The Princess and The Pea

What do Glacierdom and Riverdom have in common? The Leprechauns know! Get a new look at a classic story when the Missoula Children’s Theatre and more than 50 local students present THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA as part of the 2009 Shoreline Arts Festival. Two performances of this musical adaptation will be held on Saturday, June 27th and will be presented in the Shoreline Center Auditorium at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

For more information, call the Arts Council at 206-417-4645. This residency is sponsored by the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council.

Othello tonight at Shorecrest Performing Arts Center

Need a last-minute evening's entertainment tonight? You can still get tickets to Othello, performed by the Seattle Shakespeare Company at the Shorecrest Performing Arts Center. Showtime is 6 pm.

To make the deal sweeter, dessert is also being offered at no cost to playgoers!

To buy tickets to see Othello tonight, click here.
For more information about the Shorecrest PTSA, who are sponsoring the show, click here.

Public art in Shoreline -Results of latest poll

We recently hosted a highly unscientific poll here where we asked "What is your favorite public art in Shoreline?" Six options were given to choose from. The graph above represents the results of that poll. There were 17 respondents. Here's the full breakdown:

Those 2 horses on 175th by I-5
8 votes (47%)

"Kiss" sculpture at Ronald Bog
3 votes (17%)

"Contemplating the Arc" at Echo Lake
3 votes (17%)

The singing tires at the recycling center
2 votes (11%)

"Stone Man Family" at Richmond Beach Library
1 vote (5%)

The painted panels at City Hall
0 votes (0%)

Thanks to all who voted!

Link to more info about public art in Shoreline

Any ideas for a future Shoreline poll? Please post to the comments section. Thanks!

Living Wisdom School sponsoring Children’s Art Show March 9-20

A message from Chandi Holliman, Founder of the Living Wisdom School of Shoreline:

The Living Wisdom School of Shoreline is sponsoring a Children’s Art Show for the whole family and for Elementary art school educators. This is the fifth annual show for the school. Come meet the Artists!

The Living Wisdom School introduces many forms of creativity in its program as a means of stimulating artistic expression of concepts such as energy, light, and joy to which a child naturally responds, using the tools of color, line and texture to capture the manifest world.

New displays and presentations! “A walk in the world of the Living Wisdom School” This year our Staff Artist- in- Residence, Martia Denniston, is coordinating this very special event. You won’t want to miss this delightful presentation done for the very first time. If you are unable to attend the opening show , the art will be on display from March 9th - March 20th, 2009.

What: 5th Annual Living Wisdom School Children's Art Show
When: Monday, March 9, 2009 7:00 p.m. (opening gala)
Where: East West Bookshop in Seattle
Cost: Free

Link to Living Wisdom School

Holiday Shop & Nosh this Friday at Shoreline Center

From the Shoreline/Lake Forest Park Arts Council:

Holiday Shop`N Nosh!

Friday, December 5
Join us at the Gallery at Shoreline Center
12-7pm

Special Wine Reception from 5-7pm

'Tis the season for finding that perfect gift for friends, family members, or for yourself! We have a wonderful selection of pottery, textiles, original paintings, blown glass, photography, jewelry and distinctive home decorative items by Pacific Northwest Artists! Relax and shop while enjoying a bit of holiday cheer
at the Gallery at Shoreline Center.

The Gallery is located in the Shoreline Center, 18560 1st Ave NE in Shoreline.
Enter by the flagpole, turn right and we are halfway down the hall on the right.

Curious to know what you might find? We have so many artists selling their work in
The Gallery at Shoreline Center and most of it under $60!

New additions for mid 2008 and the Holiday Shop ‘N Nosh are:

Mona Fairbanks – Felted pins and fine art
Chirping Garden – Garden stakes and trellises
Omega Art – Fused glass
Carmen Mettler – Felted messenger dolls and mermaids
Rana Bayrakci – Jewelry
Dick Davenny – Dichroic glass
Marsha Lippert – Holiday themed miniature paintings
Tami Johnson – Ceramics
Pederson’s Garden Poundings – Matted work and cards
Cool Woods – Hand turned woodwork
Kendra Bowdin – Jewelry

Returning favorites:

Guy Michelson – Blown Glass
Julie Perrine – Ceramics
Krista Jefferson - Hand painted wood signs and mirrors
Kelly Blaylock - Copper and glass
Elaine Iodice - Glass
Stan Chraminski - Hand painted mirrors and fine art
Bright Hauser – Jewelry
Denny Sargent - Ceramics
Lynn McManus – Fused glass
Maria Meneses - Jewelry
Irene Dabanian – Blown Glass
Cats Eye Creations - Silver jewelry
Diana Henderson - Fine Silver Earrings
Nancy Charlton - Scanner art
Kaynor Arts - Chinese symbol hangings and paperweights
Stacy Frost - Blown glass earrings
Judy Reese - Polymer clay jewelry
Gary Georger - Ceramics
Eric Hall - Handmade lamps
Jeanette Alexander - Piano CD's
Nancy Skullerud – A little of everything
Katherine Holzknecht - Concrete cast leaves and glass
Richard Armstrong - Garden art
Krista Forsyth Fisher - Polymer boxes

and handmade cards by many local artists and photographers!

