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Office of Arts & Culture news and events

Cultural Placemaking art at new 12th and Yesler Development

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Tuesday, September 24, 2019, 6-8 p.m.
Washington Hall
153 14th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
RSVP here

Central Area, International District and surrounding community members are invited to a public meeting on Tuesday, September 24: learn more about the art plan, meet the artists, and how cultural place making will play a significant role in the design of the planned development at 12th and Yesler. 

As part of the design and community review process, community members indicated a desire to see more design integration that illustrates a greater sense of the Central Area’s history and culture, identifying this area as a “crossroad and cultural anchor.” Acknowledging the area as having a great opportunity for being a “Cultural Placemaker,” the art plan intentionally illuminates the Central Area’s multi-cultural history and legacy.

The public meeting will bring together the team of artists to hear more about the stories of the Central Area to help inform designs, design themes, and the cultural significance of the corner’s history, and opportunities for inspiring the future.  All are welcome!

Organized by Bonfire
Bill Gaylord FAIA of BONFIRE Art is the local curator and consultant to the 12th& Yesler Project. Gaylord has brought together a diverse collection of artists coming from different perspectives and cultures to tell the story through art of both the past history and culture of the area as well as inspiring the location’s future as a Cultural Placemaker.

Artist Trust Annual Artist Survey

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During the summer of 2019, 1,283 artists from across Washington State participated in the Artist Trust Annual Survey. The results of this annual survey allow us to better understand the artists we serve and share information from responding artists with other artist-serving organizations.

Artists who took the 2019 Annual Artist Survey indicated the major challenges in their careers are marketing, building new audiences for their work and finding financial stability. With two thirds of responding artists working out of their homes or home studios, they shared perspectives on accessing space and space affordability in Washington State.

This year, a number of new topics also emerged, including concerns about the climate, LGBTQ and gender equality, and access to continuing education. The 2019 Annual Artist Survey provides information that will continue to inform our programming and artist support services at Artist Trust. They make their findings and this report available publicly with the hope that other artist-serving organizations, artists, and arts advocates can learn from and utilize the results. Through this research, they continually work to gain a deeper understanding Washington State’s artists and better meet their needs.

Artist Trust is a nonprofit organization whose sole mission is to support and encourage individual artists working in all disciplines in order to enrich community life throughout Washington State. Since its founding in 1986, Artist Trust has invested over $10 million in individual artists through grant programs and provides a comprehensive suite of professional development training and resources to help artists achieve their career goals.

Youth inspired and led: Student Art Space

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August 31-September 2, 2019
Seattle-based Student Art Spaces Gallery
Seattle Artist League
10219 Aurora Ave
Seattle, WA 98133

What strikes you when you hear the words “The Modern Youth’s Identity?” Teen artists across the country were invited to interpret this theme for the Seattle-based Student Art Spaces gallery. Mental health crises, political change, and other Gen-Z musings reigned among the pieces submitted.

Drowse by Kate from Skyline High

Student Art Spaces gallery is spearheaded by two local high schoolers, friends Taylor Wang, and Alice Mao. We created Student Art Spaces when we saw how high the financial barrier was in the art scene. Application fees, shipping fees, printing fees can all add up to a significant burden, especially for young artists. We’ve been working hard for the past few months– when we weren’t in class or doing homework, we were researching, crowdfunding and promoting on social media to fulfill our vision of a youth-led art gallery.

Togetherness by Metias from Oak Harbor High

The results blew away all expectations we had. Artists from Franklin High School to Rhode Island School of Design submitted work that reflected the experience and the turmoil of being a young person in 2019. We hope that the unique struggles and diverse viewpoints showcased in our gallery will prompt others to think and discuss. Thanks to grants from the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and 34 donors, we were able to pay for shipping and professional printing for all pieces. The work of 43 teen artists will be on display at Seattle Artist League, 10219 Aurora Ave, Seattle, WA 98133, from August 31 – September 2! Join us on opening night to hear the artists speak about their work.

