Category Archives: Arts

Arts, Volunteering and Giving

Fleet of “art chairs” being readied for neighborhood use

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by Sheba Burney-Jones

Art Chair #1, painted by Kathleen McHugh. Photo courtesy of ROCKiT space.
ROCKiT space, Beacon Hill’s home-grown music and arts organization, is launching a Community Art Chair project at their upcoming Harvest Fair on Saturday, October 22. The project converts 40 metal folding chairs, donated to ROCKiT by Peace Action, into a fleet of art chairs to be used at ROCKiT events and loaned to community groups for other public events. A prototype was painted by artist Kathleen McHugh and displayed at Beacon Rocks! during the summer.

The chairs are in need of some TLC before they can be decorated. Two volunteer work parties are scheduled to wash and prime them before the Harvest Fair. Join friends of ROCKiT on Sunday, October 2 from 2-5 p.m. to clean the chairs, and Saturday, October 8, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to prime them. Everyone is welcome! Snacks, supplies and camaraderie will be provided. Drop by 5919 Shaffer Avenue S. in Seattle to lend a hand. For further information, write shebabj@gmail.com or call 206-669-4574.

Mark your calendar for the ROCKiT Harvest Fair on Saturday, October 22, from 2 – 9 p.m., at the Garden House on Beacon Hill (2336 15th Ave. S.) for creative family fun featuring music and activities that reflect the Beacon Hill community. For more information,visit the ROCKiT space website.

Arts

Opinions wanted on BHIS public art project

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Angela Castañeda writes to request public input on a new public artwork at Beacon Hill International School:

We’re launching a new public art project on the hill and we want your input! With funds from a City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods matching grant we will create a 6×8 tile mosaic to adorn the south-facing brick wall of the Beacon Hill School entryway. This spot is ideal for viewing by car or foot traveling along 14th Avenue South past the school. The mosaic will beautify a high traffic space that is frequented by Beacon Hill School parents, neighbors, students, staff, visitors, and community volunteers.

Did you know Beacon Hill International School’s mission is to inspire lifelong learners and global citizens? Check out the preliminary design outline for the mosaic, exploring the theme of “We All Belong, A World of Learners.” (The design outline was created by artist-in-residence Julie Maher, based on concept work by students and the project steering committee, a mix of neighbors and school community members who support art).

We want this to be an opportunity for the entire Beacon Hill community to come together as partners to create something special to be enjoyed by everyone. In order to do that BHIS will host tile-making workshops in the fall, open to the community (event dates will be announced in advance). In the meantime we hope you will take a moment to share your thoughts on the project and the design.

Post your comments on the fabulous Beacon Hill Blog.

Here’s the picture of the design. (Click the image to see a larger version.) What are your thoughts?

Arts

Get Off the Hill: Blue Scholars, World on a Wire

This is the first of an occasional series of “Get Off the Hill” posts, in which the BHB will mention some entertainment options that aren’t in the neighborhood. We love spending time on Beacon Hill, but we can’t spend all our time here. Occasionally it’s worth leaving the hill for a good movie or a concert.

* * *

Beacon Hill hip-hop duo Blue Scholars have just started their first nationwide tour and will be playing in front of the hometown crowd in an all-ages show at the Showbox at the Market, Saturday night, September 17. The tour will take them all the way to New York City, where they’ll wrap up the whole shebang on November 11.

The Showbox show is sold out. We hope you have tickets. If not, perhaps you can catch them in Portland, Olympia, or Bellingham. (Tickets are cheaper there anyway.)

In the meantime, check out this discussion between Sabzi of Blue Scholars and Maikoiyo Alley-Barnes of Tarboo Inc., and enjoy this song:

Continue reading Get Off the Hill: Blue Scholars, World on a Wire →

Arts

Songwriters’ Circle tonight

Working on a song? The Songwriters' Circle welcomes you. Photo by Delwin Steven Campbell via Creative Commons.
If the recent musical activity of Beacon Rocks! and the NEPO 5K Don’t Run inspired you, you may want to attend tonight’s monthly installment of the Beacon Hill Songwriters’ Circle. It’s a casual group for songwriters at all levels to get feedback and support from other songwriters.

The Songwriters’ Circle is held at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month (including tonight, September 13), at Betty Jean and Jay’s house, 5919 Shaffer Ave. S. There is a $5 suggested donation, free to members of ROCKiT space.

For more information, contact beaconrocks@gmail.com, or call Paul at 206-658-3622.

Arts, Local Events

Don’t Run fun on Saturday night

The NEPO 5K Don’t Run brought a lot of activity to North Beacon Hill on Saturday night. Melissa Jonas took some photos of the event and added them to the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr. You can also see more of her photos in this Flickr set.

Other photographers capturing the event included Ella Dorband and Dan Bennett. Dan in particular posted an extensive set of pictures, including photos of the Bavarian Village Band at the German Garden, performers at The Station’s hip-hop show, and colorful projections on the outside of NEPO House.

ROCKiT space volunteers brought "Horus the Hawk" to life.

Estela Ortega included Roberto Maestas' lovingly-maintained Mercedes in the car show organized by The Station.
Arts, Local Events

Lineups announced for Saturday musical events

We’ve got further information on some of the activities that will be happening on Beacon Hill during Saturday’s NEPO 5K Don’t Run art event.

