by Caroline Hall | Jun 18, 2021 | General, News
Seattle, WA. University Heights Center (UHeights) has been offering a wide array of activities throughout the pandemic. The majority of events are currently held online with select in-person offerings coming up this summer. The UHeights Center, above, hosts resident organizations involved in education, arts, business, and green building in the U District.
UHeights offers a variety of pay-what-you-can activities on a weekly or monthly basis. Class topics include Zumba, Finding Your Poetic Voice, and Thursdays at 10 which showcases different programming weekly.
The center also facilitates access to human services in the neighborhood. UHeights manages a community fridge and has hosted an expanded schedule of NorthWest SHARE’s Free Vegetarian Food Truck throughout the pandemic. The truck has been giving out free meals four times a week (Wed, Fri, Sat and Sun – 6 to 8 pm).
The NorthWest SHARE vegetarian food truck has been providing free meals outside of UHeights throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
UHeights has a hygiene station at the corner of 50th and University Way. The station includes two toilets (one is ADA accessible) and a handwashing station. Restrooms are cleaned frequently and regularly to ensure cleanliness. The center also serves as a site for the Seattle Street Sink, installed right by the bus stop to provide handwashing solutions during the pandemic. Other health resources include the University District Street Medicine’s van in the parking lot with the intention of providing resources for the neighborhood’s community members experiencing homelessness.
The University District Street Medicine (USDM) van provides health resources in the UHeights parking lot to aid community members. The van schedule is updated on the UHeights website.
As gathering restrictions begin to lift, UHeights is offering limited in-person activities like outdoor yoga and Zumba. To explore upcoming events, both virtual and in-person, visit the events calendar.
From UHeights:
The Mission
University Heights Center promotes life-long learning, creativity, culture, community activism, and the preservation of our historic building.
Our Values
Above all, University Heights Center (UHeights) is devoted to our local community: our children, arts and culture, education, civic involvement, sustainability, and the lifelong education of individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. We believe in fostering community, culture, and educational opportunities in the U District and Greater Seattle area. Moreover, residing in one of the most historic elementary school buildings in Washington, we strive to preserve and maintain our iconic structure for generations to come.
What We’ve Accomplished
Founded in 1989 by University District residents and businesses who believed this building would serve as a vital gathering place for the community, UHeights has been serving the Greater Seattle area since 1902. We continually provide new programs, services & activities to the center aimed at strengthening our neighborhoods while meeting the needs of our diverse and growing communities.
Annually, UHeights welcomes over 250,000 visitors through its doors and over 200 groups choose to make us their home for classes, workshops, community meetings and more. From aerobics to belly dance, from city meetings to dance classes, from green gardening to shopping at Seattle’s largest farmers market, UHeights has a little bit of everything.
Every year, UHeights participates in many special events throughout the University District and we are always looking for more ways to strengthen community. Have an idea for a class or a need in the area, let us hear it! We appreciate all suggestions. We are always on the lookout for new programs or services to meet the needs of our diverse and ever-changing neighborhoods.
Because we value our neighborhood, we also work closely with other organizations seeking to improve and strengthen the neighborhood. UHeights holds a variety of community events free to the public every year focusing on events that meet our mission and encourage community participation.
For more info click here: University Heights Center.
by [email protected] | Jun 15, 2021 | General, News, The Arts
Seattle, WA. The Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) is planning to have live onstage performances starting in September. The company is currently wrapping up a first-ever digital season. Elle Macy and Dylan Wald, (seen above) were featured in PNB’s digital offerings this season.
Artistic Director Peter Boal is announcing the line-up for 2021-2022 which includes the works of Alejandro Cerrudo and Twyla Tharp, PNB premieres by Alonzo King and Justin Peck and a world premiere by Robyn Mineko Williams. Other highlights will be the return of classic story ballets Swan Lake and Roméo et Juliette, as well as works by Ulysses Dove, Jessica Lang, and Crystal Pite. (And George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®.)
PNB will continue to offer its digital subscription as well. During the past pandemic year the company’s offerings, like Curious Kingdom, seen above, were viewed by ballet fans in every state and 34 countries.
