CHS joked the other night about a Tweet we saw that was too artsy for us to fully comprehend. Turns out, the Tweeter is the owner of represents a new art gallery that is opening on the Hill tonight:

I wanted to follow-up to this tweet you posted recently and tell you a little more about "The Shogunate Revisited", opening tonight at pun(c)tuation on Pike Street. (The storefront that has been covered in newspapers for a few months and used to be Laced Up, next to the HoneyHole.)

 "The Shogunate Revisited", a show featuring new work from Seattle-based artists Mike Wagner and I AM, will be kicking-off with an opening reception from 6-10pm. You can read our press release below and there are pictures and flyers available on our Flickr page. (I can send you any of those as an attachment if you have problems opening or need a higher rez image.)

 This show is actually the first of three we have planned between now and January, including a tribute to Miles Davis coming soon, so I will be sure to pass that information along to you to share with the readers of CHS. Let me know if you have any questions and I hope you can join us tonight!

 Thanks,
Kizha Davidson @kydinseattle

Here's more from the Slog on the event and a slideshow from pun(c)tuation's flickr stream. Also, don't forget about this weekend's Expo 87 'micro-fest.'

The Anne Bonny and Cairo have teamed up to bring you a second year of Expo:  the micro fest of film and music  and art in the micro 'hood of Sleepy Hollow/Top Pot/Summit. Expo 87 is three nights and includes two film series, more than 20 bands, and one interactive art installation.  The film series on Thursday are free; $10 will get you an all-festival pass for all events on both Friday and Saturday.

Here's my not-to-be-missed list from the lineup:

Supervideografen : A series of short animated films co-curated by Sean Pecknold;  and Pacific Open - A shorts program comprised of miscellaneous musically driven films from around the Northwest, co-curated by Christian Hansen. Free! Thursday, Cairo 7 - 10pm.

CMYK : dance pop band with a fun and bright sound. Friday, Cairo 7pm.

Seattle Band Map : a cartographic study of musical incest. This graphic illustration/chart of who has played with whom in Seattle bands looks super interesting to anyone who has at least...

Artist ELITE, whose work was featured at Throwbacks NW this month, spotted at Featherston Gallery admiring the works of fellow artist Elizabeth Jameson (Photo: Lucas Anderson/Neighborlogs.com)

Observing "Post-Bellum" by Elizabeth Jameson at the Featherston Gallery (Photo: Lucas Anderson/Neighborlogs.com)

Guitarist Reji LeFleuer plays on the steps at Retail Therapy, adding sound to the paintings by featured artist Jenna Colby (Photo: Lucas Anderson/Neighborlogs.com)

Babeland's Plastic Porn (Photo: Lucas Anderson/Neighborlogs.com)

Listeners in Steampunk attire listen to Cherie Priest read her similarly themed Sci-Fi novel, "Boneshaker" at 15th Ave Coffee & Tea (Photo: Lucas Anderson/Neighborlogs.com)

Some highlights from this second Thursday's Blitz Capitol Hill Arts Walk.  Live music at some of the venues this time:  Katherine Hepburn's Voice  at Cupcake Royale (7 pm),(KHV broke up! no band for Cupcake Royale!), Reji Lefleur at Retail Therapy (5 pm) and Lushy at Fetherston Gallery (6 pm). Note that  Seattle Asian Art Museum provides free admission during Blitz (5 pm to 8 pm). A few samples of what you'll see this month and a map of all the venues, below.

Maria Toro at Retrofit

Marion Resur at Caffe Ladro

Elizabeth Jameson at Fetherston

As Justin reported, the art at the Sound Transit site was up and running tonight for a "dress rehearsal" for Saturday night's opening.   I went down and interviewed Dan Corson and got some footage of the installation. 

In the video Dan describes the current installation as an "improvisation" to get something up for the planned Halloween opening.  Dan also talks about his personal connection with Capitol Hill, and the ST light rail site in particular.

It looks pretty cool already so I'm looking forward to seeing it in it's final form. 

I went down to the Sound Transit site this afternoon to check on the Art Installation that was scheduled for today, but found nothing but an empty lot.  I spoke with the artist, Dan Corson, who said the installation has been postponed because the rods didn't show up as expected, and he doesn't think they'll come until Wednesday. 