To Be a Young Adult in 2019 by Claudia from Utep

Our website is at https://www.studentartspaces.com/, we are @studentartspaces on instagram, and our personal accounts are @alicemaoart and @_taylorwang. Thank you so much!

Best, Alice and Taylor

The Office of Arts & Culture mourns the passing of Seattle artist Marvin Oliver

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The Office of Arts & Culture notes with sadness the death of Marvin Oliver, who passed away July 17, 2019 at age 73. Oliver, of Quinault and Isleta-Pueblo ancestry, reflected in his art his Indigenous heritage, melding various artistic traditions in both large scale sculptural work and colorful prints. He is considered one of the regions’ foremost sculptors and printmakers, whose work influenced the direction of contemporary Indigenous art. His prints, masks, carvings and designs fuse ancient forms with modern aesthetics. Oliver was a mentor to many other artists and was professor emeritus at the University of Washington. His artworks can be found at institutions throughout Seattle, including the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s, and in its sister city, Perugia, Italy; he has exhibited his work across the country and the world.

The city of Seattle is fortunate to include 11 artworks by Oliver in its art collection. His prints, that are displayed throughout city offices, are extremely popular with city employees and the 40th floor of Seattle Municipal Tower – which functions as a sky lobby and holds many city conference rooms – features integrated panels that remind the viewer that the city is built on traditional Indigenous territory. More visible publicly are The Spirit of Washington, a sculpture in Columbia City, and A Salish Welcome, along the Ship Canal at Salmon Bay. The latter project was supported in part by local community group Groundswell NW through a Department of Neighborhoods Matching Fund Grant; the desire was to acknowledge the original inhabitants along the city’s waterways. A traditional welcome figure is rendered in bronze and holds a colorful glass panel that represents a salmon egg; this project is an example of the artist’s fusing of traditional and contemporary forms.

Known affectionately in the Indigenous community as “Uncle Marvin,” Oliver supported younger artists developing their practice. ARTS’ project manager Jason Huff, who worked with Oliver on { A Salish Welcome describes, ”Working with Marvin on A Salish Welcome was an eye-opening experience that became much more than a public art project for me. Our time working together was like a private class in Coast Salish art and cultural history, and a view into his creative process. I feel honored to have had the privilege to work closely with him and absorb his wisdom.”

Oliver’s artworks serve as a reminder of the cultural heritage of the region, as well as a lasting remembrance of a generous and respected artist.

Images: A Salish Welcome, 2010 (Seattle Public Utilities 1% for Art)  and Midnight Rider, 2006 (Seattle City Light 1% for Art)

Tagalog sa King Street

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A workshop production of one-act plays written and performed in Tagalog (with English surtitles), September 5 – October 5, 2019 at ARTS at King Street Station
Admission is free

September 5-October 5, 2019
Free to the public, all ages
ARTS at King Street Station
303 S. Jackson St, Top Floor
Seattle, WA 98104           

Intermittent open rehearsals in the gallery
Tuesdays-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; First Thursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.  
Performances: Thursday, October 3, 6:30 p.m.;
Saturday, October 5, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
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ARTS at King Street Station will host the workshop production of Tagalog sa King Street, a collection of one-act plays written and performed in the national language of the Philippines. With creative use of live English surtitles and shadow puppetry, non-Tagalog speaking audience can enjoy the innovative, brave, new voices selected from the prestigious Virgin Labfest of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

This is a workshop production that will be presented in two parts. The first are open rehearsals as the creative team comprised of Lorna Velasco, Joyce Juan Manalo, Ai Lalo, Alyza DelPan-Monley, Arlo Magpoc, Nina De Torres Ignacio, Leah Mitts, Manny Golez, and Pia Rivera will transform the space into a world of shadow and light. The open rehearsals will culminate with three performances of the completed work that are free to the public on Thursday October 3rd and Saturday, October 5th. Tickets are available here. The production was made possible through at grant by the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture. The performance is ADA accessible.

 Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady (How I became the Leading Lady), by Carlo Vergara, is a story of two sisters, Mely and Viva, who turn a small grudge into a superhero battle between good and evil.

