Where does 4.20 find you this lovely eve? If you're looking for art on the Ave, you're in the right place! With four fantastic new venues, this month's
University District Art Walk is explosive! I'm hoofing it alone to-night, but I don't mind. I decide to start on the south end of the Ave and make my way northward.
My first stop is
Cafe Allegro, one of the art walk's new venues. I've never been there before, possibly because it's located in a retro-fit alley just around the corner from Magus Books, or more likely because I have at least five favourite coffee stops on the Ave, and I never thought to explore the little alley. But I know as soon as I walk through the door that I'll be back. Established in 1975, Cafe Allegro has the distinction of being Seattle's oldest espresso bar. It turns out my friend Michael is pulling shots behind the counter, and he tells me that the featured photographs, traditional black and white silver gelatin prints by Billy Ballard, are a chronicle of Cafe Allegro's history. One of the oldest photos shows a patron holding a cigarette at a time when smoking was still allowed inside the establishment.
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Billy Ballard @ Cafe Allegro |
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Cafe Allegro |
I leave with a delicious chai latte, courtesy of Michael, and follow the alley up to
BC Surf & Sport, another brand new U District art space. Established in Florida in 1977, BC Surf specialises in clothing and accessories for surf, skate, snowboard, and swim. They've steadily branched out across the US, and now includes thirteen locations in six different states; the newest is Seattle. Their debut show features work by thirteen artists:
179,
Cris Cook, David Enriquez, Baso Fibonacci,
EGO, Alex Johnson, Pars, Pgee, Solace, Spear, Jeffrey Taylor,
Joe Vollan, and Luke Yates. The bar is flowing freely, and the party is overflowing onto the sidewalk!
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BC Surf & Sport |
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Jeffrey Taylor @ BC Surf & Sport |
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Joe Vollan @ BC Surf & Sport |
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EGO @ BC Surf & Sport |
Just up the Ave from the brand new surf shop is
Gargoyles Statuary, a unique and enchanting University District art space. Gayle, the proprietress, is the initiative and heart behind the University District Art Walk, and her efforts have kept the art walk alive through many months of ups and downs. This month, the featured artists are
Jessika Geiger,
K. Amarak Waters, and
Henna Luna. Geiger's curious characters and Waters' tiny monsters are are an excellent complement to Gargoyles' familiar Gothic aesthetic.
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Gargoyles Statuary |
"Each character is a fusion of my past, my present, and the people in
my immediate environment. Their struggles, desires, and personalities
are revealed through their faces, gestures and surroundings." -
Jessica Geiger
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Jessica Geiger @ Gargoyles |
"My monsters arise from popular culture, mythology,
religion and dreams to evoke the darker, primitive
regions of the psyche. Incorporating traditional
figurative art with fantastic imagery, they represent my
exploration of what it means to be human and what would happen
if humans were no longer at the top of the food chain. We are
often defined by what fascinates and frightens us." - K.
Amarak Waters
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K. Amarak Waters @ Gargoyles |
Dominique Cilento's functional fine art collages are still on display at
Aprie Clothing, but I also notice some of her work in Gargoyles on my way out the door, in particular, a lovely cat themed journal and tiny treasure boxes.
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Dominique Cilento @ Gargoyles |
The coffee shops on opposite sides of Gargoyles have conspired to trade artists.
Tom Whipple has migrated his digitally manipulated photographic assemblages to
Starbucks Coffee, and
Tully's Coffee is now featuring the landscape oil paintings of
John Patterson. An accomplished photographer, Patterson decided to switch his medium to oil and graphite in order to explore the challenge of a new art form.
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Tom Whipple @ Starbucks Coffee |
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John Patterson @ Tully's Coffee |
The
University Business Center is on the way back to my truck. I missed
them last month, but with their gallery right next to the historic Metro
Cinema and art walk signs pointing toward the 3rd Floor, I have no
excuse not to check them out. Unfortunately, once I find my way
upstairs, it seems that everyone has left for the evening. I'm still
able to view the art, a fun series of acrylic paintings extrapolated
from photographic details by
Niki Sherey, but I'm unable to meet the artist.
It's dark by the time I arrive at
Boulevard Grocery, officially my favourite new venue on the U District Art Walk. This
month, they're featuring
NARBOO and
starheadboy's acrylics on wood and
canvas as well as their limited edition original art on Seven Coffee Roasters bags (the in house coffee roasting company).
The
coffee bag project is a collaboration between Boulevard Grocery and
local artists. Each 1-pound bag sells for $21 with a cut going to the
artist, the store, and a charity. NARBOO and starheadboy are the first
artists in the cycle, but there will be more to come! For more info on Boulevard Grocery and Seven Coffee Roasters, check out Lauren Kronebusch's fantastic
article written for the U District Daily.
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Original Art Coffee Bags @ Boulevard Grocery |
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Jeff, Boulevard Grocery manager w/ my coffee |
Brandon
Baker (a.k.a. NARBOO) and Dave Bloomfield (a.k.a. starheadboy) are both
well known street artists/muralists/graphic artists who regularly show
in the Seattle area, and share a studio space in the Greenwood Collective. They're also both hanging out in-house this evening, painting coffee bags as art walkers come and go. I can't leave without purchasing a kitty-covered bag of beans, artfully displayed by Boulevard Grocery manager Jeff. Fresh delicious smelling coffee and original art for only $21? I'm absolutely going to make this a habit.
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Starheadboy & Narboo @ Boulevard Grocery |
The University District Art Walk is growing swiftly! With new art spaces joining every week, next month should be even more spectacular! Support your local art scene! Cheers!
~ BCDuncan
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