Sound Transit art program manager Barbara Luecke says that while it's been a chaotic last couple of days trying to get this project organized, she's confident it'll be finished in time for it's planned formal opening on Halloween.  And they still need volunteers, so she's encouraging anyone who's interested to email her at barbara.luecke@soundtransit.org, with their availability.

For more info on the project, including a video of a similar project, check out Justin's original report.

My (sadly) former next door neighbor Mark is having a show. If it's >= 10% as good as it sounds, it will be stunning.

See you there.

Prescriptions for Awe and Wonder

October 23rd, 9pm - 1am

1506 11th Ave

[map]

Seattle, WA 98122

Suggested Dress

Incognito: Wigs & Shades

The new Graypants mural

The most important piece to all of this is: I am very excited about this show. This all started off as a launch party for my mural I just finished over at Graypants (you can read a post about it on their blog here), but has sort of meandered about, as ideas tend to do, and in my excitement to make others grin and click their tongue on the roof of their mouth like I do when I see new things, the show has expanded to include some other projects I've been working on.

These additional works include an updated digital video filter piece that uses pattern formation algorithms (original here), an updated/revamped peep show (original here), some concrete sculptures, a video short and some plaster animals....

crawl space - shadowy steps
Originally uploaded by chromatography

A note sent out by Summit Ave's Crawl Space Gallery says the Capitol Hill nonprofit is breaking up after its next show:

After six years of curating and producing exhibitions, talks and special programs, the individual artists who run Crawl Space Gallery have decided to disband in order to pursue independent interests. Crawl Space will therefore cease to exist following our final and most ambitious show to date, Stranger Circumstances, opening on November 7th, 2009.

Thank you for your support. We hope you will join us for one last celebration on November 7th at 6pm.

This 2008 Capitol Hill Times article profiles the gallery and notes the hiring of respected director Jennifer Campbell. This Stranger blurb from its 2008 Genius Awards nomination says the group formed in 2003: "Amazingly, the changing roster has been able to maintain this inconveniently L-shaped and out-of-the-way Capitol Hill gallery as a place where, if you miss the show, you'll regret it every time."

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Capitol Hill should have a sunny 2nd Thursday October art walk. Around 50 venues are now participating in the monthly walk including the Frye Art Museum for the first time. Sound Mental Health, by the way, will not be participating.

Download Map PDF

CHS, however, will be. We've signed on to help sponsor the event so you'll see the crow out and about Thursday night and many of our partners and advertisers throwing their doors open for the crowd. CHS advertiser HEALEO is out of crow buttons, however, so you'll need to drop by nearby Poco Wine Room to get yours.

You also might want to stop by CHS partner Office Nomads' 2nd birthday bash. They'll be serving up drinks and snacks to celebrate their second anniversary in business on Capitol Hill on Boylston just off Pine.

And/Or swing by 12th Ave's Retrofit Home for TackySmack vinyl wall art. They're promising champagne and DJs galore.

Here's a complete list of venues and what fun stuff they'll have on display Thursday night. If there's something on the list you want everybody else to know about, please leave a note in the comments.

Some highlights from October Blitz include:

"The Old, Weird America: Folk Themes in Contemporary Art" at the Frye Art Museum -- Cynthia Norton, "Dancing Squared, 2004"

October 8th - Whimsy Home Decor - Justin Hillgrove
Originally uploaded by blitzcapitolhill

October 8th - Gage Academy of Art
Originally uploaded by blitzcapitolhill

October 8th - Bauhaus - Movie Night
Originally uploaded by blitzcapitolhill

UPDATE:
Mystery solved. Kind of. CHS just got off the phone with Sound Mental Health's Gayle Johnson who shared an odd but happy ending for the mid-September painting rip-off.

Johnson said the work of art -- a colorful abstract original by Pacific Northwest artist William Cumming -- was found outside the clinic's E. Olive offices Monday morning, leaned next to the garbage. "Somebody couldn't figure out how to sell it or changed their mind," Johnson said. "Who else is going to be willing to take it?"

"It's hanging behind our front desk again," Johnson said.

This isn't the first time a Cumming work has been lost on Capitol Hill only to be found again. In 2008, a lost painting of his at Meany School was discovered hidden away in storage:

Long lost William Cumming masterpiece found at Meany Middle School
Artist will retouch painting, unveil artwork at May 15 Jaguar Arts Festival
Legendary Northwest artist William Cumming, 91, will return to Meany Middle School this month for the unveiling of his 4- by 8-foot oil masterpiece, "Song of the Open Road," which was recently discovered in a school storage room. The painting, commissioned by Meany PTA in May 1963, will be unveiled at Meany’s Jaguar Arts Festival on May 15. Cumming will retouch the painting before the unveiling.