Hintayan ng Langit (Heaven’s Waiting Room), by Juan Miguel Severo is about 67-year-old protagonist Manolo meeting his unrequited love, 64-year-old Lisang in purgatory. Their spiritual ascent is delayed until they resolve a lifetime worth of heartaches and regrets.

 ARTS at King Street Station is a new kind of cultural space where communities of color have increased opportunities to present their work and be seen and heard. Grounded in community feedback, the programming and cultural space on the third floor of King Street Station will be an incubator for artists and communities, experimenting with the best ways to respond to the cultural needs of an ever-changing city. A new cohort of King Street Station Advisors will select and respond to community exhibition and programming ideas. ARTS’ goal for King Street Station is to be a resource for the city and the embodiment of the Office’s commitment to racial equity. Admission is free.

Seattle Announces Jourdan Keith as the City’s next Civic Poet

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Keith will present at the Mayor’s Arts Awards ceremony,
Thursday, Aug. 29 at 4 p.m.

The Office of Arts & Culture announced Seattle’s next Civic Poet, Jourdan Imani Keith. Keith, a student of Sonia Sanchez, is a poet, essayist, playwright, naturalist and activist. The Civic Poet program celebrates Seattle’s rich literary community, while investing the future of literary arts through community engagement. The program is administered by the city’s Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS).

“The Seattle Civic Poet program attracts the best artists in our region,” says Randy Engstrom, ARTS director. “We couldn’t be happier to have Jourdan Keith as our next Civic Poet, she’s the definition of an engaged generative, intersectional artist, with a demonstrated commitment to the City.”

Jourdan Keith’s writing blends the textures of political, personal and natural landscapes to offer voices from the margins of American lives.  A recipient of the 2018 Americans for the Arts award, her TEDx Talk, “Your Body of Water” became the theme for King County’s 2016-2018 Poetry on Buses program. Her Orion Magazine essays, “Desegregating Wilderness” and “At Risk,” were selected by Rebecca Skloot for the 2015 Best American Science and Nature Writing Anthology.

As a keeper of culture and history in the Griot (gree-oh) storytelling tradition, her ekphrastic poems were commissioned by the Northwest African American Museum and by Seattle Art Museum.  She has been awarded fellowships from Hedgebrook, Wildbranch, Santa Fe Science Writing workshop, VONA, and Jack Straw. She is also Seattle Public Library’s first naturalist-in-Residence. Keith is the founder and director of the gender, ethnicity and environmental justice organization, Urban Wilderness Project. She’s received awards from University of Washington, Artist Trust, 4Culture and ARTS. Her memoir in essays, Tugging at the Web is forthcoming from University of Washington Press.

The two-year Civic Poet post serves as a cultural ambassador for Seattle’s rich, multi-hued literary landscape and represents Seattle’s diverse cultural community. In addition to five annual performances, the Civic Poet will also complete hands-on work with communities to engage constituents city-wide. Seattle’s Civic Poet will serve a term of two years, from August 2019 to August 2021, and will receive a $10,000 stipend distributed over the two-year term.

Photo by Diem Jones.

Mayor Durkan announces recipients for the 2019 Mayor’s Arts Awards

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Recipients will be honored at the Mayor’s Arts Awards ceremony on
Thursday, August 29 at 4 p.m. at the Charlotte Martin Theatre, Seattle Center

SEATTLE – Mayor Durkan announced the recipients of the 2019 Mayor’s Arts Awards. The award honorees are Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA), Dani Tirrell, Delbert Richardson, Intiman Theatre, and Marcie Sillman. All five recipients have shaped Seattle’s arts and cultural landscape through their contributions to the community, education, arts and race and social justice.

Collage of the 2019 Mayor's Arts Awards recipients
left to right: Center for Contemporary Art, Intiman Theatre, Delbert Richardson,
Marcie Sillman, Dani Tirrell

“Seattle’s artists inspire us, and they make our City better. These artists represent the rich diversity of talent, innovation, and passion in our communities,” said Mayor Durkan. “The Mayor’s Arts Awards are a chance to shine a light on amazing arts and cultural contributors in Seattle, and to celebrate the work they’re doing to advance equity and justice. Congratulations to these incredible artists.”

