Tonight’s May edition of the Capitol Hill art walk isn’t really a “beta test” of the new event being planned for a June 11 launch. But it is the start of a ramp-up in effort, energy and participation in the monthly event that will transform into Blitz Capitol Hill Arts Walk.
CHS asked the three organizers of the Blitz transition how things are proceeding on the June 11th launch and what to expect from the new effort. Capitol Hill artist Ellen Forney, Babeland marketing powerhouse Audrey McManus and graphic designer and entrepreneur Akira Morita are working on pulling together everything from a new Web site and Twitter marketing effort to old school networking and arm twisting to get area businesses involved with the new walk.
First, what’s going to happen at May’s walk? — the last of its kind!
Audrey: Oh May…there are over a dozen participating locations for this last old school art walk. I have been putting so much effort into Blitz, that May didn’t get quite as much attention as I would have liked. Whimsy Home Décor helped out by making maps, and you can pick the map up at their store or print it out from our Facebook page. Retrofit Home always has a great show and this month it is artist Christopher Balder, Richard Hugo House is participating, Babeland has a new artist up (she was shown at SEAF) as well as a listening party for Peaches new album, Sole Repair has some amazing paintings, and there is an afterparty at the Bus Stop. There are lots of other locations that are open as well and participating even if they are not on the map. It is a great night to take a walk around your neighborhood and check out all the amazing art that is happening around you.
How did you get involved in rebooting Capitol Hill’s art walk?
Ellen: I’m on the Board of Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce (I’ve been on the board since November 2008), and co-chair of the Arts & Entertainment Committee. We wanted to take on a community project, and this seemed perfect – for the residents, visitors, and businesses – everyone wins. CHCC is totally excited about it. I came up with the name “Blitz” sitting at my kitchen table with my mentor, Larry Reid. (Larry organized the Georgetown Art Attack and the original First Thursday in Pio Square; I know him through Fantagraphics Books – my publisher, and he used to do their PR.) I wanted a one-syllable word, something punchy and catchy, something that suggested festive and varied, like a fistful of confetti thrown in the air. (I come back to that image a lot.) I was just throwing out words (crunch, splash, frill) and got to “blitz”, and Larry cocked his head and said he liked it. It was a placeholder for a while but then it stuck.
June 2009 Copper Vine Michael C. Wesner
Audrey: In 2006 I went looking to join the The Capitol Hill Art Walk and found that it was defunct. A couple other business owners (Wazhma from Retail Therapy, Amy from Stitches, Lori and Jon from Retrofit Home and Karl from Galactic Boutique) and I all decided that we wanted to make it happen again so we planned to all have our events and openings on the same night so that it would grow to become an art walk. Over the years, we picked up more and more locations participating until we had about 20-25 places all holding events on the same night. The problem was, there was no good promotion of the event as a whole. It was entirely run by 2-3 volunteers and while we could collect the info from the businesses, make maps and post it all on MySpace – we just didn’t have the means to make it as successful as we dreamed it could be. It was so disappointing to me when I would be telling someone about the upcoming art walk and they would say – Capitol Hill has an art walk? Clearly we needed help. I joined the Arts and Entertainment Committee of the Chamber of Commerce and suggested the idea of The Chamber taking the art walk over. The Chamber was able to step in and help with organization, promotion and resources. We have posters, postcards, a website in the works, as well as over a dozen volunteers all working together to make Capitol Hill Arts Walk as fabulous as it deserves to be.
Akira: My interest in development on the Hill and its effects on the art scene here lead to the group that was working with Cultural Overlay District, within the Chamber of Commerce. Audrey, who’s been the sole organizer for the Capitol Hill Art Walk for the last two years, was there one day and I heard her talk about the art walk and how she was looking for additional support. I felt it was a perfect opportunity to make an impact in the arts and culture on the Hill in a tangible way.
Would you call it a reboot?
Audrey: We have been calling it a “relaunch,” but a reboot is okay too. I want to maintain the continuity of the art walk that has been happening since 2006 and not think of this as a completely different event. It is still the Capitol Hill Art Walk, it’s just so much bigger and better. Capitol Hill has a history of art walks coming and going, and that is not what is happening here.
Ellen: There’s a real feeling of “Why hasn’t this happened before?” It feels like a no-brainer. It’s just a matter of us getting the right tone and make sure we represent what we’re going for. We’re looking at a lot of territory. And a lot of different kinds of places. They don’t necessarily coordinate with each other very much. Volunteers are out bringing businesses in. One of the things I really want to make sure happens is that we have as many businesses and venues participating as possible. They’re not knocking down the doors yet but they will be.
What’s your dream for the new art walk?
June 2009 Bus Stop Dumb Eyes
Akira: First, I want the businesses on the Hill to sign up. It is a great opportunity for them to 1. promote themselves to the audience that matters most to them (local walk-in traffic), 2. show that they care about the community they are in. My hope for the Blitz launch is that the wider community will come out and engage with the local businesses and artists, and realize what we can have here: a walkable, vibrant and vital local culture with a thriving local economy.
Audrey: I dream that there is amazingly good weather! There are some great shows that are happening in June and I just know they are all going to be well attended. I dream that people will be milling about on the sidewalk, checking out their maps and bouncing from gallery, to coffee shop, to store and so on. There is so much art on the hill in tons of locations, and the Arts Walk is a great night to make it all about the art and really showcase it. I also dream of people coming from all around Seattle to check out Capitol Hill. It’s a night to celebrate and have a blast –if you go to only one show or attempt to see them all, it will be a night not to be missed! I also dream that if anyone does miss it, that they will hear all about it from friends and then kick themselves for missing out…but definitely show up for the July 9th event.
Ellen: The art walk right now is fun but you really kind of have to know about it. My hope is that it’s going to be like a big party. A lot of people walking around and a lot of good times. I’m really curious to see what it’s going to wind up being. It’s like when you get a bunch of really talented performers together and collaborate. It’s been a ton of work. There’s a lot of hidden organizing that goes into that. If you throw a good party at home, the guest might not know how long it took you to get ready.
The first Blitz Capitol Hill Arts Walk is Thursday June 11. The new Web site hasn’t launched yet but you can follow along on Facebook’s Blitz Page and Twitter with @blitzarts.