You can read more about Cumming in this HistoryLink article that refers to him as the 'Willie Nelson of painting' and check out this Regina Hackett article for a good example of his work.

Johnson said Sound Mental Health will be taking extra precautions to make sure the painting doesn't tempt another would-be art thief including mounting the painting to the wall. CHS asked to photograph the painting but Sound Mental Health denied the request.

Original Report:
CHS has learned of a $50,000 art heist on Capitol Hill in September that remains unsolved weeks later.

The target: a painting hanging behind the front desk at E. Olive St. counseling services provider, Sound Mental Health.

According to a Seattle Police Department incident report, sometime during the night of Thursday, September 17th, somebody entered the front desk area, lifted the art walk from the wall and walked off with the $50,000 painting. The only evidence found at the scene: a black scrunchie found on the ground below where the painting was hanging.

There is not much information on the work of art that was taken other than the estimated value and its location when stolen. The name of the artist is redacted in the report. We are trying to learn more about the painting and the theft from Sound Mental Health.

According to the report, the administrative assistant was questioned and said he left the building at 5:15 PM Thursday night and locked the doors behind him. There were 'several' Sound Mental employees still in the building when he left, according to the report, and each had keys to the locked front desk area. A cleaning crew also worked in the building the night of the theft. Officers found no signs of forced entry.

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CHS has contacted SPD to find out if there have been any breaks in the case -- we're waiting to hear back.

When I first saw this poster, I had a couple of questions. Not about the Barista Jam to be held at Visions in SODO - a day of coffee workshops seems pretty straightforward to me.  But how exactly does one hold a Latte Art Smackdown?  And why does this one deserve capital letters?

"Victrola hosts latte art smackdowns on a regular basis - pour-offs", said Sarah Jane Hoppe, manager of the I-5 shores Victrola, "This Smackdown is a pre-qualifying round for Seattle baristas only for September's event at Coffee Fest, which is versus L.A." Sarah Jane explained that "like any self-respecting coffee establishment", only freepour latte art was allowed, and that the baristas would compete tournament style, with two baristas pouring at once and presenting their lattes at the same time to judges and the webcams. "This is also a practice run for September, when the judges won't be in Seattle", said Sarah Jane.  Judges will be looking for the symmetry, contrast, and definition in the latte art patterns, and I assume,...

We don't know his name and we don't know what his creation looks like but we know this guy received last night's $500 Arbitrary Art Grant. Under drizzly August skies, around 50 creative types circled up in the People's Parking Lot and waited for the grant's 'judge' (second photo in the set) to make its selection. Congratulations, to the most arbitrary artist on Capitol Hill!

Sadly, Marination Mobile was not able to open shop in the lot for the evening. They've got a lease but a combination of crowded parking around the lot and a high curb kept the food truck off the lot.

Arbitrary art grant in progress!
Originally uploaded by &y

More pics at the People's Parking Lot blog.

And more from the crowd:

The empty, gravel lot that has become a symbol of changing Capitol Hill and Hill activism will be home to two rather interesting developments that don't involve design reviews, setbacks, or floor area ratios:

First, the lot will host a temporary art gallery where one accidental artist will receive $500 for sharing a work of art:

They tore the heart of Capitol Hill out and replaced it with a parking lot. The great comedy of greed. But this Thursday we are going to create a new gallery on that block, lay down a hundred and fifty feet of white rope, define an entrance and call it home. It is our 2009 Arbitrary Art Grant for Art Dealing, and we invite you to strap on a painting, a photograph, some 2-D piece of art- around your neck like a big Flav necklace. Hell, put a price tag on it. And step on this white rope. With enough people, your bodies will become the walls, and for an hour, pedestrians can stroll into this temporary structure and view a selection of poorly curated work (one thing at a time, alright?) Artists-...

View from below of 'Together,' the artwork destined for Capitol Hill's light rail station when it opens in 2016.

Got two fighter jets you've been looking to get rid of? There's a new buyer on Capitol Hill and he's got the cash to make the deal. Sound Transit's finance committee approved $440,000 Thursday for the "purchase of material and fabrication of artwork" for the Capitol Hill light rail station, according to spokesperson Bruce Gray.