Full-season subscribers will have access to the digital season as part of their subscription.
PNB Box Office is now taking orders for subscription renewals and digital-season subscriptions. Click here for info. (New subscriptions, Nutcracker and season single tickets to go on sale later this summer.)
Full-season subscriptions start at $190.
Four-show partial-season subscriptions (February – June performances) start at $130.
Digital season subscriptions available for $249.
(Free with full-season season subscriptions; $150 with partial-season seated subscriptions.) September 2021 – June 2022, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer Street at Seattle Center, Seattle, Washington
Below is a list of the 2021-22 offerings From PNB:
PACIFIC NORTHWEST BALLET’S 2021-22 SEASON LINE-UP (Programming and schedule subject to change.)
Rep 1 – SINGULARLY CERRUDO
September 24 – 26, 2021
The creative power of PNB’s Resident Choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo is on full display in this triple bill. Breathe in the moving tranquility of Silent Ghost, take a tantalizing look at spectacular teamwork in an excerpt from One Thousand Pieces, and journey through the unexpected twists and turns of Little mortal jump.
Silent Ghost
Music: Dustin Hamman, King Creosote & Jon Hopkins, Ólafur Arnalds, Nils Frahm
Choreography: Alejandro Cerrudo
One Thousand Pieces (Excerpt)
Music: Philip Glass
Choreography: Alejandro Cerrudo
Little mortal jump
Music: Beirut, Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire, Alexandre Desplat, Philip Glass, Hans Otte, Max Richter, Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan
Choreography: Alejandro Cerrudo
Rep 2 – BEYOND BALLET
November 5 – 7, 2021
Three unique voices of three internationally-acclaimed choreographers: the combination of Ulysses Dove’s mournful Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven, Jessica Lang’s haunting Ghost Variations, and the PNB premiere of Alonzo King’s The Personal Element promises unmatched emotion, expression, and musicality.
Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven
Music: Arvo Pärt
Choreography: Ulysses Dove
Ghost Variations
Music: Clara Schumann and Robert Schumann
Choreography: Jessica Lang
The Personal Element (PNB Premiere)
Music: Jason Moran
Choreography: Alonzo King
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®
November 20 – December 28, 2021 (NOTE: Not part of the 2021-22 Subscription season.)
Celebrate the holidays with renewed gusto! With its classic score, thrilling dancing, resplendent costumes, and magical scenery, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®is the perfect centerpiece for any holiday celebration. Cheers!
Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreography: George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust
Costume & Scenic Design: Ian Falconer
Roméo et Juliette
February 4 – 13, 2022
Presented during PNB’s 2020-21 digital season, but nothing compares to the in-person experience: Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Roméo et Juliette will sweep audiences to Verona through powerful choreography, Prokofiev’s rich score, the flush of first love, and the drama of Shakespeare’s classic story.
Music: Sergei Prokofiev
Choreography: Jean-Christophe Maillot
Rep 4 – PLOT POINTS
March 18 – 27, 2022
Bold experimentation is the theme for this set of trailblazing pieces. PNB audiences will remember the power of Crystal Pite’s Plot Point; the arresting complexity of Justin Peck’s The Times Are Racing and a world premiere by Robin Mineko Williams (The Trees The Trees) are sure to make a similar impression.
The Times Are Racing (PNB Premiere)
Music: Dan Deacon
Choreography: Justin Peck
World Premiere
Choreography: Robin Mineko Williams
Plot Point
Music: Bernard Herrmann
Choreography: Crystal Pite
Beauty and the Beast
March 20 – 27, 2022 (NOTE: Not part of the 2021-22 Subscription season.)
Featuring students of Pacific Northwest Ballet School.
Based on the beloved fairy tale, this narrated, one-hour performance is the perfect introduction to ballet for young theatre-goers. Performed by the accomplished students of PNB School, Bruce Wells’ Beauty and the Beast will take the audience on a journey to a magical world of adventure, unlikely friendships, and true love.