The Mayor’s Arts Awards celebrates the people and organizations that broaden our horizons and humanize our city and our world. The winners will be honored at the Mayor’s Arts Award Ceremony on Thursday, August 29 at 4 p.m. at the Charlotte Martin Theatre at Seattle Children’s Theatre. Recipients will be presented with an original artwork award by KT Hancock, a local, emerging artist working in glass and metal.

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The Mayor’s Arts Awards are presented in partnership with Bumbershoot and One Reel with sponsor Boeing and event sponsor Chihuly Garden and Glass.

For more information about the Mayor’s Arts Awards, including past recipients, visit http://www.seattle.gov/arts/mayors-arts-awards.

About the 2019 Mayor’s Arts Award Recipients

Two performers in th middle of CoCA's gallery.
Fear of the Other by Laura Rodriguez, 2017, Photo by Warren Woo

Seattle’s Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA) serves the Pacific Northwest as a catalyst and forum for the advancement, development, and understanding of Contemporary Art. CoCA has been a vital part of contemporary art in the Northwest for nearly 40 years, and has operated galleries and produced events throughout the Seattle area since 1981 when over 100 artists, local business owners, and arts supporters formed the organization.

CoCA has continued to question the status quo of the existing art scene by challenging the social and political meaning of art and artists in contemporary society. The organization, staff, board and members have encouraged experimentation from artists through gallery exhibits, music and dance performances, residencies and discussion forums. CoCA has a long history of providing an inclusive space for emerging and established artists to make and show their creative efforts. CoCA continues to champion diversity of community, culture, race, ethnicity, and gender for their Board, Volunteers, Staff, and Artists, and address the disparities that often challenge arts organizations and society. Executive & Artistic Director, Nichole DeMent; Gallery Manager, Katelyn Johnson, MA; Board President, Eddie Reed, EdD; and Board Chair, Judith Rayl, MD, PhD, currently manage CoCA.

Dani Tirrell promo image for "FagGod".
Promo image of Dani Tirrell from FagGod, 2019 at CD Forum

Dani Tirrell (Seattle, WA) is A Black, Queer choreographer, dancer and movement guide. Dani has guided people in Detroit and Seattle as well as sharing movement practices in other cities in the United States. Currently Dani is the curator for the 2019/2020 season of Central District Forum for Arts and Ideas, this is Dani’s second season as curator. Dani is the host and co-creator of Sunday Dinners, and served as the student advisor for the Arts Diversity Council at University of Washington (Seattle campus).

Dani is the founder and current artistic director of The Congregation a movement/art collective that is led by mostly Black and Queer bodies. Dani is currently teaching at Northwest Tap Connection and University of Washington Seattle campus and Bothell campus (fall 2019). Dani has created work for Dance This (Northwest Tap Connection), Strictly Seattle (advance/professional track), Seattle Repertory Theater, Nina Simone Four Women (Directed by Valerie Curtis-Newton).

Dani also was at the helm of four sold out shows, for Dani’s production of Black Bois (On the Boards). In 2019 Dani was the recipient of an Artist Trust Fellowship Award and a Dance Crush Award for Black Bois (performance). Dani also received a 2018 Arts Matter Fellowship grant. Dani current work FagGod in collaboration with Anastasia Renee and Naa Akua was presented in Central District Forum for Arts and Ideas 2019/2020 season.

Delbert Richardson
Delbert Richardson

Delbert Richardson, is an ethnomuseumologist, Second generation storyteller, and the founder of the American History Traveling Museum: The “Unspoken” Truths. This National Award Winning mobile museum is geared primarily towards the self-empowerment of Black and Brown COC (Children of Color). With the use of authentic artifacts, storyboards, and the ancient art of “Storytelling”, Mr. Richardson’s goal is to inspire youth in the areas of identity development and self-actualization. His multi-sensory “hands-on” exhibit creates a unique opportunity for attendees of all ages to appreciate the courage, perseverance, resilience, and determination, of Black/African American people and the many contributions that have made to the world.

