White Center Now: The blog about White Center

7-9 pm next Friday night (March 22), “Silence Is Loud” at Dubsea Coffee will bring attention to a difficult topic – but one that is imperative we all discuss – suicide. Evergreen Campus student Vanisa Long‘s invitation to an open-microphone and art show is below, shared by Dubsea proprietor Sibelle Nguyen:

Join us for a night of art and performances to promote the awareness of suicide. I’m holding this event for my senior project in hopes of bringing the community together to learn more about this issue and introduce resources for those who are depressed or have thoughts of suicide. We have performances lined up, but there will be a signup sheet for those who wish to perform the night of. If you have artwork that relate to the topic, feel free to contact me if you’d like your work to be showcased. E-mail vanisalg@yahoo.com

Dubsea is at 9910 8th SW in Greenbridge. There’s also a Facebook event page for “Silence Is Loud” – find it here.

P.S. If you or someone you know has talked or thought about suicide – there is 24/7 help via the Crisis Clinic at 206-461-3222.

When White Center’s all-new art walk debuted Thursday night, the King County Sheriff’s Office storefront was among the venues throwing open their doors – and that’s where we found Deputy BJ Myers, along with art by students from the Evergreen campus. Their work decked the counter as well as the walls:

A couple doors down, we stopped by the Center Studio too:

That’s photographer Julie Maxham, whose work graced the studio’s walls as visitors streamed in and out – delighting both proprietor Lonjina Verdugo and art-walk organizer Amanda Kay Helmick, who explained that this was something of a soft launch for the new night/time, with special events and a higher profile in the works as spring and summer proceed. Watch the official website for details.

A new name and new night for White Center’s art walk – and tonight (Thursday), just hours away, is its debut. It’s now Rat City Art City, and you’ll find it at venues around White Center on the second Thursday of the month, 6-9 pm. The official Rat City Art City website has the lineup for tonight, with venues and artists. The venues listed as participating tonight:

Big Al Brewing (9832 14th Ave SW)
Center Studio (9611 16th Ave SW)
Company (9608 16th Ave SW)
Dubsea Coffee (9910 8th Ave SW)
Full Tilt (9629 16th Avenue SW)
GnuOrganics (9988 15th Ave SW, Ste G)
Herban Legends (9169 16th Ave SW)
King County Sheriff’s Office (9609 16 Av SW)
Meanders (9635 16th Ave SW)
Proletariat Pizza/ Caffe Delia (9622-A 16th Ave SW)
Salvadorean Bakery (1719 SW Roxbury St)
Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th Ave SW)
Zippy’s Giant Burgers (9614 14th Ave SW)

Rat City Art City is also on Facebook, here.

They are well-known in West Seattle, and now on their way to a permanent location in White Center: The young dancers of Gildenfire and their leader Jenna Lutton. We got the word from reader Megan Kelton-Rehkopf (who also shared the photo from their latest performance):

On Neighborhood Appreciation Day (Saturday), Jenna Lutton’s Gildenfire Dance held their annual performance for the residents at The Kenney [in West Seattle]. At the end of the performance, Jenna announced that Gildenfire has found a permanent home and she’s launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise $5500 for a dance floor and mirrors to transform the space into an amazing dance studio. The new home of Gildenfire will be in White Center, located behind McLendon’s.

The Gildenfire fundraising page on IndieGogo reveals that as of this writing, they’re already 80 percent of the way to the goal.

West Seattle’s Sheila Lengle was one of the artists showing and selling work Saturday night at the “pop-up art” event at Technology Access Foundation‘s center in White Center’s Lakewood Park. Also there, Jave Yoshimoto:

He’s exhibited internationally and is currently a teaching artist at West Seattle-based ArtsCorps.

Second from right in the photo above, that’s Vera Johnson, owner of Village Green Perennial Nursery, whose photos were on display. The event was organized by Menrva Labs.

Been looking for an excuse to check out one of White Center’s newest hubs of activity? Maybe this is it: A pop-up art gallery at the Technology Access Foundation‘s Bethaday Learning Space in Lakewood Park, 4-8 pm. Artists include Village Green Perennial Nursery owner Vera Johnson, Nancy Leith,, and Michael B. Maine, and ; family activities in addition to the art show/sales – full details in the calendar listing. It’s happening at 605 SW 108th.

(Crossposted from partner site WSB) The West Seattle Lions‘ mural at 17th and Roxbury is now officially dedicated – a reader shared photos from the event, including artist Xavier Lopez Jr., above, signing his creation. Last month, Lopez was honored as a White Center Hero for his role in the mural art that’s popping up all around White Center and South Delridge, including the new Lions mural.

(WS Lions president Jimie Martin with Mark Ufkes from the WC Chamber)
A map to all the White Center-area murals can be found on the WC Chamber of Commerce‘s website.

