We came, we saw, we walked, ran, rolled, strolled and in general enjoyed our last time to enjoy the views from the Viaduct and checked out the new tunnel. In honor of one of the best bashes for a highway in history, we’ve created our own album of photos.
Enjoy!
Photos courtesy of Bruce Clayton Tom.
Seattle Civic Poet Anastacia-Renee has been busy. She was invited to give a TEDx talk, which you can view here and she was a 2018 resident of the Mineral School. Mineral School nurtures literary, performing, and visual artists to generate new work and present that work to the public. They provide overnight artists residency programs and public events from a classic 1947 elementary school in a lake town near Mt. Rainier. Learn more about Anastacia-Renee’s residency here.
With Bettina Judd, Helen K. Thomas and Jourdan Imani Keith
Monday, February 18, 7 p.m.
Jack Straw Cultural Center
4261 Roosevelt Way NE,
Seattle, WA 98105
Free
I have come to believe over and over again that what is most important to me must be spoken, made verbal and shared, even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood.
-Audre Lorde
Speak to Me! is an intergenerational reading series showcasing poets and writers curated, hosted and moderated by Anastacia-Renee, Seattle Civic Poet (Seattle Office of Arts & Culture). This special installment of the series celebrates the birth, life, and work of Audre Lorde.
Featuring:
Bettina Judd is an interdisciplinary writer, artist and performer whose research focus is on Black women’s creative production and our use of visual art, literature, and music to develop feminist thought. Her current book manuscript argues that Black women’s creative production is feminist knowledge production produced by registers of affect she calls “feelin.” She is currently Assistant Professor of Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Washington. She has received fellowships from the Five Colleges, The Vermont Studio Center and the University of Maryland. Her poems and essays have appeared in Torch, Mythium, Meridians and other journals and anthologies. Her collection of poems titled patient. which tackles the history of medical experimentation on and display of Black women won the Black Lawrence Press Hudson Book Prize and was released in November of 2014. As a performer she has been invited to perform for audiences within the United States and internationally. Find out more information about Bettina at www.bettinajudd.com.
Helen K. Thomas is a native of Seattle, WA by way of Lagos, Nigeria. She writes Young Adult fiction about black girls surviving, thriving and trying to figure it all out in the Pacific Northwest.
Jourdan Imani Keith is a poet, essayist, playwright, naturalist and activist. Her TEDx Talk, “Your Body of Water,” the theme for King County’s 2016-2018 Poetry on Buses program, won a 2018 Americans for the Arts Public Art award. Keith’s Orion Magazine essays, “Desegregating Wilderness” and ” At Risk” were selected for the 2015 Best American Science and Nature Writing Anthology (Houghton Mifflin). Her ekphrastic poems and stories were commissioned by the Northwest African American Museum to be featured as over-sized text on its walls during the Glass Orchidarium exhibit and her creation myth, ” We Were All Water,” was commissioned by Seattle Art Museum for a featured performance at the REMIX . A keeper of culture and history in the Griot (gree-oh) storytelling tradition, she has been awarded fellowships from Hedgebrook, Wildbranch, Santa Fe Science Writing workshop, VONA, and Jack Straw. She’s received multiple commissions and awards from University of Washington, Artist Trust, 4Culture and the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture. Her memoir in essays, Tugging at the Web is forthcoming from University of Washington Press.
*Speak to Me! is an intergenerational reading series showcasing poets and writers curated, hosted and moderated by Anastacia-Renee, Seattle Civic Poet (Seattle Office of Arts & Culture).
In partnership, the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and the Seattle Public Library supports an experienced poet with a two-year City residency as literary ambassador. In addition to annual City events, the Civic Poet will foster community dialogue and engagement between the City, the public and other artists, while celebrating the literary arts.
This call is open to Seattle-based poets who have an established body of work including published works, reading/spoken word and project planning experience with skills in racial equity practices. Applicants must be eligible to work in the US and show commitment to this commission purpose and a strong relationship to Seattle.
The compensation for the two-year Civic Poet commission is $10,000. Funding is allocated at $5,000 per year. It compensates time for writing, administration, performances, event costs, materials, travel, fees, taxes and other project-related costs.
Deadline to apply is Wednesday, April 24, 2019; 10:59 p.m. PST. A workshop to learn how to make your strongest application will be offered on Saturday, February 16.
More details, including how to RSVP to the workshop, are on the open calls page on our website. Learn more about the Seattle Civic Poet program as well as our current Civic Poet, Anastacia-Renee Tolbert.