Music: Léo Delibes
Concept and Choreography: Bruce Wells
Swan Lake
April 15 – 24, 2022
PNB’s return to the stage wouldn’t be complete without Swan Lake. Every element of this production is carefully crafted to keep the audience on the edge of their seat, from the masterful choreography, to the stunning sets and costumes, to the undeniably iconic score. And most captivating of all: the story at the ballet’s heart – a classic tale of good versus evil, temptation, tragedy, and love of the highest order.
Music: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Choreography: Kent Stowell
Staging: Francia Russell (after Petipa and Ivanov)
REP 6 – ALL THARP
June 3 – 12, 2022
PNB’s final rep of the season is all about the legendary dancer, director, and choreographer Twyla Tharp. From the echo of her own Quaker roots in Sweet Fields, to the haunting Scottish clan in Brief Fling, to the all-out joy of New Orleans that runs through Waiting at the Station, Tharp draws inspiration from around the globe and yet her style remains quintessentially her own.
Brief Fling
Music: Michel Colombier and Percy Grainger
Choreography: Twyla Tharp
Sweet Fields (PNB Premiere)
Music: 18th- and 19th-century American hymns and Shaker songs
Choreography: Twyla Tharp
Waiting at the Station
Music: Allen Toussaint
Choreography: Twyla Tharp
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
The Pacific Northwest Ballet Box Office is now taking orders for subscription renewals and digital-season subscriptions to PNB’s 2021-22 season. Full-season [seated] subscriptions start at $190 for seats to all six programs. Four-show partial-season subscriptions, with seats to the February – June performances, start at $130.
Full-season subscriptions include access to six digital performances as well. Partial-season subscribers may purchase digital access for $150. A digital-only subscription is available for $249.
Subscribers should be receiving detailed renewal information via email, and may contact the PNB Box Office by calling 206.441.2424 or online at PNB.org.
New subscriptions and single tickets to season performances as well as tickets to George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker will be available for purchase from the PNB Box Office beginning later this summer, date TBA.
- A. Q.s
What safety protocols will be in place at McCaw Hall?
The 2021/22 season will be our first in-person season since the COVID pandemic began. The safety of our artists, audiences, and staff is our first priority. This far in advance, it is difficult to predict exactly what safety procedures may look like over the course of the next year. Masks will be required for attending Pacific Northwest Ballet performances, and we will follow public health and safety mandates. Up-to-date safety procedures will be sent regularly via email and available at any time on PNB.org. By purchasing an in-person ticket or subscription to our 2021/22 Season patrons agree to abide by all safety requirements at McCaw Hall.
Can subscribers sit in their same seats this season?
We hope to return subscribers to their seats by February 2022. Because Reps 1 and 2 are the first performances back in McCaw Hall and have shorter performance runs, seating will be socially distanced and the best available in subscribers’ seating section (or a comparable section). Seating will follow public health and safety mandates and be at the discretion of the Box Office.
How will capacity requirements at McCaw Hall affect the ability to attend a performance? McCaw Hall capacity will follow public health and safety mandates and may affect where patrons sit or the day they attend. Subscribers have priority access to available seating. Single tickets (non-subscription ticket purchases) will be based on availability, and will go on sale at a later date.
What will food and beverage service look like?
Prelude, McCaw Hall’s full service restaurant, will not be open in the fall. Spectra, McCaw Hall’s concessionaire, is planning for grab-and-go pre-packaged food and beverage options.
Will vaccinations against COVID-19 be mandatory to attend?
PNB encourages all audience members to be vaccinated. We will be following public health and safety mandates regarding mandatory vaccine and/or rapid testing to attend performances at McCaw Hall.
Will the Digital Season match the content seen by those attending in-person performances at McCaw Hall? We are working closely with our partners with the goal of translating as much of the in-person performance experience to the digital version as possible.
How long will digital ticketholders have access to the performance?
Subscribers will have access to their digital content for five days after the link is made available. The content will come offline at midnight on the fifth day after it is released. For example, a performance released on a Thursday will be available until midnight on the evening of the following Monday.
Why are digital performances limited in time?
Generally speaking, PNB does not own the creative rights to the content we perform. This applies to both choreography as well as music performed by the PNB Orchestra. Our digital release windows are arranged with the permission of the owners of this content, and PNB is committed to honor these terms.
