Inside
In 1979, King County Arts Commission's visual arts coordinator, Mickey Gustin, suggested a revolutionary idea to Arts Commissioner Larry Metcalf. An arts commission should show art. She convinced Larry to join her on a Saturday afternoon to cobble together a "gallery" in the Arts Commission offices, then on the third floor of the King County Administration Building. They bought foam core and backing materials, covered them in linen and hung them in the front and top of filing cabinets that hadn't been opened in years. A gallery was born. The first exhibit was a one-person show by d'Elaine Johnson.
That began a tradition that continues today. Through many transformations and moves from the Admin Building to the Alaska Building to Smith Tower and now the Tashiro-Kaplan Building, King County has sustained this commitment to the individual artist, maintaining a gallery program providing artists not represented by commercial galleries opportunities for one-person shows.
Mickey Gustin Hardman died this week at the age of 74.
She was a fierce advocate for artists who played a major role in the Seattle arts community from the mid-1970's through the 1980's. Before her tenure with the King County Arts Commission, Mickey was assistant director of Allied Arts of Seattle and then director of the Factory of Visual Art in the Good Shepherd Center.
Mickey was a leader in the development of the legislation that secured a portion of King County lodging taxes for the arts in our county, a legacy that continues to pay dividends today. According to artist Jack Mackie, who worked with Mickey in Seattle and later in Dallas, King County's public art took on a "grander scale" under Mickey's guidance. He credits her with the commissioning and installation of major works by Jacob Lawrence and Michael Spafford at the Kingdome. Most recently, Mickey was the director of the Public Art Program for the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency, a position she held for almost 20 years.
Mickey's life reminds us that the role of the arts administrator, the passionate advocate for the arts, the tireless and creative cultural worker is as significant and important as the work of the artist. Mickey made things happen because she believed in them. Yes, we need artists, and patrons, and funders, and audiences; they are at the visible core of a vibrant arts community. But behind the scenes are people like Mickey, who one day had an idea that an arts commission should show art, and made a gallery out of $40 in materials.
Thank you, Mickey.
Jim Kelly
Executive Director
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My Point of View provides a forum for ongoing culture-related dialogue. Each month, news4culture will feature the words of a guest writer, commenting on an issue related to arts, heritage, preservation and/or public art. It might be an opinion related to a current news story; maybe it's a rant, a rave, or a random thought about culture. Whatever it is, you write it and we'll print it.
Recently an article by Danny Westneat appeared in the Seattle Times, apparently blaming a bench for attracting the illegal and base activities that occur around it. The article dubs the work the "most hated piece of public art" and laments the fact that as a part of the city's public art collection, it can't be removed as the neighbors have requested. If only the city would remove the bench it would ease the problems of drugs, drinking, prostitution, brawling, and unauthorized deposits of bodily wastes, is the thinking of the neighborhood.
The connection between destructive behaviors and public art is brought up in every town with a statue on the courthouse lawn. What if public art attracts litter or loiterers? Who will take care of potential vandalism is a concern in all public art planning meetings.
Although fears are often voiced, communities do experience crime reduction in areas that celebrate art and appear well cared for. Mural programs have been implemented in cities such as Philadelphia and Washington DC as a means to counter graffiti. But there are more unusual connections between public art and crime.
Take for example the artform of 'reverse graffiti'. This practice involves selectively cleaning areas of dirty walls, leaving behind negative space images or words the color of the wall beneath. It is not permanent, or destructive, but it is still seen as a crime. One of the original reverse graffiti artists, Moose, works primarily in England both for commission and for fun. He was charged under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act and ordered to stop. In another instance, Alexandre Orion of Sao Paulo, Brazil created a reverse graffiti mural of skulls in the Max Feffer traffic tunnel. While the authorities couldn't come up with official charges, his work was destroyed by the fire department hosing down the walls. They subsequently cleaned all the other tunnels in town, to deter the artists.