Saturday, Feb. 2, 12:30 – 6 p.m.
In celebration of the future waterfront and new tunnel and part of the overall StepForward99.com series of events, the Office of the Waterfront and the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture will activate the top deck of Alaskan Way Viaduct with a once in a lifetime arts festival featuring unique performances, activities, artworks, installations and interventions from over 100 regional artists and organizations. All arts activities will take place on the top level of the Viaduct.
Highlights include:
12:30 p.m. – Musical and Performance Procession: Hello | Goodbye will begin with a processional featuring music and performances from Orkestar Zirkonium and Friends, Vamala, Fremont Art Council, Hālau Hula ʻO Lono, LelaVision, InterPlay, SANCA, Leela Kathak, Sara Lovett’s Giant Puppets, The Cabiri and more. The public is invited to join the procession which begins at Seneca St.
Artists:
Office of the Waterfront info container and KUOW on site capturing histories of the viaduct.
Performances:
Inclement weather
We advise guests to wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes, dress warmly for the weather, and prepare for possible rainfall.
Accessibility
American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation
The Hello Goodbye Viaduct Arts Festival will feature activities, installations, and artworks from over 100 artists. ASL interpretation will be provided at storytelling and comedic performances occurring on the North end of the Viaduct between 2:00-5:30 p.m. ASL interpreters will also be available from 12:30-6:30 p.m. at programming stations operated by the Office of the Waterfront, located near the Pike Place Market overlook.
Wheelchair access and Viaduct slope grade information
Alaskan Way Viaduct was formerly an active roadway and has not been outfitted for full wheelchair access – guests should take care to avoid occasional potholes, gaps, and other irregularities in the pavement. Wheelchair-accessible portable restrooms will be available for use near both the northern and southern entrances to the Viaduct festival. Production staff members will be on site and available for additional questions and accessibility needs.
From Lenora to Pike Street the roadway’s longitudinal grade is 3.73% northbound and 4.04% southbound. The Viaduct is flat at a 0% longitudinal grade North and South of this area. Cross-slope of the roadway can be up to 4.0% around Virginia Street.
The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture strives to make its events and programs accessible for everyone. For additional disability accommodations or accessibility information, contact Grace Chai at grace.chai-c@seattle.gov at your earliest opportunity.
Getting there / parking
Please visit https://99stepforward.com/getting-there.htm for additional information on planning your transportation to the Hello Goodbye Viaduct Arts Festival.
On January 14 Seattle Center, the Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS), and the Office of Film + Music convened a dynamic group of small businesses and arts and cultural organizations to learn more about the upcoming permanent closure of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the new SR 99 tunnel that will open in early February, the other upcoming challenges to our transportation system, and the opportunities to connect as we build a better city.
The meeting’s primary purpose was to collectively brainstorm promotional opportunities, share best practices and other ideas for attracting customers to your business during this highly impactful period.
You will find the presentations and notes from the brainstorming session here:
Seattle Squeeze Community Toolkit
Seattle Squeeze additional messaging for organizations and businesses
Arts and Entertainment Local brainstorming notes
Seattle Department of Transportation SR 99 Closure and Seattle Squeeze presentation
A big thank you to everyone who presented, Seattle Department of Transportation, Visit Seattle, Commute Seattle, and Seattle Center and everyone who came and participated in our fun brainstorming session.
Please feel free to send any questions or inquiries our way: ARTS, Erika Lindsay, Communications Manager (206.684.4337); Seattle Center, Denise Caruso, Marketing Development, (206.733.9711); Office of Film + Music, Scott Plusquellec, Nightlife Business Advocate, (206.256.5152)
January 8 – March 6, 2019
Reception on Thursday, January 10, 4 – 6pm
“Mountain” by Jane Kippenhan, watercolor
Forty-nine exhilarating paintings created by seven vibrant persons living with dementia— each sharing a unique view of the world.
Delightful and surprising, the artwork effortlessly connects us—a vivid illustration that persons living with memory loss and dementia are Still Here—living with dignity, purpose and joy.
Featured artists:
Meet these valuable community artists and their families, along with care providers at the Opening Reception. Enjoy light hors d’oeuvres and an exhibition tour.
Presented by The Art of Alzheimer’s. Art created at Elderwise.
ARTS is busily preparing for the move at the beginning of January 2019 to our new location at King Street Station.