Motion M2009-64

Authorizing the chief executive officer to execute a contract amendment with Nonstop, Inc., to initiate the purchase of material and fabrication of artwork for the Link Capitol Hill Station in the amount of $440,000, with a 10% contingency of $44,000, totaling $484,000, for a new total authorized contract amount not to exceed $604,000.

The move gives artist Mike Ross's company Nonstop, Inc. the budget necessary to purchase . Ross modified his design and further abstracted the jets after an initial outcry received a great deal of attention.

Ross had said that he was having difficulty finding the jet parts he needed for his design last summer. But according to the attached report the Sound Transit finance committee reviewed prior to voting on the money, Ross has found the right jets: 

KEY FEATURES of PROPOSED ACTION

• Initiates fabrication from an approved design as part of a multi-phased contract for the “Together” sculptural artwork in the Capitol Hill light rail station within the University Link project.
• The artwork includes the use of two decommissioned military planes that are difficult to locate, and this amendment will allow the procurement of material that has been located.

Projections indicate that buying the material and fabricating the artwork now and then storing the completed work until installation will save funds over the extended duration of the project. Construction of the station is scheduled to be completed in 2015 and open for service in 2016.

As sexy as jet fighter art is, Sound Transit's light rail project on Capitol Hill has some much bigger issues to also be thinking about.

• Sound Transit launched its initial light rail link in the city.
• The tunnel contracts are being awarded. Traylor Frontier-Kemper was selected to excavate the University of Washington station and dig the tunnels between the UW site and Capitol Hill. The Capitol Hill to Downtown contract will be awarded in August according to the Sound Transit project site.
• The capping phases for the Capitol Hill station area along Broadway has begun where an empty 3 acres of asphalt will wait as the contractors prepare to begin construction. 
• Sound Transit is on the hook for litter and graffiti issues at the site until construction begins and the contractors take over. ST hotline to report issues: 888-298-2395
• In early 2010, the first phase of construction will include giant sound walls and round the clock work schedules.
• Meanwhile, a process to include community input in the Capitol Hill station's transit oriented development (TOD) continues. This one is also worthy of a much-needed CHS update. Coming soon.

Want to get the kiddies some entertainment that doesn't involve large blue jets? There's a new artist showing at Pine Street's Bluebottle Art Gallery:

Trish Grantham was born and raised in the Southwest. She moved to the Northwest in 1998 and started painting for the first time at 28. She has now shown all over the country, was exclusively represented by a New York Gallery, and Exhibited in Tokyo and Paris. Grantham has also been part of many National Campaigns including: Urban Outfitters, Target, Converse, Adidas, Brooks, Visa, and Starbucks. Trish Grantham continues to evolve and hone her painting skills, "Pale Blue Sky" Is yet another branch of her ever changing Creative World. Trish Grantham Lives and Paints in Portland Oregon with her chihuahua Pablo and her kitten Savannah Georgia.

After, swing by Snowmonkey's House of Monsters up the Hill on Pike.

And good luck passing through Bluebird without an ice cream cone.

Bluebottle is at 415 E. Pine. Snowmonkey's is at 1205 E. Pike.

Lots of art and a decent turn out at last night's art walk. Here are some photos from the evening.

Brad Biancardi's Greg Boudreau's work at the Grey Gallery & Lounge. (Photo: Lucas Anderson/Neighborlogs.com)

The Bluebird ice cream shop was a popular stop along the walk. (Photo: Lucas Anderson/Neighborlogs.com)

Art walkers gather outside of Throwbacks NW. (Photo: Lucas Anderson/Neighborlogs.com)

B-Bam's new door greeter. (Photo: Lucas Anderson/Neighborlogs.com)

Come check out the Capitol Hill arts walk tonight all over the neighborhood. Get a map and list of venues at http://blitzcapitolhill.com. A pre-walk gathering with information and entertainment starts at SCCC plaza @ 6pm. Also, stop by CHS sponsor Healeo to see work by photographer Holly Hadfield and pick up a free CHS crow button.

Here is a quick preview of two of the artists you will see tonight. Below, you'll find a complete roster of tonight's activities and a link to download an arts walk map.

Jess Level

For the past 10 years, Jess Level has been painting, learning and exploring what he calls the “social freak show” of Spanish culture. Trained in Spain, in the cities of Savannah and Caceres, Level describes his paintings as "the result of immersion in that weird and beautifully complicated land." Level’s paintings depict everything from a clown and the Last Supper to the arched windows of Spain.