At the San Francisco Public Library, vandalism sparked a community public art project. Many of the books in the collection relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities had been defaced and taken out of circulation. In response, artists were invited to create works of art utilizing pages from the books. Examples of the artworks include a reliquary, sculptural paper cuts, and paper clothes hanging in a miniature room. The art was on display at the library, and has since started touring selected cities.
If public art is able to spark serious discussions regarding deeper issues in our society, then it fulfills part of its role in our communities. The Belltown bench is not the cause of growing social inequities, drug abuse, and street crime plaguing Belltown and other neighborhoods in Seattle, but the debate over its removal certainly has focused attention on those issues.
The Seattle Arts Commission is being asked to remove the bench to curb the behaviors. What do you think?
Willow Fox
September 2007
www.cornish.edu/bfa2007
image: © Willow Fox, courtesy 4Culture
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Want to tell the world what you really think? Submit your words to news4culture for consideration by emailing us at info@4Culture.org. Please limit submissions to 500 words or less. One guest writer will be selected for each monthly newsletter issue.
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September 22, 2007, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
www.king.wsu.edu/foodandfarms/HarvestCelebration.html
Presented by WSU King County Extension in partnership with 4Culture, the 9th Annual Harvest Celebration Farm Tour provides an opportunity for citizens of King County to experience the vitality of local agriculture, to learn the importance of supporting farmers, and to realize the value and joy of eating locally grown food. Take advantage of this chance to meet farmers at south and east King County farms, taste produce samples, watch cooking demonstrations by local chefs, and walk the fields to pick your own vegetables, flowers and pumpkins.
View last year’s highlights online at 4CTV.
image: © Graphic courtesy of WSU King County Extension
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deadline November 19, 2007
www.4culture.org/heritage/funding
The Heritage Cultural Facilities program funds the purchase, design, construction, and remodeling of heritage facilities, and the purchase of equipment intended to be used for at least 10 years. King County-based cultural organizations and public agencies that provide heritage programs may apply for funding. An organization must demonstrate that it provides significant programmatic activities focused on the identification, collection, evaluation, preservation, restoration, exhibition, and/or interpretation of King County heritage resources. In 2006, $270,000 supported 18 heritage facility and equipment projects with awards ranging from $2,000 to $35,000.
image: © Iron Goat Trail Interpretive Site on Highway 2 at Scenic, WA, courtesy 4Culture
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deadline October 1, 2007
www.4culture.org/employment.htm
4Culture is looking for an exceptional individual to join our award-winning public art team. The position, Public Art Project Manager Level 1, is a great opportunity for someone with outstanding organizational and communication skills and some project management experience, to gain career skills with one of the most respected public art programs in the country. The primary job of the Public Art Project Manager Level 1 is management and implementation of all stages of public art projects including: calls for artists and technical assistance, artist selection process, budget development, construction document and artistic proposal development, preparation of outreach and education materials, public dedications and community review meetings, and contract administration. Full position description and application instructions are available online.
Also open is a new position on the 4Culture web team as Web Production Assistant. This position will assist in the day-to-day updates for the 4Culture website. Overall tasks include production, maintenance, and adherence to design protocols in
collaboration with the 4Culture Web Manager and key staff to meet the goals of 4Culture's diverse program areas. This includes hand-coding XHTML Transitional, CSS, and Adobe CS production skills to support an established website structure. This part-time position is a maximum of 16 hours per week; full position description and application instructions are available online.
Questions may be directed to Heather Dwyer at 206 296.8676.
image: © 4Culture offices, unidentified found object, courtesy 4Culture
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deadline October 19, 2007
www.4culture.org/publicart/calls
4Culture is seeking to acquire works on paper that use color (prints, photographs, drawings, paintings, etc.) for the King County Public Art Collection. These works will be on display throughout the public spaces of King County's facilities. Artists who would like their work considered for purchase must submit images of existing available artwork for the panel's review.