Will subscribers get their same seat(s) for Reps 1 and 2?
Reps 1 and 2 will be one-week runs with only four performances each. The PNB Box Office will assign subscribers the best seats available in their section or a comparable section, following all public health and safety mandates.
Seating will happen at a later date closer to the performance when we know more about crowd size requirements. (We hope to return subscribers to their usual seats by February 2022.)
Will subscribers have access to a digital viewing if they can’t use their in-person ticket? Full-Season subscribers will automatically receive access to the Digital Season. Mini-season subscribers and single ticket holders may exchange their performance ticket into digital if they wish.
# # #
Pacific Northwest Ballet’s 2021-2022 season is proudly sponsored by ArtsFund and Microsoft. Special thanks also to 4Culture, National Endowment for the Arts, The Shubert Foundation, City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, and The Wallace Foundation.
by [email protected] | Jun 8, 2021 | Coming Up, General, News, The Arts
Seattle, WA. The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) is now open. There are some limitations in place to keep people safe. Both the Seattle Art Museum and the Seattle Asian Art Museum are open at limited capacity, Fridays through Sundays, 10 am–5 pm. Outdoor spaces at the Olympic Sculpture Park remain open to the public with the PACCAR Pavilion closed for the time being.
Museum administrators say, “We have carefully planned for our reopening in alignment with Governor Inslee’s guidelines for museums outlined in the Healthy Washington—Roadmap to Recovery plan. We ask our visitors to continue to comply with all COVID-19 directives and guidance issued by the Governor and relevant public health authorities to keep our community safe. Keeping SAM open is dependent on the latest guidance for the Puget Sound area and updates will be reflected here as they change.”
Online Timed Tickets Required: To allow for physical distancing, capacity will be limited and ticketing will be timed. Everyone must get tickets online in advance. Tickets will be released on a rolling basis weekly, every Thursday.
Print out your ticket at home or download to a smartphone. With fewer visitors to the museum, you’ll have an intimate art-viewing experience. Get Tickets.
During the pandemic Priya Frank became the Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at SAM.
An installation “Northwest Modernism: Four Japanese Americans,” celebrates four of Seattle’s leading Japanese American artists: Kenjiro Nomura, Kamekichi Tokita, Paul Horiuchi, and George Tsutakawa.
Visitors have shared positive experiences at SAM.
Please visit at another time if you:
- Are feeling unwell
- Have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or have any COVID-19 symptoms
- Live with or care for someone who has been ill
- Have recently been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19
Please contact [email protected] to exchange your ticket for another day and time if any of the above applies to you.
From Seattle Art Museum:
Masks Required
Staff and visitors over the age of two must wear masks.
Physical Distancing Required
Follow guidelines in public spaces and galleries.
Recognize Risk
SAM has implemented many safety measures and has a state-of-the-art ventilation system, but cannot guarantee zero risk; a risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public setting.
When You Arrive: Seattle Art Museum: Enter at First and Union. The south entrance (the Hammering Man entrance) and the South Hall will be closed.
Seattle Asian Art Museum: Follow marked entrance and exit signs at front doors to maintain one-way visitor traffic and physical distancing.
Expect some areas to be closed
Seattle Art Museum: The Italian Room will not be open to the public when we reopen. The Ann P. Wyckoff Education Resource Center, Bullitt Library, and children play areas will also be closed. TASTE Café will be closed.
Seattle Asian Art Museum: The Education Studio, Community Gallery, Chen Community Meeting Room, and Library will be closed.
Prepare for limited capacity in restrooms
Selected restroom stalls will be closed. Capacity limits will be posted on bathroom doors.
Wash your hands and use hand sanitizers
We have instituted rigorous cleaning procedures using EPA registered disinfectants throughout the museum, with a special focus on high-touch and high-traffic areas and restrooms. We ask that you do your part by washing your hands frequently and using hand sanitizers located throughout the museum.
Expect a contactless experience
Shared materials have been removed from the galleries and interactive touchscreens have been disabled.
