so I really want to make it back this month.
Young Ones Showcase ($5)
Fresh music talent spotlight sponsored by The Stranger; performances at Neumos and Sole Repair. Lineup includes Dyme Def, Throw Me the Statue and Truckasauras.
Opening Reception for ByDesign 08 at Northwest Film Forum. (free)
Write up here.
Perhaps I can manage two out of three if I plan it right.
I'll be eating my (and your) share of sushi over the next two weeks in the land of the rising sun.
Sayonara, peeps. Represent, and carry on without me!
new! Friday, Feb 1: DJ Steve Aoki at War Room for Sing Sing night. Premier LA party man and producer, Mr Dim Mak brings it fo' sho'.
new! Friday, Feb 1: Shameless' My Bloody Valentine party (not the band), Hengst Studio. Check Donte's write up in The Stranger.
update! Saturday, Feb 2nd: Closing night party for the Free Art Seattle Exhibition @ the Wayward Cafe, 6 - 9 pm. Art in the exhibition will be given away (limit of one per person). First come, first serve. Imagine Best Buy on Black Friday: street artists and fans queuing up on the sidewalk starting at 6 am. Ha! I've called dibs on one but won't be there to collect. Poor me. If you go, please be sure to wish Kinoko a very happy birthday.
update! Saturday, Feb 2nd: Inner Flight vs. Danger Inc. NW djs collab to bring you all-night dance. Location: Church of Bass, 920 Elliot Ave W
Thursday, Feb 7th: First Thursday art walk. Check 619 Western. I promise you'll see something interesting.
Friday, Feb 8th: New gallery show openings @ BLVD Gallery, Roq La Rue, Suite 100 Gallery.
Friday Feb 8th: Broken Disco @ Chop Suey. Friendly monthly dance party. Always a variety of styles and skilz. Check local chicas Kris Moon and Jenn Woolfe.
Friday Feb 8th: Uberzone and Bassbin Twins @ Last Supper Club. Check Bassbin Twins' remix of Evil Nine's Crooked for a taste of what Pete brings to the table. Plus, he's a street art guy so + + + to him.
new! Saturday, Feb 9th: BLVD Project Room at TRIPLE - opening reception, with performance by The Saturday Knights. BLVD Gallery owner Damion opens a new work/project space in Ballard, featuring artists in residence. First up is "Arterial Lines" by Nhon Nguyen, a Seattle-based artist who is using the opportunity to create a mural that reflects his experience living in Osaka Japan.
Sunday, Feb 10th: DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist in Hard Sell tour, plus Kid Koala @ Showbox Market. Powerhouse lineup. Get ready to get sweaty.
update! Tuesday Feb 12th: Holy Fuck @ Neumos with Super Furry Animals. Holy F*ck rocks my world with Super Inuit, The Pulse, and other tracks from their 2007 LP Young Turks. SFA is the headliner, so don't go too late. Pssssst: the "very special guest" expected at Chop Suey on 2/26 with A Place to Bury Strangers is very likely to be a band whose name rhymes with "rolly duck."
Wednesday Feb 13th: Los Amigos Invisibles @ Neumos. "A blend of disco, acid jazz, and funk mixed with Latin rhythms." [wikipedia]
new! Friday, February 15th: Artifakt show @ Neumos. Fresh spotlight on board culture. Includes custom skateboards and snowboards, photography, premiers of two videos, and DJ spinnin' action. Mingle with luminaries in nw boarding.
Return to your artistic roots and create some crayon drawings for Blank Space: The Great Crayon Experiment. Submissions from anyone, anywhere, desired!
Blank Space is mounting a crayon art show for the Feb 7th First Thursday art walk; the plan is to completely wallpaper the space. Your crayon drawing(s) will be a donation to the hella wonderful 826 Seattle non-profit. 826 encourages creativity and improvment in writing skills in youth 6-18 by providing tutoring, classes, and in-school workshops.
Donations are due by January 27th, so don't delay in buying that new box of 64 Crayolas with the built-in sharpener. Crack open the yellow box, get a whiff of that new-crayon smell, and get drawing! (Just don't eat them, k?)
Deets here.
via tig
I haven't managed to write up any stalker opportunites this week: blame it on post-holidaze malaise. Bet a wandering through the 619 Western Ave [map] art studio building tonight is just what I need. Perhaps you too?
My sister and I checked it out last month for the first time and were blown away. Loved it! Ping me if ya wanna meet up.
Update: Also in the Pioneer Square 'hood tonight is the Iowa Caucus Watch Party at the Obama grassroot supporters' office located at 614 First Ave, 4th floor. Starts at 7. (via slog)
First Thursday at 619 Western is not your mother’s art walk. Forget Pioneer Square galleries (the “official” hub for First Thursday). You can’t afford that sh*t.
Trust me: 619 Western is where it is at. 619 is a beautifully aged warehouse with six floors of studios. Works are priced reasonably and there’s a good variety of styles, mediums, and approachability. The artists are friendly and happy to chat you up.
My sister and I went with the specific goal of finding Dave Bloomfield in his studio-share on the fourth floor. His work is visible around the city, in both formal shows as well as random acts of art. It has a sweet, honest nature which bleeds through the street-tough initial impression. He did not disappoint: nice guy and lots of pieces priced affordably. We both picked up some prints. I think I need a t-shirt, starheadboy. You have any for sale? (Sized for ladies, please.) Buffalo, Huggy, or some penguins, perhaps? You pick. It’s all good.
We were also intrigued by Wyatt Landis at Studio Satyricon on the 3rd floor. I ran into a friend who warned there were “scary girls” in that room. Of course I had go in! Landis’ oil paintings are of renaissance composition and lighting and have a “Blade Runner” groove. And he had cool music.
With over 100 artists sharing the 619 building, there’s a lot to see. Thanks to Charles Shaw and light snacks (gratis), time is easily lost track of. If you go, try to get started in the first hour before it gets completely mobbed and difficult to navigate the central stairway.
Demographics:
Age range: 25 – 50, with a skew toward 30s. Attire: stylish Seattle winter wear, as in good jeans with sweater or unique t-shirt (boys and girls). Some girls with dresses or skirts and leggings. Fashion boots. Wooly hats for some, wooly scarves for everyone.
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