ARTS at King Street Station will officially open to the public on March 23, 2019 with the indigenous-centered inaugural exhibition yəhaw̓. An indigenous-centered showcase in recognition of the Coast Salish peoples who first inhabited the land on which the City of Seattle was built, yəhaw̓ will run until August 3, 2019.
ARTS at King Street Station’s public hours will be Tuesday-Saturday 10 A.M. – 6 P.M. with extended hours until 8:00 P.M. on the first Thursday of each month. Shaped by community feedback through a City-wide public outreach process, ARTS’ goal is for King Street Station to be a community and cultural space for the Seattle community to access exhibition and creative opportunities, ARTS staff and resources, professional development, meeting space, and other services.
Saturday, February 2, 2019
12:30-6 PM
In celebration of the future waterfront and tunnel, the Office of the Waterfront and the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture will activate the top deck of Alaskan Way Viaduct with a once in a lifetime arts festival featuring unique performances, activities, and site-specific art installations from over 100 regional artists and organizations.
12:30 p.m.: Musical and Performance Procession:
Hello | Goodbye will begin with a processional featuring music and performances from Orkestar Zirkonium, Sara Lovett’s Giant Puppets, The Cabiri and more. The public is invited to join the procession which begins at Seneca St.
All Day: Activities, Installations and Performances:
Engage youth and family with a variety of activities, performances and unique site specific installations from regional artists and organizations including Au Collective, Cedric Bomford, Minh Carrico, Scott Trimble, April Soetarman, Sutton Beres Culler, Aubrey DeRush, Dewa Dorje, Roger Fernandes, Naomi Haverland, LelaVision, Ulises Mariscal, Tia Matthies, Emmett Montgomery, Akira Ohiso, DK Pan, Shawn Parks, The Cabiri, The Fabulous Downey Brothers, SANCA, and more!
Getting there
The festival will be accessible via Seneca Street and the Battery Street Tunnel during the time period corresponding with your ticket.
BY CAR
Check Seattle Traffic website for the best way to get to the get around town.
Heading north: I-5 to Seneca St exit (#165), west on Seneca St to 1st Ave, and turn right (north) on 1st Ave.
Heading south: I-5 to Union St exit (#165B), west (toward Puget Sound) on Union St to 1st Ave.
From I-90: Heading west, merge onto I-5 North; take Madison St exit (#2C). Turn left on Madison and right on 1st Ave.
BY PUBLIC TRANSIT
Visit the Metro website for a complete guide to Seattle’s transit system and a map of nearby bus stops.
Sound Transit Link Light Rail University Street Station exits onto 2nd Ave.
BY BIKE
See the SDOT interactive bike map for all levels of riders. Multiple bike racks are available on-street and public racks can be accessed by ramp or elevator on Union between 1st and 2nd Avenue on the first parking level of the Russell Investment Center Garage.
BY FERRY
Boats from West Seattle, Bremerton, and Bainbridge, Blake, Vashon, and Vancouver Islands disembark within walking distance
Image credits:
Fish by Akira Ohiso
3D chalk by Naomi Haverland
The Office of Arts & Culture in partnership with Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) has commissioned artist Olalekan Jeyifous to create artwork for the Taylor Creek Culvert Replacement Project. Jeyifous will join the Taylor Creek Culvert Replacement design team to develop wayfinding artwork that will be integrated in the future natural area in the Rainier Beach neighborhood. The artwork and culvert replacement projects are expected to be completed in 2024.
SPU purchased property at the lower reaches of Taylor Creek, located near the south end of Lake Washington in the southern edge of the Rainier Beach neighborhood. SPU plans to increase the quality and amount of Taylor Creek and Lake Washington shoreline habitat, particularly for threatened juvenile Chinook salmon. The project will provide public access to the new natural area north of Rainier Ave. S., as well as corridor safety improvements in coordination with the Seattle Department of Transportation.
Olalekan Jeyifous is a Brooklyn-based artist who creates architecturally-inspired artworks that explores the fictions, histories and futures of cities and urban spaces in whimsical and insightful ways. Jeyifous received his bachelor’s degree in architecture from Cornell University in 2000, and has created public art installations for the Corcoran Garage in Durham, NC; Cleveland Public Square in Cleveland, OH; and the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, CA.
Jeyifous was selected by a panel of artists, community members, and city staff. The project is commissioned with SPU 1% for Art funds.
Image: Inner Sanctum, 2017, mixed-media installation