For over a quarter of a century, King County has been collecting outstanding works of art for display in public buildings, hospitals and health centers, gathering places and parks – making art part of the everyday experience for county residents and visitors. The Collection seeks to enhance and enrich the County's physical environment, celebrate the multi-cultural and diverse nature of its communities, and to contribute a sense of ownership and pride in the public facilities. From studio art jewelry to traditional paintings to land-based earthworks, the Collection is a civic resource rich in expression and art forms. Over 1,500 works by artists from the United States and Canada are displayed throughout the 2,200 square miles of King County.
image: © Claude Zervas, Flashlight 1, 2003, detail, Archival inkjet, 24" x 48", King County Public Art Collection
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www.sitespecificarts.org
Intiman Theatre takes an abridged version of its production of Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird on the road in October, as part of it's Front Porch Theater program and 4Culture's SITE-SPECIFIC/2007 King County Performance Network. Randomly selected audience members serve as cast members alongside seasoned Intiman actors in these mobile readings, scheduled to take place at King County Library System branches in Bellevue (Oct 1), Federal Way (Oct 4), Burien (Oct 6), Shoreline (Oct 9) and Kirkland (Oct 15). Several of the readings directly coincide with national Banned Books Week (September 29–October 6), in recognition of To Kill a Mockingbird's ranking as one of the 100 most challenged books in the country. For specific details and a complete schedule of Intiman's happenings, visit www.intiman.org.
SITE-SPECIFIC takes art out of the theaters, museums and galleries, and integrates it into daily life with art happenings—art performances, installations or events created in direct response to their locales.
image: © To Kill a Mockingbird, graphic courtesy of Intiman Theatre, by Jeff Kleinsmith and Dustin Summers
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revised deadline December 10, 2007
application available online October 10, 2007
arts - www.4culture.org/arts/sustained
heritage - www.4culture.org/heritage/funding/sustained
Sustained Support provides annual funding to arts and heritage organizations, through a 2-year program intended to provide predictable levels of financial support. Organizations are funded for two calendar years, with allocations made annually. Currently, more than 200 arts and heritage organizations are supported through the program. Applications and guidelines for the 2008-2009 program will be available online beginning October 10, 2007. Please note: the December 10th application deadline replaces an earlier October 15th application deadline.
image: © Courtesy of 5th Avenue Theatre, company, photo by Chris Bennion, 2006
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reception October 4, 2007, 6 to 8 p.m.
exhibition October 4 to 26, 2007
www.4culture.org/publicart/gallery
Gallery4Culture is pleased to present new sculpture and collage by Seattle artist Ben Hirschkoff.
Using surplus industrial building materials, this work portrays landscapes with fragmented, and often absurd, references to nature and industry. The cloud motif, a representation of the chaos of nature, is exploited as a symbolic archetype. Frequently incorporating flat forms suggestive of theatrical scenery, and the application of electronic and mechanical components to produce real or implied automation, Hirschkoff strives to present "insight into the nature of perception and expediency." The hardware shop quality of the found material is emphasized to contrast between its actual use and the inferred symbolic imagery.
image: © Ben Hirschkoff, Partial Cloud, 2007, detail
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Tuesday to Thursday, October 9 to 11, 2007
Johnson Pit #30, 216th and 40th Place S, SeaTac
www.4culture.org/publicart
The blackberry bramble-eating goats are scheduled for a return visit to Johnson Pit #30, an earthwork by artist Robert Morris. Vashon Island goat rancher Tammy Dunakin and her herd of 60 goats will be on-site for three days, as the goats graze blackberry bramble and Scotch broom that has begun covering Morris' work.
Johnson Pit #30 was created in 1979 in conjunction with the symposium, Earthworks: Land Reclamation as Sculpture, an effort to create new tools to rehabilitate land abused by technology and provide artists with design opportunities for surplus King County property in gravel pits, surface mines and landfill sites. Morris' earthwork, created on a 3.7-acre sand and gravel pit site abandoned in the 1940s, was originally planted with rye grass, with minimal maintenance required. Periodically, landscaping crews have cut back and removed the volunteer growth, but the blackberries have proven to be a persistent challenge.