The “Unspoken” Truths American History Traveling Museum chronicles the rich history of Africans in Africa prior to American Chattel Slavery, the experiences and impact of American Chattel Slavery, Jim Crow Era, and the many contributions African Americans have had in scientific, cultural, and technological (inventions) innovations in the U.S. and the world.

Two actors sit on the floor, one of them is trans, looking at each other.
Production photo from HIR at ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery, 2018, Photo by John McClellan

Intiman Theatre’s mission is to Wrestle with American Inequities. Intiman is a professional theater company in Seattle, Washington who in recent years was awarded three 2018 Gregory Awards for their Outstanding Production of a Musical (Dragon Lady),  three 2018-19 Teeny Awards for being an awesome org, creating work that most artfully illuminated a social issue or sparked civic dialogue, most transformative theatre experience as well as the 2006 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Intiman is overseen by Artistic Director Jennifer Zeyl, Executive Director Phillip Chavira, and Board President Daniel Nye. The company retired a historical $2.7m in debt & obligations in 2018, with thanks to the community for keeping Intiman alive and flourishing. We are grateful to share a Free for Everyone ticketing initiative with our audiences made possible by our Community Ticket Project.

Since its founding in 1972, Intiman Theatre has presented 240 productions to Seattle audiences. Among the more recent of these are HIR by Taylor Mac, WILD HORSES by Allison Gregory, NATIVE GARDENS by Karen Zacarías, ANGELS IN AMERICA by Tony Kushner, TROUBLE IN MIND and WEDDING BAND by Alice Childress,  and BOOTYCANDY and BARBECUE by Robert O’hara.

Intiman produces in various venues throughout Seattle, which include the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute in Central District, The Erikson Off Broadway, 12th Avenue Arts, Velocity Dance Center, UW Jones Playhouse, Seattle Center Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, the Alhadeff Studio and Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center.

Marcie Sillman
Marcie Sillman

Marcie Sillman, arts and culture reporter at KUOW, arrived at the station in 1985 to produce the station’s daily public affairs program, Seattle After Noon. One year later, she became the local voice of All Things Considered, NPR’s flagship afternoon news magazine. After five years holding down the drive-time microphone, a new opportunity arose. Along with Dave Beck and Steve Scher, Marcie helped create Weekday, a daily, two-hour forum for newsmakers, artists and thinkers. During her career, more than 100 of her stories have been heard on NPR’s newsmagazines, as well as on The Voice of America. In 2005, she became KUOW’s first special projects reporter. In this role, she produced in-depth audio portraits and documentary series about life and culture in the Puget Sound Region. In September, 2013, Marcie was part of the team that created The Record, a daily news magazine focused on the issues and culture of the Puget Sound region. Marcie writes regularly about Seattle’s dance scene for national publications and at her blog, “And Another Thing.” Her book Out There: Jonathan Porretta’s Life in Dance was released in 2016 by Seattle Scriptorum publishing house.

Nominees for the 2019 Mayor’s Arts Awards

Congratulations to everyone who was nominated* this year:

206 Zulu  ▪  African American Writers’ Alliance  ▪  Africatown   ▪  Afua Kouyate ▪  Al Doggett and Esther Ervin  ▪   Alana Skye Crawley  ▪  Amanda Manitach  ▪  Angie Hinojos Yusuf  ▪  Asia Tail  ▪  Ben Hunter  ▪  Bill Berry  ▪  Blue Cone Studios   ▪  Bushwick Northwest   ▪   C&P Coffee  ▪   Casey Weldon  ▪  Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA)   ▪   Christiane Karefa-Johnson  ▪  Claire Michelle  ▪  Clarion West   ▪   Claudia Castro Luna  ▪  Creative Justice  ▪   Dani Terrill  ▪  Daniel Pak  ▪  Dante Felder  ▪  Degenerate Art Ensemble  ▪   Dina Blade  ▪  Delbert Richardson  ▪  Donte Felder  ▪  Duwamish Tribe  ▪   D’Vonne Lewis  ▪  Early Music Seattle   ▪   Eli Lara  ▪  Emerald Comics Distro   ▪   Eric Banks  ▪  Eric Nelson  ▪  Eric Salisbury  ▪  Esther Altshul Helfgott  ▪  Etienne Cakpo-Gbokou  ▪  Free2Luv  ▪  Gallery Onyx  ▪  Gary Faigin  ▪  Hallie Kuperman  ▪  Hanako O’Leary  ▪  Ijeoma Oluo  ▪  Intiman Theatre  ▪   Inye Wokoma  ▪  Jade D’Souza  ▪  Jayden Fennell  ▪  Jean Walkinshaw  ▪  Jeffrey Veregge  ▪  Jeffry Mitchell  ▪  Jennifer Zeyl  ▪  Jovino Santos Neto   ▪  Julie Chang Schulman  ▪  Julius Brandon  ▪  Kelly Kitchens  ▪  Kelly LaCombe  ▪  Kelly Lyles  ▪  Kimerly Rorschach  ▪  Larry Reid  ▪  Living Voices   ▪   Lorrie Scott Cardoso  ▪  Marcie Sillman  ▪  Marisol Sanchez Best  ▪  Markel Uriu  ▪  Martín Sepulveda  ▪  Miguel del Aguila  ▪  Mindie Lind  ▪  Music4Life  ▪   Nisi Shawl  ▪  Northwest African American Museum   ▪   Onyx Fine Arts Collective   ▪   Patti Curtis  ▪  Phoebe Bosché  ▪  Pramila Jayapal  ▪  Rain City Rock Camp   ▪  Richard Gold  ▪  Room Circus Medical Clowning  School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts  ▪   Ryan Blackwell  ▪  Ryan Henry Ward  ▪  Sahra Farah  ▪  Sam Farrazaino  ▪  Sarah Fansler Lavin  ▪  Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra   ▪   Seattle Walk Report  ▪  Seayoung Yim  ▪  Shaya Lyon  ▪  Stephanie Johnson-Toliver  ▪  Susan Silver  ▪  Tariqa Waters  ▪  Ten Grands Seattle   ▪  Teresa Thuman  ▪  The AMP: AIDS Memorial Pathway   ▪   The Arboretum Foundation   ▪   The Residency, a program of Arts Corps, MoPOP and Macklemore, LLC   ▪   The Union   ▪   Verhanika Willhelm  ▪  Vincent Keele  ▪  Virginia Wright  ▪  Wa Na Wari  ▪  Witch Chat  ▪  Wyking Garrett

*only eligible nominations are included.

News: Lara Davis and six years with ARTS Creative Youth Programs

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“Differences must be not merely tolerated, but seen as a fund of necessary polarities between which our creativity can spark like a dialectic.”  

– Audre Lorde

After six incredible years leading the Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS) Creative Youth programs, I’m excited to announce that I am leaving to pursue an opportunity with the Visionary Justice StoryLab – a collective of interdisciplinary artists, media makers, and cultural workers evolving story, media, and performance based racial and healing justice practices for communities of color and the organizations that serve them – and take personal time for myself to reconnect with my own creativity and artistic practice.

Photo of Lara Davis against a rainbow flag background.
Lara Davis, Youth Arts Manager at ARTS

Youth Arts Manager position open at ARTS

ARTS Creative Youth programs have grown significantly in the past six years and continue to deepen our impact through school-based arts education investments and a continuum of Creative Youth Development and career-connected learning opportunities. I’ve been proud to be part of a fierce team of collaborators that includes teaching artists and community arts organizations, City and Seattle Public Schools staff who work in partnership to advance education justice and prioritize the arts as central to achieving racially equitable and justice-based outcomes. 

Now in over half of Seattle Public Schools, The Creative Advantage, our citywide initiative, is committed to realizing equity in arts education for all Seattle students.  Driven by a public-private partnership, this initiative works through a collective impact framework that includes the district, ARTS, Seattle Foundation, and the broader arts community. To learn more please check out this article on The Creative Advantage in Seattle Foundation’s Heart and Science Magazine spring 2019 issue by Naomi Ishisaka.