Even if you didn’t make it out to tonight’s White Center Art Walk, you have the whole month to check out the featured works … Above, Amanda Kay Helmick is showing her art this month at the fitness/wellness hub Center Studio (9×11 16th SW). Across the street at 9608 16th SW, it was party time at Company Bar, including the show opening for Mark O’Connell:

Company was rocking to music by DJ Transport:

On the same side of the street, while the artist wasn’t on hand when we stopped in, Proletariat Pizza/Caffé Delia is showing work by Aaron Loidhamer:

Keep watch here for word of the next WC Art Walk – and enjoy the art displays as you visit WC businesses the rest of the month!

Get ready to admire art all around White Center this Saturday night – January 19th is White Center Art Walk night. One participant, Company Bar, has sent word that Mark O’Connell‘s exhibit will open on Art Walk night, with tunes by DJ Transport, starting at 6 pm. If you want to make sure not to forget – join the Facebook event page here.

(Any other venues with announcements, let us know – in comments here, or whitecenternow@gmail.com)

It’s a full house at Center Studio, with arts/crafts vendors from White Center and West Seattle during the studio’s first Blithe Bazaar, continuing till 8 pm. Most of the participating arts/crafts vendors are listed here.

But we didn’t see the listing for proprietor Lonjina Verdugo’s son Adrian:

His duct-tape wallets are just one of many items you’ll find at 9611 16th SW in downtown White Center till 8 pm.

Change is in the works for White Center Arts, according to this announcement from Shelli Park, and this might be your chance to help:

White Center Arts is at an exciting crossroads. We are opening a temporary gallery in the Greenbridge development, utilizing an available new storefront. Our goal is to host gallery shows, artist workshops, arts events, and fundraisers. WCA is hoping that this will eventually turn into a permanent space, either in the same location, or through fundraising, fund a different space. We have been working towards this goal of opening a community gallery for three years. We are partnering with King County Housing Authority in the current space.

WCA is also closing out an era. After years of service, the founding chair of White Center for the Arts and the merged organization White Center Arts, is ready to step down. WCA is looking for a new leader to continue the vision of our role in bringing greater art access and visibility to White Center, and support for our local artists.

WCA is looking to fill two positions:

CHAIR: a person with the vision to guide the organization with our mission in mind. A connection with White Center is preferred, as this is a unique neighborhood, and practical understanding of the challenges would be very helpful in establishing relationships and partnerships. It is also desired that this person understand the importance of art and culture’s impact on community and economic development.

WCA’s board is dedicated to our mission. We have faced and overcome many challenges. We feel the excitement of this new path and want to share it with someone who is as passionate about arts in White Center as we are.

RECORDING SECRETARY: a person to record the minutes and discussion highlights of board meetings. The secretary will summarize and e-mail the notes to the board members shortly after meeting dates.

Please contact Shelli Park at crimsonpark@hotmail.com

We don’t have a full venue list but we have, for starters, this announcement from Center Studio via Facebook:

Sarah Barrick be holding a donation-based bake sale this evening at Center Studio during White Center’s Art Walk from 6-9 pm that will benefit Feed Washington! Stop by to enjoy a sweet treat, some fresh new art and to browse a brand new batch of my sacred mandala pendants. Any purchase you make, brownies, art or jewelry will all help to feed hungry children in Washington state!

Wander the rest of the WC business district tonight and see what else you find – 6 to 9 pm.

ADDED 1:16 PM: Rock during the Art Walk, tonight at Zippy’s Giant Burgers:

Their names are forever part of the art – the young Evergreen Campus artists who created the mural that’s now complete on the north wall of the Super Saver Foods store on 16th in White Center. They were there, with their teacher, as it was dedicated Tuesday afternoon:

Those on hand got to hear stories of how it was created – 200 hours of volunteer time, as the White Center Chamber of Commerce noted in a preview announcement – and see the mockups:

Their teacher explained the mural is a truly collaborative work:

It spans so much space, you have to go see it in person to really appreciate it! Super Saver Foods is the former Albertsons store (sold and converted last March) at 16th/107th.

This afternoon, a dedication celebration will mark the completion of that mural on the north wall of Super Saver Foods in White Center. WC Chamber of Commerce president Mark Ufkes sent a news release to formally announce it:

Last May, students from White Center’s Evergreen campus, comprising three local high schools, began painting a giant mural on the north wall of the new Super Saver Foods market (formerly the Albertson’s store, located on 16th Ave. SW and SW 106th Ave in White Center). This mural, designed by Evergreen Art Club students, and funded by the White Center Chamber of Commerce, was approved by Greg Saar, new White Center business owner who had just opened the market here. Half of the mural was completed at the end of the school year in mid-June. When Evergreen students returned to school this past September, work began again. This Tuesday, Oct. 2, at 3 pm, the students and the Chamber will host a celebration of the completion of the almost-100-foot-long mural.