Visit SAM Shop!
The Seattle Art Museum Shop and Gallery and the Seattle Asian Art Museum Shop will be open with very limited capacity during museum operating hours to visitors with a ticket. Please visit SAM Shop if you need to purchase water during your visit.
Help Contact Tracing
In alignment with guidance from the Governor’s Office and King County public health officials, SAM is storing ticket buyer information and requesting contact information for all visitors for contact tracing purposes. Learn more
Also please note that if we are unable to reopen or remain open as planned because of changes to public health guidelines, SAM will contact ticket holders via email to present options for moving tickets to a new day and time.
We have worked hard to make visitors and staff comfortable during their visit and hope to see you soon!
Located downtown, one block from Pike Place Market, global art collections, temporary installations, and special exhibitions from around the world bridge cultures and centuries.
Seattle Art Museum acknowledges we are on the traditional homelands of the Duwamish, and the customary territories of the Suquamish and Muckleshoot Peoples. As a cultural and educational institution, we honor our ongoing connection to these communities past, present and future. We also acknowledge the many urban Native Peoples from many Nations who call Seattle their home.
For more info click here: Seattle Art Museum.
by Thea Mercer | Mar 13, 2021 | General, News, The Arts
Seattle, WA. Seattle artist Jayashree Krishnan has painted 150 portraits of healthcare workers on the front lines of the pandemic entitled Caring for Humanity. The works are on display at the Columbia City Gallery at 4864 Rainier Ave. S. Betsy Fetherston, Columbia City Gallery Manager says she’s honored to host Krishnan’s work. Fetherston shared, “This exhibit has touched many people, those who are part of the frontline health workers, and it has revealed to the community just what a sacrifice their work has been in order to care for people.”
Columbia City Gallery is a program of SEEDArts / SouthEast Effective Development.
Established in 1975, SEED (SouthEast Effective Development) is a nonprofit created by community members which continues to revive Southeast Seattle. The organization works on affordable housing initiatives, economic development, and expanding its capacity with the intersection of arts and culture. The focus of SEEDArts is to build unity through visual and cultural experiences. The organization manages the following programs: Columbia City Gallery, Rainier Arts Center, KVRU 105.7 FM, SEEDArts Studios, and Public Art.
SEEDArts Gallery street view prior to COVID-19 pandemic.
Columbia City Gallery has remained open during the pandemic, with a fully scheduled calendar. The community has been welcomed in to view artwork or by window gazing.
The annual Silent Auction for the organization is a neighborhood favorite; despite the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic the event was successful in selling members’ artwork, and 5% of the proceeds were donated to the Rainier Valley Food Bank. The paintings were exhibited in two sessions: Part 1: January 9 – 24 / Part 2: January 29 – February 14
SEEDArts – Columbia City Gallery Silent Auction 2021
Another program supported by the nonprofit is a story-sharing platform. KVRU 105.7 FM broadcasts voices from the community, streams worldwide, and is a member of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters. Free audio production workshops are offered on a regular basis, and an equipment lending library allows for the production of radio and podcast content. To make a tax-deductible donation to support community radio visit: KVRU.org
Krystal Fincher interviews a guest during a broadcast.
SEEDArts builds community by presenting diverse arts experiences, nurturing local artists, and infusing creativity into our neighborhoods. We offer visual, performing, media, and public art programs in Southeast Seattle that support and sustain artists, inspire and connect residents, and revitalize community. Our programs focus on curating, facilitating and promoting arts and cultural experiences. To learn more about upcoming programs visit: seedseattle.org
by Thea Mercer | Mar 13, 2021 | General, Lifestyle, News, The Arts
A Lifestyle Story: Seattle, WA. Rian Robison, designer, textile artist, and owner of Tuesday, is turning her craft fair boutique into a fully virtual experience. Featured in the picture above, Robison stands proudly in front of her boarded-up shop with @tonycoconuts. Photo by @matthewsumi. Robison invites curious patrons behind-the-scenes into her studio through a series of livestreams which can be viewed on instagram:
As shown above, Robison demonstrates painting each piece using an eco-friendly dye, thickened with algae, on a bamboo rayon fabric and shares “There’s a reason I paint each one of these by hand. I love seeing each unique brushstroke.” She enjoys the process, experimenting to reach a balanced outcome, almost as much as seeing how her following relish them.