This year, in a new approach, bi-annual visits to the earthwork have been scheduled, with the goats serving as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly maintenance effort. And they're pretty cute, too.
image: © Goats at Johnson Pit #30, photo by Spike Mafford, 2007, detail
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www.poetryonbuses.org
Phi Long Nguyen dreams of a green dog. A demanding green dog. Nguyen's dream, and 54 others, will soon be riding the buses throughout King County as part of the 2007 Poetry on Buses Dreams collection, presenting poetry from our community.
Fifty-five poems were selected from 3,000 submissions; these will be printed on placards and hung inside buses right over the seats. This popular program, produced by 4Culture in partnership with King County's Department of Transportation, first launched in 1992 and has since become a national model for collaborations between transportation and art.
The complete list of selected poets is available online now; the poems themselves will be installed on selected Metro bus routes over the next month. Also, save the date for the Poetry on Buses Launch Party "Poetry in Motion", a free community event presented by 4Culture and Seattle Theatre Group as part of the MOORE 100 Centennial Celebration. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, November 7th at 7:30 p.m., and will feature this year's Poetry on Buses poets reading their poems.
image: © Poetry on Buses, design by YaM Brand
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October 1 - 7, 2007
Monday-Saturday at 5:30pm; Sunday at noon
All City Coffee, Pioneer Sqaure
125 Prefontaine Pl S, Seattle
www.365seattle.com
365 Days/365 Plays, a year-long cycle of short plays written by acclaimed playwright Suzan-Lori Parks, is an unprecedented national theater collaboration taking place concurrently in communities all over the country, with one play presented each day over the course of a year. 4Culture is one of 51 King County arts organizations, individuals and community agencies taking part in 365 Seattle.
4Culture will present one short play a day for seven days during the first week of October. Presented in partnership with the Tashiro Kaplan building and All City Coffee, performances will take place at All City Coffee's Pioneer Square location. Co-directors for these seven installments (week #47 of the total 52) are Bret Fetzer, Tikka Sears, Susan Robb and Charlie Rathbun. A marathon version of the month's plays will be presented at Town Hall on October 8th at 7pm. Admission is free to all 365 plays.
image: © courtesy 365 Seattle
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www.kingcounty.gov
King County government has a new website and web address! Previously www.metrokc.gov, King County can now be found online at www.kingcounty.gov. This also affects email addresses for King County staff, which will change to reflect the new domain name. As of October 3, 2007, King County staff emails will follow the format of firstname.lastname@kingcounty.gov. (Please note that 4Culture email addresses should all be formatted as firstname.lastname@4culture.org. If you get a returned message after October 3rd, please confirm that you're using the direct 4Culture address, and not the outdated metrokc.gov address.)
image: © courtesy King County
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Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 6 to 9 p.m.
Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW, Seattle
Emerging Arts Leaders
The 2006/2007 Emerging Arts Leaders Creative Conversations series culminates with "Taking Stock: Connecting the Dots", where the series' steering committee will present findings from the year of conversations: New Administration and Fund Development Models, Advocacy in a Changing Market, and Creative/Adaptive Space and Facility Models.
All of the conversations, along with candid interviews with featured speakers and participants, were recorded by the documentary team Nonfiction Media, in a film which will be debuted at the event. A short preview of the film is available online.
The conversation is connected to the Emerging Arts Leaders Network coordinated by Americans for the Arts. Visit the Creative Conversations Blog and MySpace for more information.
image: © Americans for the Arts, Emerging Arts Leaders
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Outside
4Culture Public Art Calls List
subscribe - www.4culture.org/publicart/calls
Public Art 4Culture compiles a list of current public art opportunities available through Public Art 4Culture and other agencies across the country. The Public Art Calls List provides brief project descriptions, deadlines, and how to receive more information about each opportunity -- bimonthly, free of charge.
Degenerate Art Ensemble
Call for Musicians
www.degenerateartensemble.com
Degenerate Art Ensemble, a hyper-experimental music and dance performance company, seeks musicians for its fall season. Must be available to travel November 26 through December 2, 2007.
