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
by Thea Mercer | Mar 6, 2021 | General, News, The Arts
Seattle, WA. The Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) began in 1961, and was formed by the Washington State Legislature. Throughout its tenure, ArtsWA continues to promote the value of art, especially during the pandemic, by supporting the following programs: Public Art, Grants, Creative Districts, and Arts in Education. Students from Blue Heron School worked with teaching artist Margie McDonald in a “Tales, Texts, and Theatre Workshop”. (Photo above by: David Conklin.)
ArtsWA Community Investment programs focus to nurture and grow the arts, develop community partnerships, and close the opportunity gap for early learners. The Pandemic Relief Grant objective aims to support Small and Mid-sized Organizations experiencing financial hardship. Applications for these grants will be accepted until the beginning of April, 2021.
Arts in Education Partnership Grant is a one-year commitment between a non-profit organization, a K-12 school, school district, or tribal agency. The Creative Start Grant is designed for early learners, preschool to 3rd grade, to help integrate the arts within classrooms throughout Washington state.
Land of Dreams curated by Jasmine Mahmoud, ArtsWA Board Member, performance historian, and Seattle University Assistant Professor in the Department of Performing Arts & Arts Leadership. (January 2021)
For information about grant opportunities visit arts.wa.gov and follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WashingtonArts.
ArtsWA Mission: The Arts Commission is a catalyst for the arts, advancing the role of the arts in the lives of individuals and communities throughout the state. ArtsWA values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe in diverse forms of artistic expression. The arts amplify voices across all populations. Access to arts and arts education should be available for everyone. The arts can and should address inequities, model inclusion, and teach empathy. To learn more about the programs ArtsWA supports visit: arts.wa.gov
by Thea Mercer | Feb 25, 2021 | Coming Up, News, The Arts
Seattle, WA. Artist Trust has $100,000 in funding available for Washington State artists, due to donors’ endorsements at year’s end. (The nonprofit recently held a zoom community conversation on racial equity seen above.) These funds will create a second wave of emergency support, forecast to fund a minimum of 100 artists at $1,000 each. Cezanne Garcia, Artist Trust Board of Trustees President expressed her gratitude, “Thanks to our donors’ continued generous support, Artist Trust ended 2020 over $100,000 ahead of our fundraising goal for the year.” Release dates for the Relief Fund application cycle can be found posted on the refreshed grant schedule.
Artist Trust continues to listen to the community and pivot through the pandemic to meet artists’ needs. Survey results reported that more than 50 percent of performing artists had been out of work during the third quarter of 2020, in response the Artist Trust team created a list of resources, one being a food bank map, designed as a guide to locate alternative food sources within Washington State.
Meeting the immediate needs of artists remains at the forefront as Kristina Goetz, Acting Director shared, “the pandemic marked a directional shift” and as a service-oriented organization, the focus has been “connecting artists with the resources to best equip as possible to weather the crisis,” which includes: providing funding information, healthcare, housing, support navigating legal issues with webinars, and business development workshops.
Artist Trust – Resources and Opportunities
Artwork by Fulgencio Lazo, 2018
As one of the longest-running award programs, having originated in 1987, Artist Trust was honored to release the nine recipients of the 2020 Fellowship Awards on February 8, 2021, which included: visual artists Dan Friday, Tatiana Garmendia, Mary Ann Peters, and Anthony White; performing artist Benjamin Hunter; multidisciplinary artists Jaleesa Johnston and Chris Vargas; and literary artists Rena Priest and Sharma Shields captured below. These merit-based awards provide an unrestricted cash amount of $10,000 to each recipient.
Artist Trust 2020 Fellowship Recipients
Alchemical Bride 24 (Sojourner Truth)
oils on canvas
48” x 41”
Abolitionist and women’s rights activist, born into slavery but escaped with her infant daughter to freedom in 1826. Went to court to recover her son in 1828, and became the first black woman to win such a case against a white man. Tatiana Garmendia felt humbled by the fellowship, “knowing that my work was chosen by other art professionals who get what I am putting out into the world.”
Multidisciplinary artist Jaleesa Johnston shared, “With this award, I can materialize ideas that have been sitting in my sketchbook over the last couple of years.”
Artist Trust is a 501(c)3 nonprofit grounded in values of being “open, welcoming, transparent, responsive, and forward-thinking – Artist Trust’s mission is to support and encourage artists working in all disciplines to enrich community life throughout Washington State.” Founded in 1986, Artist Trust has invested in individual artists contributing over $11 million through professional development programs and grants. To learn more about getting involved visit: artisttrust.org.