A great way to find a unique and affordable gift and support local arts in your community! Come by and take a look!

Shout-out for Shoreline Artists

If you're an artist in Shoreline and would like to participate in the North Seattle / Shoreline Open Studio Tour, contact Nancy at the email below. There will be a meeting at ArtHouse Mosaic Studio (621 NW Richmond Beach Road) in Shoreline on Wed. Nov. 5th.

You're invited to sit in on a meeting, meet other artists, and help shape the studio tour. Here's a note from Nancy:

The N. Seattle / Shoreline Open Studio Tour is for visual artists and artisans. Work will be juried, all mediums. Artists who live or have a studio north of 80th street or within the limits of the city of Shoreline can participate. We will be happy to pair up or group artists from outside the limits, with other artists who have exhibition room to share in their home or studio.

Artists will open their studios and/or part of their homes, to visitors for 2 days - Saturday and Sunday. At this point we are considering tying into the Strawberry Festival in the Shoreline area, economy permitting. The tour would happen on Saturday the 9th and and Sunday the 10th of May. The estimated cost to participate will be $50 per artist, to cover advertising, printing & web costs. The tour will be free to the public.

Interested artists can send their contact information to Nancy Cubbage via email at nan808@speakeasy.net

Independent filmmaker making documentary about local teens

Rick Stevenson, the award winning filmmaker of the Seattle film "Expiration Date" has launched a new project in a partnership with the Shoreline Historical Society. The project, known as The 5000 Days Project has been following today's teens as they grow up for what is going to be eight years in all. The goal of the film is to help show what its like to grow up in American right now.

Screenshot from The 5000 Days Project

Link to: See a clip of the video and learn more (click on "Mission 1")

Call to Artists: New Arts Council LogoDeadline October 31, 2008

From the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council website:

The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2009, seeks an original graphic design for a new logo to be used on all marketing and collateral materials, such as posters, newsletters, letterhead stationery, etc., and on a redesigned website to launch at the end of the year. The artwork must include “Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council” in a creative way that conveys the Arts Council’s brand and messaging. The selected artwork and artist will be profiled on the website and to the press, and a $250 cash prize will be awarded to the selected artist.

Please send your submission to:

Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council
Attn: Logo Design
18560 1st Ave. NE
Shoreline, WA 98155

Or via email to info@shorelinearts.net

Deadline for submissions is October 31, 2008

For more information please call the Arts Council office at 206-417-4645.

Link to: Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council

Colorful painted panels at City Hall construction site

I was checking out the construction site for Shoreline's new City Hall this morning when I discovered all these painted panels alongside the north side of the construction zone. They form part of a "fence" of sorts between the City Hall Annex and the work site. I didn't see any information about who painted them, but I'm guessing a youth group. I sent a note to the City's Customer Response Team for more info. When I get a response, I'll post that info here.

This is where they're preparing to build Shoreline's new City Hall. See that wooden fence in the background? The other side of it is covered with paintings.

This is what it looks like as you enter the walkway leading to City Hall Annex.

Here's a view from the other direction.

Detail: The Lorax and Boyz 2 Men

Detail: This is pretty but I don't know what it means. Do you?

Detail: Warhol inspired soup can. Sounds like a yummy flavor!

Detail: 3 panels

They even posted some poetry :)

Link to: All posts about public art in Shoreline

Link to: All posts about City Hall construction project

Gods of the Night:Aerial Dance Show July 25 & 26

The Cabiri Aerial Dance show, Gods of the Night, is happening this weekend (July 25 and 26, 2008) at the Shorecrest Performing Arts Center in Shoreline.

Here's some information sent to me by Amanda Frank, one of the Cabiri performers:

In a unique blend of European cirque and classic storytelling theater, this production invites audiences to steep themselves in tales both glorious and tragic drawn from ancient Mesopotamian mythology.

The production will be presented in three sections: Prayers to the Gods of Night, The Planets, and Descent of Inanna. Highlights of the show include nimble, powerful aerial dance depictions of celestial deities Shamash (Sun), Sin (Moon), Ishtar (Venus) and Nergal (Mars). The epic Descent of Inanna features a cast of 40 dancers and an appearance by Ereshkigal, Queen of the Sumerian Underworld. Each piece in the production will feature athletic, entrancing performances on a variety of aerial apparatus including trapeze, tissu, hoop, sling, and harness.

Sounds pretty cool!