Level lived in Capitol Hill on Thomas st, but recently moved to South Seattle. Ultimately, however, Level...

Inside the Volunteer Park water tower
Originally uploaded by cleverdame107

An exhibit panel valued at $9,000 has been stolen from the Volunteer Park water tower.

Parks employees discovered the theft Tuesday, June 23, according to a Seattle Police Department report. The panel was part of an interpretive exhibit about Seattle's Olmsted parks installed on the walls of the tower's upper level.

According to the SPD report, the parks employee said the panel was ripped from the brick wall of the tower sometime between Tuesday and Wednesday night, June 24th. There were no signs of forced entry reported at the scene meaning the thief or thieves likely removed the 3-foot by 4-foot metal panel while it was light out and the park was still busy with people. The tower is open to the public between the hours of 9 AM and 9 PM.

The investigating officer attempted to collect fingerprints at the tower but was unsuccessful. You can review the officer's report on the theft below:

Gorgeous weather and good participation from artists and businesses all over the Hill made Thursday night's re-launch of the Capitol Hill art walk a fun night to be out and about. Not a lot of 'art' in these pictures but a decent amount of good times. What did you think of the re-launched walk? Better? The same? Who cares, it was a lovely night?

On the Double jump rope squad

Organizer Ellen Forney organizes a giant

 Below, the Post-Apocalyptic Circus performs and Zack opens up shop at Porchlight. For more on Porchlight, here's a little something from captothehill.

Inside Vermillion. OK. One shot of art.

Grillin at Throwbacks NW

Some images courtesy Blitz Capitol Hill Arts Walk

Cairo's new show is a multi-sensory installation documenting a fictional community in 1934, Peg and Awl.  The multimedia installation includes drawings from Toby Leibowitz, installation by Max Liebowitz and sound by Sean Pecknold.

The show is an artistic interpretation of Peg and Awl, a fictional community of artists, carpenters, writers and adventurers in rural Oregon. The show's theme lives in the space of simple v complex, handcraft v machine-made, creative energy v conformity, local v global.

I chatted brieftly with artist/musician Jesse Brown on Thursday night while taking a quick snap of the storefront. Jesse  uses the back room space of Cairo for as his art studio. He mentioned Cairo, in addition to larger installations,  is also doing short, 6-day rotational shows of emerging artists. With short show turnarounds,  it's worth stopping in when passing by or checking the Cairo blog to see what's up any given week. Cairo...

Big week of events at Olive Way's Faire Gallery as they celebrate their third year in business on the Hill.

You can also keep track of the fun on the Faire Twitter account.

As familiar facades crumble and new construction brings about light rail systems and "modern" condo developments some things will never change in Capitol Hill. In a bit of an ode Capitol Hill's last "old school" art walk I would like to share the following photo.

Come on down to Pravda Studios (1406 10th Ave, Suite 200) tonight to check out some stunning work by local amateur photographers. The Seattle Flickr group is one of the largest and most active in the world, and its members are getting the chance to show off their work -- and transform their shots from electrons to atoms -- in this one-night show at Pravda.

Details:
6-9:30 p.m. Monday, May 4
Pravda Studios
1406 10th Ave., Suite 200

Seattle music legend Artis the Spoonman (Soundgarden song 'Spoonman') has just confirmed that he will headline a free public event tomorrow night in South Capitol Hill.  The event is a project release party for Remington Court, HyBrid architecture's newest building on Capitol Hill.  Seattle artists Sadie, Tim Brown, Jamie Potter, Ben Hirschkoff, and others will also be exhibiting their work at the event.  Free food and drinks will be provided for everyone.  Tomorrow night will definitely be an amazing time and a night to remember for the Capitol Hill neighborhood.  Hope to see you there!

Date: Friday, May 1st, 2009     5pm - midnight

Location: 1320 East Remington Court

South Capitol Hill District: 1 block South of 14th and Jefferson

There's pretty much just one use for the building on the southeastern corner of 11th and Pine: play host to wild postings and paste art. The "sad happy horny sad" bottle is a fave and longtime fixture on the building. It's been joined by "no guilt boy," pictured here in this post (click here for larger version). This young man captures the caphill ethos of sexual freedom. He also welcomes the fruits of summer with the sort of giddy abandon that only a sunstarved-cum-sundrunk Seattleite can truly appreciate.

Anybody know who the artist is?