The leadership of our young people, Black and indigenous and POC communities is essential to these ongoing efforts – to fully realize local education equity initiatives like The Creative Advantage and to build a just future rooted in culture, collective power, the imagination, and love.

In an era of persistent and growing economic, climate and racial injustice, I’m continually inspired by the boldness and creativity of young organizers and activists – many of whom are artists – and the collective struggle for liberation that relies upon intergenerational and collaborative leadership. I’m grateful to have been a part of this effort with the Office of Arts & Culture, and excited for its continued work in and with community. 

With deep gratitude,

Lara Davis

Redefining Seattle’s literary scene, Anastacia-Renee, Seattle Civic Poet 2017-19

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Seattle created the Civic Poet program in 2015 to invest in and foster the city’s rich literary community. Anastacia-Renee is the second Civic Poet, serving from 2017-19 and as her commission comes to a close we wish to recognize, cheer and share our gratitude for Anastacia-Renee and all who have contributed their valuable time, participated, and most importantly who generated literary work that overwhelmingly exceeded the expectations that the City and the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture had for the program. Anastacia-Renee’s contributions paves the way for future Civic Poets and community engagement through the literary arts.

In her two year tenure, Anastacia-Renee convened, recited, performed, curated, advised, led, taught, and listened to close to 7,000 residents of all ages, in a range of traditional and non-traditional venues city wide. She also engaged the community through her readings, workshops, consultations, City Council Civil Rights Utilities Economic Development and Arts Committee (CRUEDA) meeting openers, Speak to Me series, featured guest on TEDx and Lit Crawl, national holiday functions and many more one-time engagements for small neighborhood-based agencies/groups.

Anastacia-Renee raised awareness for the literary arts community and the Living Legacies tribute topped her two-year tenure with an event in June at King Street Station that acknowledged, celebrated, and raised three highly accomplished writers to the forefront of Seattle’s robust literary community, Mary Anne Moorman, Storme Webber, and Georgia McDade.

New artwork “Alone Together” delights downtown pedestrians

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Friday, August 2, 2019, 2-3 p.m.
Public celebration at Harbor Steps
1221 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Artwork stickers will be available for the first 250 people.

A new artwork, Alone Together, by Juliana Kang Robinson will be interwoven into the infrastructure of the all-walk intersection of University and 1st Avenue near Harbor Steps and the Seattle Art Museum. The artwork includes pictorial street signs in the blocks that surround the main artwork, and a new crosswalk painting on the intersection of University and 1st Avenue. 

One of the panels on the back of a parking sign depicts a baby bear on an ice floe as a narwhal swims underneath.

As you walk toward the intersection – west on University, North on 1st or South on 1st, the series of six separate but thematically connected images will lead up to the all-walk in which the theme of the artwork Alone Together will come into play. Pedestrians begin alone on the four separate corners of the intersection will cross over the artwork coming together for a moment.

A photo from above as pedestrians cross the intersection with the artwork below them.
Pedestrians cross at the intersection where Alone Together is installed

Bears are the main character in this illustrated series of images, in reference to a Korean creation myth and a reminder that people, like animals, share the same needs and strengths. The artist’s intent is to showcase that we all find refuge and strength in togetherness and that all families belong together. The goal of the artwork is to celebrate youth, families and pedestrians in our Downtown core. 

An aerial view of the intersection with a rendering of the artwork in the middle.
A rendering of the artwork at the pedestrian crossig

Inspired by conversations with pedestrian advocates, transportation specialists, neighborhood groups, and youth (special note of thanks to the kindergarten classes at Giddens Elementary and students from Summit High School) some of the overarching desires stated by these community members included the desire for new artwork to use bright colors, reference nature and animals, contain a positive message and put a smile on your face, and be located in a highly accessible location. You can learn more about the artist’s work at julianakangrobinson.com. 

This is part of the Imagine Greater Downtown initiative, designed to improve the pedestrian experience in Downtown Seattle using existing SDOT street infrastructure to create art for pedestrians and cyclists to see in their everyday movements. Commissioned by the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture and Seattle Department of Transportation.