PUNCH + SOIL
International Juried Exhibition
deadline October 15, 2007
www.punchgallery.org
PUNCH Gallery and SOIL present an international juried exhibition taking place in December 2007. Artists from any country may submit work in any medium. There is no limit to the number of entries. In addition to traditional 2-D and 3-D works, artists are encouraged to submit work in new media, video, sound, or installation. $15 entry fee, cash awards determined by number of entries and distributed at juror's discretion.
City of Seattle Mayor's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs
City Neighborhood Arts Funding
deadline October 29, 2007
www.seattle.gov/arts
The City of Seattle Mayor's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, offers funding for neighborhood arts councils and community arts organizations that produce festivals and events taking place throughout the city.
Kirkland Arts Center
2009 Gallery Curators
deadline November 14, 2007
www.kirklandartscenter.org
Kirkland Arts Center, housing the only non-profit art gallery on the Eastside, is seeking curators for its 2009 gallery schedule. More information available by calling 425 822.7161, ext. 102.
Seattle International Film Festival
2008 Call for Entries
deadline (earlybird) December 1, 2007
www.seattlefilm.org
The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) is seeking features, documentaries, short films, and animation for the 34th annual festival, to be held May-June 2008. With over 550 screenings of 270 features and 140 shorts in 25 days, SIFF is the largest film festival in the United States. Earlybird entry fee of $25 to $50 (waived if 50% or more shot in Washington), $23,000 in cash awards, plus goods and services awards. More information and entry form available online, contact entries@seattlefilm.org with questions.
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4Culture
Public Art Project Manager Level 1
deadline October 1, 2007
www.4Culture.org
Full-time. Salary $50-$64K, DOE. Please see complete job description online.
4Culture
Web Designer
deadline October 1, 2007
www.4Culture.org
Part-time. Salary $21/hr. Please see complete job description online.
The Shunpike
Development Director
deadline September 28, 2007
www.theshunpike.org
Full-time. Salary $32-$36K. Please see complete job description online.
Edmonds Center for the Arts
Marketing Manager
deadline September 28, 2007
www.edmondscenterforthearts.org
Full-time. Salary $4,000 to $4,300/month. Please see complete job description online.
The Vera Project
Program Director
deadline October 2, 2007
www.theveraproject.org
Salary doe. Please see complete job description online.
Arts and Visually Impaired Audiences
Audio Describers
open until filled
www.artsvia.org
Auditions by appointment. Paid by show for approximately 25 shows per year. Please see complete job description online.
Artist Trust
Director of Institutional Giving
open until filled
www.artisttrust.org
Full-time. Salary $38-$42K. Please see complete job description online.
Intiman Theatre
Ticket Office Manager
open until filled
www.intiman.org
Flexible schedule including evenings and weekends. Please see complete job description online.
Seattle Opera
Director of Development
open until filled
www.seattleopera.org
Full time. Salary $100-130K. Please see complete job description online.
Seattle Symphony
Marketing Manager/Subscriptions
open until filled
www.seattlesymphony.org
Full-time. Salary doe. Please see complete job description online.
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National Arts Strategies
The Strategy Seminar
Registration deadline September 27, 2007
Seminar October 25-27, 2007
www.artstrategies.org
You compete for time and dollars, and face great pressure to adapt to changes in funding and audience participation. To succeed you need management tools that can help you identify and strengthen the factors that make your organization uniquely valuable, allocate your resources appropriately, and understand the effects of your environment. National Arts Strategies' Strategy seminar will do just that. Join your colleagues from across the country and work with top business school faculty in an invigorating learning experience designed especially for arts and culture leaders. The cost $225-$350 is per person (based on your team size). Travel support is available.
Federal Way Symphony
Season Premiere
October 6, 2007, 7:30 p.m.
October 7, 2007, 2 p.m.
