Tag Archives: art

Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: Street repair, home values, and the Great Seattle Fire

June 2, 2009 Wendi Dunlap 4 Comments

The Seattle Department of Transportation will be working on 15th Avenue South this Saturday, June 6, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, repairing pavement. The street will be closed to all traffic except for local access, pedestrians, and bicyclists, between South Atlantic Street (on the north) and South College Street (on the south). 14th Avenue south is the detour route. The street will open to northbound traffic at 3:00 pm, and for both directions at 6:00.
June 6 is also the 120th anniversary of the Great Seattle Fire. Commemorate it by checking your smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
While housing in the rest of King County lost value last year, Beacon Hill and Rainier Valley home prices went up, perhaps a result of the soon-to-be-open light rail line. This news gives at least one Beacon Hill resident reason to smile.
Art On Airport, an artists’ open studio event, is happening just down the hill in Georgetown on Saturday, June 13, from 11:00 am – 7:00 pm. Artists in the Sunny Arms Artists Cooperative, the Old Rainier Brewery and the 4810 Building will welcome visitors into their studios to see painting, sculpture, photography, and printmaking, as well as performing arts. It’s free and open to the public.
Following up on a post from December 12: the elderly woman found in her home on 26th Avenue South covered in maggots and filth, is now being cared for in a nursing home. Her daughter, Margaret A. George, has been charged with criminal mistreatment and theft. She is scheduled to be arraigned June 9 in King County Superior Court.
Don’t forget to check our events calendar to see what’s going in the next few days, including the SNAP Disaster Preparedness workshop on Thursday and the Beacon Hill Festival on Saturday!

Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: crocheted art, construction photographs, and fighting crime with coffee

April 30, 2009 Wendi Dunlap 1 Comment

Crocheting by Mandy Greer, for the project "Mater Matrix Mother and Medium", an interactive, process-based art installation. Photo by Jennifer Zwick.

Artist Mandy Greer is creating Mater Matrix Mother and Medium, a “process-based temporary public art installation” that uses recycled fabric and yarn along with the volunteer help of many hands to build the installation. You can help crochet this artwork at the Beacon Hill Library on May 24 — all skill levels welcome! Details are here.
Peter de Lory, the Photographer in Residence for the Sound Transit Central Link light rail project, has posted some interesting recent pictures of the Beacon Hill and Mount Baker stations under construction. (Go here, click “Visit the gallery now”, and choose March 2009 to see the slide show. Flash required.)
Beacon Hill neighbor Lorraine reports on the mailing list: “I was waiting at the northbound bus stop at Beacon and Hanford (yesterday) morning
when a guy tried to grab my phone from me. I held on tight and whacked him with my coffee thermos and he ran off. Then I followed him and watched him get in his small, black pickup truck and take off.” The unsuccessful thief was white, with short brown hair and brown facial hair, about 5’9″ and 180 pounds, wearing a short-sleeved, plaid shirt with a collar and pale blue jeans. Lorraine adds, “The guy asked me a few questions and what time it was before he grabbed my phone. I had turned the phone to show him the time after he acted like he hadn’t heard me. So, lesson learned. Please be alert at those bus stops, everybody!”

Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: Gangsters, groups, and… gangs

January 25, 2009 Wendi Dunlap 1 Comment

Portrait by artist Joey Nix, from his show at the Art Primo Showroom.

Down in Georgetown, muralist, canvas artist and former Beacon Hill resident Joey Nix is opening a show featuring portraits of mobsters, at the Art Primo Showroom at 6601 East Marginal Way South, Suite B on February 6. The show is from 5:00 to 9:00 pm, free, and open to all ages.
Facebook now has a Beacon Hill Residents group.
A “violent street gang claims Beacon Hill,” says the Rainier Valley Post, pointing out some gang tags on North Beacon Hill properties.

Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: Painting, zoning, and protesting

January 19, 2009 Wendi Dunlap

Beacon Hill artist Mimi Torchia Boothby’s watercolor portrait of Barack Obama was recently featured in Time magazine. Congratulations! — Rainier Valley Post
The North Beacon Hill pedestrian-oriented retail zone has prime retail space being advertised for rental as “light industrial,” reminiscent of the situation with the warehouse across the street, which is also zoned for pedestrian-oriented retail. But, hey, who pays attention to zoning, anyway? — Mid Beacon Hill
The Educators, Students and Parents for a Better Vision of Seattle Schools (ESP Vision) group is planning a march and rally against school closures, to be held on January 25, starting at the park next to T. T. Minor Elementary School in the Central District — via the BAN email list

Local Events

Local ceramic artist hosting open house this weekend

December 1, 2008 Wendi Dunlap

Those looking for original gifts made right here on Beacon Hill take note: artist/designer Louise Schollaert is hosting a Ceramic Show and Sale open house this weekend, at 4802 12th Avenue South, from 2:00 pm – 9:00 pm on Saturday, and 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm on Sunday. The show will feature both sculptural and functional works. Saturday’s show will include wine and hors d’oeuvres. Louise’s flyer for the event lists the location as “just east of Georgetown,” but don’t be fooled; it’s pure Mid-Beacon Hill. Georgetown doesn’t have all the art.

Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: Glitter, architecture, and dancing women

November 13, 2008 Wendi Dunlap

Bling like this may await you at Goodwill this weekend. Photo by Rhonda Johnson -- thanks!

Beacon Hill’s nearest big clothing store is probably, sad to say, Goodwill. But there are treasures to be found there, particularly this weekend, when they’ll host the annual Glitter Sale with formal wear, jewelry, and vintage clothing. The event even has a blog, so you can see what cool stuff will be there.
A new live-work housing development at 3501 Rainier Avenue South is currently in the design review process — hugeasscity
Dancing women sculptures by the late Augusta Asberry have appeared to brighten up the southeast corner of Othello and MLK — Rainier Valley Post
The Ayame Kai Holiday Craft Fair is this Saturday, 10-4, at the Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church, 3001 24th Avenue South — Seattle Times

Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: Libraries for All, broadband for some, groceries for Georgetown

November 8, 2008 Wendi Dunlap

A couple of weeks ago we mentioned that Nancy Leson was looking for comments on “old-school” Chinese restaurants. Now she’s posted a review of several, including the former Beacon Hill landmark, Perry Ko’s South China Restaurant. (If you count Perry Ko’s old location, we’ve eaten at every one of these restaurants.) — Seattle Times
Blogging Georgetown brings us news of a new grocery store at Carleton & Warsaw, rather closer for our west-slope Mid-Beacon Hill neighbors than Red Apple or Safeway, and perhaps worth a trip from further out.
The Georgetown Second Saturday Art Attack is today! There’s a lot going on, but we particularly noticed the exhibition, book signing, and slide talk by legendary underground cartoonist Bill Griffith (Zippy the Pinhead) at Fantagraphics Bookstore and Gallery — Blogging Georgetown
Access to broadband has become a major factor when people decide where to live, and Central Seattle may be falling on the wrong side of the “broadband divide” — Seattle Tech Report/P-I
A group of Mountaineers visited the Beacon Hill Library on Friday, as part of a series of hikes to every city library to celebrate completion of the “Libraries for All” campaign. — P-I

Local Events, Neighborhood Pride

Cleveland students create mural

October 27, 2008 Wendi Dunlap

Correction:The original post had the correct date, but incorrect day.

The Rainier Valley Post reports that Cleveland High School students are currently involved in a project to design and create a 9 x 31 foot mural for the school’s entryway, with help from SEED’s Public Art Program and Urban Artworks. You can see the mural and celebrate the achievement at a community celebration of the completed work on ~~Saturday~~ Thursday, November 20, from 3:30 to 4:30 pm at Cleveland. More information, including photos, at the Rainier Valley Post.

Local Events

DÃa de Los Muertos events at El Centro

October 23, 2008 Wendi Dunlap

El Centro de la Raza is hosting a series of events for DÃa de Los Muertos this year.

â€œThe Legend of the Three Deathsâ€ is the theme of this year’s celebration. Opening night is Saturday, November 1. Dinner will be served at 4:45 pm, and the opening ceremony starts at 5:45 pm. Admission is free. El Centro de la Raza is located at 2524 16th Ave South For more information, call (206) 957-4640.

The Ofrenda exhibit, where altars made by community members and organizations will be displayed, will be open November 1-21, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and on Wednesday from 12:00 noon to 8:00 pm. You may submit photos to honor your deceased loved ones at the exhibit. Photos of your friends and family who have passed, or photos representing social justice issues are both welcomed. The photo submission deadline is this Saturday, October 25. Email your photos to assistant@elcentrodelaraza.org or bring an original copy for scanning to the Development Office, Room 304.

There will also be a Wednesday Charla (discussion series) on Wednesdays from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Admission is free.

November 5, 2008
Dr. Lauro Flores
â€œAlmas y Calaveras: Roots and Rites of El DÃa de los Muertosâ€
November 12, 2008
Dr. Jeanette Rodriguez and special guest Dr. Gabriella Guttierrez y Muhs
â€œOpening the Portals of Time Celebrating El DÃa de los Muertosâ€
November 19, 2008
Dr. Deborah Caplow
â€œThe Art of the Day of the Dead in Mexicoâ€

Photos

An October afternoon walk

October 23, 2008 Wendi Dunlap

Yesterday was an amazing October day: the sky cloudless blue, and the air relatively warm. It was a good day for a walk around the neighborhood. I brought my camera, and here’s a little bit of what I saw:

The blue sky was stunning, and the leaves in Triangle Park contrasted beautifully.

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