Where: Shorecrest Performing Arts Center (15343 25th AVE NE., Shoreline)

When: July 25th at 8pm, July 26th at 2pm, July 26th at 8pm

Link to: Cabiri website

Link to: purchase tickets (at Brown Paper Tickets)

Photos from the Shoreline Arts Festival

Making fish prints

Fish prints!

Geoffrey Castle plays the electric violin

A roomful of forts made out of boxes! Sweet.

Rock stacking

at the Phillipine Fiesta

Link to: Shoreline Arts Council

Geoffrey Castle performs at Shoreline Arts Festival

I wanted to edit this video down to just the violin solo so that it would be a small enough file that I could upload it directly to the blog. For a variety of reasons involving undesireable things going on with my computer and camera, I was unable to do that. So I've posted the video to YouTube and am embedding it here. I would have preferred to upload it directly to the blog because I find the video quality to be better. I've noticed lately that my newer videos on YouTube don't look as good as my older ones. Not sure what that's all about (although I've noticed lately an option to "watch in high quality" beneath YouTube videos). Whatever.

Anyway, this is local musician Geoffrey Castle performing "Little Wing" at the Shoreline Arts Festival on Saturday, June28, 2008. The violin solo kicks in at about 1:40. Enjoy!

Link to: this same video on YouTube

Link to: Geoffrey playing a Beatles medley (also at Shoreline Arts Festival 2008)

Link to: Geoffrey Castle's website

Shoreline Arts Festival: June 28 & 29, 2008

Festival Poster Art: "Guardians" by Barbara Twaddell

Shoreline Arts Festival
"Green: Art and the Environment"

Saturday and Sunday
June 28, 10-8 pm & June 29, 10-5 pm

Shoreline Center: 18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline

From the Shoreline Arts website:

"With two stages of music and dance, a Film Festival, Juried Art, Sculpture, Photography and Poetry Shows, hands-on art activities, artisan marketplace and food there is something for the whole family."

Among the performances: Inochi Taiko Drums, violinist Geoffrey Castle, Jugglemania, Total Experience Gospel Choir, folk musician Baby Gramps. And many many more. Click the link below for the full entertainment schedule.


Among many activities, there will be a "Children’s Hands-on Art Arena", a Collage Making Workshop, a used book sale, rock stacking, and a recycled art sale. (again, much more - click the link below)

Link to: Shoreline Arts Festival information

Link to: Photos from the Shoreline Arts Festival 2008

Link to: Music performance from the Shoreline Arts Festival 2008

New public art coming to Echo Lake park

I noticed this a couple of days ago at Echo Lake park.
"What is that?" I wondered.

Perhaps a giant potsticker?


Here's a view from the other side.

Nope, not a giant potsticker after all.
By golly, it's art!



And a close up of the artist's concept.

I sent a note to Ros Bird with the City of Shoreline to see if he she could give me any further information about the project. Here's a slightly edited version of his her response:


Stuart Nakamura is the artist on this project having been selected through an open call and jury process about a year ago. Funding for the $20,000 commission is through the City of Shoreline’s 1% for Art Program and a City of Shoreline Neighborhood Mini-Grant to the Echo Lake Neighborhood Association. The installation will include seating as a place to reflect, read, chat with friends and view a bit of the lake, and will be visible from the trail as well as other parts of the park. It will be bermed in the back and have a couple of small lights embedded for nighttime security as well as ambience. Other materials are concrete, granite and steel. If the weather cooperates we expect the artwork to be completed in July.


Link to: More info about Stuart Nakamura


Link to: Another page about Nakamura, including photos of some of his other work.

Singer/songwriter Shawn Mullins, March 22

An Evening with Shawn Mullins

Sat, March 22, 7:30 pm - SOLD OUT

Second Show Added 10:00 pm

All Seats $22

For more info and link to purchase tickets go here.

"The World Around" art exhibit in Shoreline

by Gary Georger

The World Around

Exhibit: March 10 – April 28, 2008

Open House: Thursday, March 13, 5-7 pm

The Gallery at the Shoreline Center presents The World Around March 10 – April 28, 2008. This exhibit illustrates the beauty of the natural world and the enjoyment we receive from it.

The artists are Gary Georger (pottery), Marsha Lippert (pastels), Del Lusk (photography), Maylee Noah (photography).

More info at the Shoreline Arts website.

"Shirley Valentine" at New Space Theater

Shirley Valentine is a one-woman show about a bored housewife who escapes her mundane life with a trip to Greece. Directed by Steve Cooper. Starring Heidi Jean Weinrich.

When: March 7 - March 29 (Thurs-Sat, 8 p.m.)
Tickets: $15 (Thursdays are "pay-what-you-can")
Phone: 206-650-9448

New Space Theater is located at 17517 15th Ave. N.E., Shoreline

Purchase tickets online here.

Info about Shirley Valentine at wikipedia.