ROCKiT space will be hosting a concert at the Garden House from 6-10 p.m. Suggested donation is $5, ROCKiT members free. The concert will feature Jessie McKenna and Colour Project, Decatur Buff, and Random Axe.

Before the concert, you are invited to relax in the garden and enjoy dinner by Gourmet Your Way, who will be serving hamburgers, hot dogs, and lumpia from 4-10 p.m. After dark there will be an outdoor fire spinning show by Eric and Miranda. The Garden House is located at 2336 15th Ave. S.

Also on Saturday night, The Station is holding their Summer Block Party 2011 from 5-10 p.m. The event will feature Khingz, Black Stax, Greg and Jerome, and more. See the event poster here. The Station is located at 2533 16th Ave. S., just north of Beacon Hill Station and the new Roberto Maestas Festival Street.

Arts, Local Events

NEPO 5K Don’t Run brings art, music, and food to the Hill

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Summer vacation may be ending, but art happenings on and around Beacon Hill are still in full swing. This Saturday, September 10, the NEPO 5K Don’t Run will bring participants on a 5K walk from Occidental Park in Pioneer Square up to the NEPO House on North Beacon Hill (1723 S. Lander St.). Along the way, over 80 artists will present site-specific installations, performances, art gallery events, and more, finishing at NEPO House, which will have its own art show.

Other venues on the hill are also participating. The Station coffee house is hosting a Festival Street car show, with live music, food, drinks and more, on Roberto Maestas Festival Street next to Beacon Hill Station. ROCKiT space is hosting cabaret, food, and drinks at the Garden House (2336 15th Ave. S.). And at 17th Ave. S. and S. McClellan Street, you’ll find a German Garden, including refreshments, dirndls, lederhosen, and a Bavarian Village Band playing polka tunes.

The NEPO 5K Don’t Run is free to the public and welcomes participants of all ages to walk, hop, crawl, stumble, moonwalk, or otherwise make their way along the 5K route. Participants will gather at Occidental Park at 2 p.m., then follow the route through Pioneer Square and the International District to Beacon Hill. Most Beacon Hill events will take place from 6-10 p.m.

See the website for more information, including descriptions of the various exhibitions, and a list of participating artists.

Click this image to see a larger copy of the event map:

Arts, Local Events, Other Neighborhoods

Food, arts, and film Saturday evening at Chinatown-ID Night Market

Just a few minutes down the hill from North Beacon this Saturday evening is the annual Chinatown-International District Night Market. The Night Market is a street fair on South King Street and in Hing Hay Park that will feature local vendors of crafts and international cuisine. There will also be live performances including Chinese lion and dragon dances, Brazilian and traditional martial arts, live painting demonstrations, and a free outdoor showing of the new Karate Kid movie at 8:45 p.m.

Restaurants participating include Jade Garden, Sub Sand, and Oasis Tea Zone. Food trucks will also take part in the event, including Fusion on the Run and Lumpia World.

Admission to the Night Market is free, and the event runs from 6-11 p.m. on Saturday, August 27. For more information, see the event website.

Lion dancers at last year's Night Market. Photo by Wendi.
Arts, Local Events

Save the dates: Beacon Blues & BBQ 8/26, Beacon Rocks 8/28

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(Post corrected on 8/20 to include correct admission info for the BBQ. — ed.)

The last weekend in August will be a musical one on Beacon Hill!

First, on Friday, August 26, the Beacon Blues & BBQ will bring blues music by the Smokin’ J’s to the Garden House, along with BBQ, beer, and wine available for sale. The show is at 7:30 p.m., and general admission is $10. ROCKiT space members and kids under 12 get in free. Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m., and is $12 (including a beverage). Dinner and the show together are $22. Guests can come for either or both. The Garden House is located at 2336 15th Ave. S.

The band Jumbo performed at the last Beacon Rocks! Photo by Wendi.
Then on Sunday, August 28, the final Beacon Rocks! music event of 2011 comes to Roberto Maestas Festival Street (S. Lander St., just north of Beacon Hill Station) from 1-5 p.m. Along with the usual great musical performances, this event will include the ceremony to rename Lander Festival Street as Roberto Maestas Festival Street. Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, representatives from El Centro de la Raza, and other dignitaries will attend, and new memorial street signs will be unveiled during the ceremony. The event will also feature bubbles for the kids and a beach ball volley contest with prizes.

ROCKiT space will be hosting a clothing drive, so bring new or gently used clothing to donate to Wellspring Family Services.

Here’s the schedule of performers (see the website for further information on each act):

  • 1:00 Deception Pass
  • 1:30 Skin Deep Belly Dance
  • 1:45 Volcano Diary
  • 2:30 Ala Carte
  • 3:00 Roberto Maestas Festival Street dedication
    • Seattle Fandango Project
    • Mariachi Seattle Azteca
  • 4:00 Beaconettes
  • 4:45 Splinter Dance
  • 5:00 Unite One and TraQEssentials
Arts

Beacon Hill artist to show new work

Beacon Hill artist and architect Shea Bajaj is having a solo showing of his new paintings at Traver Gallery. The show opens on August 25 and will run through October 2. An opening reception will be held on August 25 from 5-8 p.m.

The Traver Gallery website describes Shea’s work:

“Shea Bajaj strives to visually represent a form of altered state of consciousness in his work—the experience of being so intensely focused on an object or experience, that everything else seems to dissolve.”


“FireFly”


“Atoll Series: Pink and Orange”

(Art images courtesy of Shea Bajaj.)