St. Luke's Church, 515 S 312th Street, Federal Way
www.federalwaysymhpony.org
First concert in this year's season. The theme for the 2007-2008 season is "Around the Sound... Around the World... Around the City...", and the symphony will welcome artists from all over the world, from countries including Russia, the UK, China, and the United States.
Arts Northwest
2007 Booking Conference
October 8 to 11, 2007
Tacoma Convention Center
1500 Broadway, Tacoma
www.artsnw.org
Arts Northwest's annual meeting, the Northwest Booking Conference, will take place in Tacoma, WA. The conference combines professional development and skills training with artists' showcases and booking opportunities.
Theatre Puget Sound
Live Theatre Week
October 15 to 21, 2007
402 9th Avenue N, Seattle
www.seattleperforms.com
Learn about and connect with local theaters at over 30 special events and 50 Free Night of Theater performances, and share the magic and imagination of live theatre with your entire family during the first annual Target Family Day on Saturday, October 20th. However you choose to participate, Live Theatre Week is the perfect opportunity to connect with new people, share your stories, and strengthen your community! Information and a schedule of events available online.
ArtsEd Washington
National Teacher of the Year Event
October 18th, 2007, 6 to 8 p.m.
Frye Art Museum, 704 Terry Avenue, Seattle
www.artsedwashington.org
Join ArtsEd Washington for an evening with Andrea Peterson, recently named National Teacher of the Year. A Granite Falls music educator for over ten years, Andrea will talk about the role the arts play in a 21st century education. Andrea's keynote presentation will be followed by some tips on advocating for arts education in your community. Reservations required, tickets are $25 or free for ArtsEd members.
Tashiro Kaplan Artist Lofts Open House
October 20, 2007, from 5 to 11 p.m.
115 Prefontaine Place S, Seattle
www.tashirokaplan.com
Artist loft residences in the Tashiro Kaplan building will be open to the public during this 4th annual Open House. Special events in the Vandenbrink Community Room include an art auction of works by residents and Seattle area artists, from 5 - 8 p.m., followed by performances from 8 - 11 p.m. Several Tashiro Kaplan galleries and work-only studios will also be open late as well.
Cultural & Heritage Tourism Alliance
9th Annual Cultural & Heritage Tourism Alliance Conference
Registration deadline November 1, 2007
Conference Wednesday, November 28 to Saturday, December 1, 2007
Grand Hyatt, 721 Pine Street, Seattle
www.chtalliance.com
The annual Cultural & Heritage Tourism Alliance Conference will be held in Seattle for the first time later this year. Members of arts and culture organizations, heritage groups, and travel professionals are invited to join leading cultural tourism practitioners from across North America to learn about new research, trends, and opportunities in this growing field. Participants will take home strategies for creating positive economic and social impacts in their communities through successful cultural tourism programs. The conference will emphasize hands-on learning in workshops, excursions and events.
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Craigslist Foundation
Toolkit for the Social Sector
www.craigslistfoundation.org
Craigslist Foundation has collaborated with eBay to create the Toolkit for the Social Sector, a guide to using free and low-cost eBay services, including eBay auctions, PayPal, and Skype, for improved not-for-profit operations. The toolkit shows how a not-for-profit can receive a donated percentage of eBay auction proceeds, how to incorporate PayPal into fundraising, and how to use Skype to improve communications.
4Culture Heritage Advisor
subscribe - heritageadvisor@4Culture.org
www.4culture.org/heritage/advisor
Heritage Advisor is the voice of the Heritage 4Culture Program of 4Culture and is produced as a technical assistance service to the heritage community of King County. Priority of coverage includes the program's own activities and other information that may be of interest to the program's funding partners and community. Deadline for inclusion is 10 days before the end of the calendar month. Heritage Advisor is produced monthly, except July and December. Listing or coverage in Heritage Advisor does not imply endorsement by the Program.
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to subscribe - www.4culture.org
If you wish to be removed from the list, send an email to info@4culture.org.
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top image: © Goats at Johnson Pit #30, photo by Spike Mafford, 2007