Hand-dyed kimono dress painted by Rian Robison
Within this past year, Robison, alongside many small business owners, has had to adapt to the safety restrictions and uncertainty of the pandemic. Robison appreciated craft fair organizers like Urban Craft Uprising and Renegade having stepped up and transitioned to an online platform to accommodate the vendors after being forced to postpone all events.
Instead of hiring models to showcase her collections, Robison has taken on that role and offers live sessions to sport new pieces and answer questions. The permanent dyes are fade-resistant, making each unique piece easy to care for washing on a gentle cycle.
Robison focuses on making things she would want herself; considers her pieces as something to treat oneself, making an effort to dress up and feel beautiful, even around the house. The designs are thoughtfully versatile, gender-neutral, both in color palette and chic flow. Limited run, hand-dyed kimonos have been released on Tuesdays and have sold out within minutes.
Rian Robison modeling her hand-dyed sweatshirt dress.
Robinson is gaining notoriety. King 5 interviewed Rian Robison recently about her work.
Robison uses eco-friendly dye with zero-waste designs, utilizing full rectangular pieces of fabric. Known for vibrant hand-painted and patterned vintage fabric, sewn into dresses, inspired by the traditional Japanese kimono. For updates on new arrivals visit: _tuesdayshop
by Thea Mercer | Mar 6, 2021 | General, News, The Arts
Seattle, WA. 4Culture is consistent in mission and adaptable in serving four program areas including arts, heritage, historic preservation, and public art. The agency ensures public access to cultural experiences through museum collections and theater productions. It currently hosts zoom sessions every third Friday at 12:00 pm and puts artists in the spotlight, like those featured in the picture above who spoke during a zoom session last November.
Committed to re-evaluating its effectiveness in meeting the needs of the community, a Social Justice Action Team was formed. Composed of staff, board, and advisory committee members, the group will assist 4Culture to better clarify its roles and responsibilities in the movement for social justice. The Recovery Task Force will focus on conducting a COVID-19 pandemic impact analysis, evaluate the effect on King County’s cultural sector, and stage a path to recovery.
As part of the recovery planning effort, 4Culture hired a consultant to oversee a Landscape Report, which will provide the groundwork to develop a recovery plan.
Image credits: A screenshot from the filmed Zoom performance of the new play Ain’t (Y)Our History by Rachel Atkins, directed by Shermona Mitchell, film edited by Robin Campbell, presented as part of Washington’s Votes for Women Centennial 2020. Actors featured: Porscha Shaw as Ida Wells-Barnett, Shermona Mitchell as Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, and Shaunyce Omar as Mary Church Terrell.
The Mukai Farm and Garden was turned into a temporary COVID-19 testing site for Vashon Island near the onset of the pandemic. Volunteer Yvonne Kuperberg is ready to assist as she stands in front of fruit barreling plant, which currently in the midst of restoration. Photo by Michelle Bates.
State and county COVID-19 survey results have played an important role in 4Culture’s ability to make informed and timely decisions, and remains a priority to identify specific needs and restore cultural activities.
The early stages of artists’ careers are showcased in the galleries, which include promoting experimental and often less commercial art installations. Christina DePaolo, Communications Director shared, “It is important to us, as public agents, to meet individuals and deeply engage in what has become a digital space.” In lieu of in-person shows, Gallery 4Culture commissioned artists for an online series titled PAUSE/PLAY and features each EXHIBITION season.
Monyee Chau was one of ten King County artists to participate in 4Culture + Amplifier Collaborations with Resilience, 2020. Digital illustration.
In 1965 the agency formed as an arts commission and continued to evolve into an official Public Development Authority. Mission: With a focus on racial equity, we fund, support, and advocate for culture to enhance the quality of life in King County. As the cultural funding agency for King County, Washington, 4Culture works to make our region vibrant. For cultural funding and support programs visit: 4Culture