It is estimated that over 200 hours of high school student volunteer time was spent designing and painting the mural. The mural emphasizes the cultural diversity of White Center, and the diversity of our Evergreen campus and promotes the ethnic foods that have made White Center famous. It is the largest, all-volunteer mural painted in White Center and covers a long wall that historically is tagged multiple times each year. This is the 17th White Center mural in the past year, sponsored by the White Center Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the White Center Community Development Association (CDA). Most murals are located in graffiti-prone locations. Our goal is to have 25 White Center murals completed by 2013, as part of our walking tour of White Center (see VisitWhiteCenter.com)

The White Center Chamber of Commerce and our White Center CDA want to thank Evergreen Art teacher and club adviser Amanda Schmidt and Evergreen student adviser Ray Zombro for their commitment to this huge project, and acknowledge the willing support from Greg Saar and his new Super Saver Foods market in White Center. This project is a creation of a group of highly talented Evergreen art students as a way to celebrate the rich diversity that has made White Center a wonderful place to live.

It’s White Center Art Walk night, 6-9 pm! One of the places you can stop for art and treats is Center Studio (9611 16th SW), whose proprietor Lonjina Verdugo sends word of what she has in store:

September Artist: Sarah Barrick at Center Studio

Please join us every 3rd Saturday of the month during Art Walk and enjoy what Center Studio has to offer. This month, Sarah Barrick’s photography based visual interpretations of the ratios and proportions found in the study of sacred geometry examine the perspective of the mandala principle where existence is described as ‘orderly chaos.’ She hopes that the beauty of her circular images give pause and create a space for the mind to wander, to wonder, and to appreciate what she sees as inseparable parts of a total vision of reality. www.sarahbarrick.com

We will be enjoying snacks and sips from 6-9 pm tonight with specials on classes if you sign-up while at the studio. Plus, if you have been wanting to try us out, we are offering our first Community Yoga night Sunday, 9/16, at 5:30. Cost is donation only. All are welcome!

Anybody else part of Art Walk tonight? Send info! whitecenternow@gmail.com

Just in from Shelli Park – details of what and who they are looking for, to help the White Center Art Walk grow. Read on:

White Center Arts (WCA), the producer of the White Center 3rd Saturday Art Walk, is seeking a new infusion of energy for the 3rd Saturday Art Walk. We are looking for a few good volunteers who have a vision to take this program to a new level. We want to continue to grow the Art Walk into an event that is unique to White Center, and a regional draw.

WCA has developed a few auxiliary programs that dovetail with Art Walk that need to be established in our annual schedule. Any volunteers would be supported by current supporters and the Board of Trustees.

Read the rest of this entry »

We stopped by Cultivate‘s open-mike night on Friday at Greenbridge Plaza, just long enough to see the crowd gathering on a perfect summer evening – not too hot, not too cool. Among the first performers, Celestine:

The event was a co-promotion with White Center Community Development Association and YES Foundation, and a chance for everybody to celebrate the summer. Cultivate has a photo album up on Facebook; see it here.

7 pm, the plaza will be full of sights and sounds as Cultivate, YES Foundation, White Center Community Development Association, and your artistic friends and neighbors team up for Open Mike Night. Need more info? Check out this Facebook event page.

Local artist RobRoy Chalmers sent word he has just installed a new “Swarm” at Luso Food and Wine in White Center. He explains his work here. But as is the case with many artworks, the photos only hint at what it’s like – nothing compares to a firsthand viewing.

To see his work in person, stop by Luso at 9988 15th SW.

Last fall, an independent film titled “Eden” shot some scenes in White Center. It’s complete and has just received an award at the Seattle International Film Festival, according to this news release we just received from KCTS:

KCTS 9 and SIFF are pleased to announce that Eden—directed by Seattle filmmaker Megan Griffiths and starring Jamie Chung, Matthew O’Leary and Beau Bridges—is the winner of the first annual Reel NW Award, presented to a distinguished feature-length film with Pacific Northwest connections appearing in the 2012 Seattle International Film Festival.

Eden shines a light into a sinister corner of our nation’s culture with an emotional drama based on the harrowing true-life story of a teenager who was abducted and forced into sexual slavery in the American Southwest. Shot almost entirely in Washington State, the film was the unanimous choice of the jury, which issued the following statement:

“From the assured vision of its director to the committed performances by its cast, this film displays strong cinematic craftsmanship. Unpredictable and therefore truly suspenseful, Eden explores a largely unknown issue with sensitivity and without preaching. In short, this is a powerful story that delivers on all levels. We’re very proud to recognize Eden with this Award.”

“This film represents exactly the kind of quality and creativity that we value and celebrate at KCTS 9,” said KCTS 9 President and CEO Maurice “Moss” Bresnahan. “We are delighted that this first recipient of the Reel NW Award exemplifies, both in content and in execution, the type of high quality story-telling that is independent filmmaking at its best.”

Jurors included Scilla Andreen, CEO and co-founder of IndieFlix.com; Randy Brinson, Executive Director of Programming for KCTS 9; and Robert Horton, film critic for KUOW and the Everett Herald.

The winning film was announced on Friday, June 8, at SIFF’s Northwest Connections party, and the Reel NW Award will be presented at SIFF’s annual Golden Space Needle Awards brunch (today).