Our friends at White Center for the Arts recently sent out a letter seeking donations and volunteers, with a specific goal of raising around $28,000 to help procure a gallery space on the Dub-C’s main drag.

WCFTA is close to getting the space, but needs more money. They’re also looking for arts/business-minded people to sit on their Board of Directors.

Read the letter for full details, including how you can help:

Hello friends and supporters of having a community gallery in White Center,

White Center for the Arts must make a decision this weekend as to whether or not to continue pursuing the very fabulous space at 9640A 16th Ave SW for DREAM Community Gallery. We have the deposit money, and some grant money coming. However, it is not enough to responsibly continue with the project at this time without having $28,000.00 more. The landlord is understandably tired of waiting, and wants to move on. We have seen a vision of the future, and this space is what is needed, and desired, by many of the artists in the area.

DREAM: Community Gallery has a solid business plan. We have a great person, Lance McIntosh, who is managing the project, and who has crunched the numbers. We have a solid team of volunteers who will help with the build-out, and plenty of artists who are ready to exhibit, and performers ready to bring their art to you. We will be providing a resource library, a computer that is free to use, free wi-fi, and art materials for those who want to use them while they are at the gallery. In the gallery, as a way of avoiding having to apply for the endless parade of grants, we will have a small coffee bar. There will be plenty of comfy seating, and snacks. This space will be the central point from which White Center for the Arts conducts it’s arts programming.

We are a community organization. We are reaching out right now to the community for a show of support. Please support this beautiful project with a tax-deductible donation of any size.

We are also looking for arts/business-minded people to sit on the Board of Directors. We need a solid infrastructure directed by people from the community.

WCFTA is here with a vision of healthy community, and a goal of being a part of a healthy White Center. We are partnering with other organizations in the area to help realize this vision. Will you be a part of this?

If you have any questions, want to volunteer ( a list of opportunities is ready to be put up on the site), and/or want to donate, please contact me:

- Shelli Park
crimsonpark@whitecenterforthearts.org

Thank you so much for your support! ART TO THE PEOPLE!!!!

Our friends at White Center for the Arts are holding a very unique “Python-A-Thon” fundraiser this Sunday, March 7th, from Noon – 8pm at Big Al Brewing (in White Center), where episodes of the classic “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” TV show will be shown non-stop.

Participants are encouraged to bring potluck food items, dress in costume (lumberjack anyone?), bring penguins to put on the telly, and walk like you’re in the Ministry of Silly Walks, all while donating to a worthy local arts association.

Here are the details:

WHAT: “Python-A-Thon” viewing party of classic Monty Python TV episodes to help raise funds for White Center for the Arts.

WHEN: Sunday, March 7th from Noon – 8pm.

WHERE: Big Al Brewing, located at 9832 14th Ave SW; (206) 453-4487 (website here)

INFO: From a poster:

Big Al Brewing Presents Monty Python Video Festival

“Continuing Education”

Earn your letters in Pythonology

Finding it hard to get promoted even though you have a MM- Master of Monty?

Get your Doctor of Pythonology (DP), and silly walk your way to the top!

DP courses in:

• The Arts
  • -Why lumberjacks sing
• Optical Sciences
  • -How not to be seen
• Aeronautics
  • -What makes sheep fly
• Military History
  • -German humor and the demise of the Wehrmacht
• Veterinary Sciences
  • – Learn to determine the difference between “Dead” and “Resting”

And much much more!

If you’re silly enough, you too could become a fully accredited Doctor of Pythonology, capable of answering such puzzling questions as…

• “Why is there a penguin on the telly”?
• “If she’s a go’er why is she with him”?
• And, “Did the Vikings invent spam”?

Classes begin on Sunday, March 7th

First class of the day starts at 12 noon

Location: Go to www.bigalbrewing.com for directions

Extra credit will be given for bringing pot luck and coming to class as your favorite Monty Python character.

To get you in the mood, here’s the classic “Ministry of Silly Walks” sketch:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Our friend Shelli Park of White Center for the Arts tells us that their one-year anniversary is fast approaching, and they’ll be celebrating it at their Third Saturday Art walk on Saturday, Feb. 20th, from 6pm to 9pm in various businesses in White Center.

The photo at left was shot by Brian Barr, whose work will be on display at WCFTA’s new community gallery, DREAM.

Here are the details:

WHAT: WCFTA monthly Art Walk, celebrating their one-year anniversary.

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 20th, from 6pm to 9pm.

WHERE/FEATURING:

• Salvadorean Bakery: Chuck Northcutt – photography on canvas
• Café Rozella: Carole Ellis – photography
• Triangle Tavern: Chase Evans – Spoken Word @ 6:15 DJ sets @ 7:00
• Full Tilt Ice Cream: Julie Luke – Acrylic on Canvas
• Proletariat Pizza: Baso – photography
• Dzul Tattoo: Urban and Tattoo Art
• Dream Community Gallery: Fusion Dance Crew @ 6:30; Brian Barr – Portraits of White Center; Amanda Helmick – Mixed Media; Amanda Pickerel-Winer – paintings
• Big Al Brewing: Raina Anderson – photography
• DubSea Café: Hye Young Kim – dyed yarn and acrylic, Micheal Olson – DJ –reggae/dub plus more!

INFORMATION: More info available at www.whitecenterforthearts.org.

And here’s a letter regarding accomplishments made during WCFTA’s first year:

“Dear Lovers of Art in White Center,

White Center for the Arts (WCFTA) believes that the White Center community’s rich tapestry of culture and local arts should be shared with everyone. Our work to establish a permanent home for the arts in the neighborhood is off to a great start! In the past six months we:

• Established an after-school art program in the local Highline District Middle and High School
• Established the Third Saturday Art Walk, exhibiting more than 25 local artists in 9 months time.
• Are hosting Community Artists Meetings to open the lines of communication
• Established a working relationship with local, county, and state arts organizations and continue to identify and foster new partnerships within the community to create a web of services and support for artists and youth.
• Partnered with the YWCA at Greenbridge to showcase local artists in the lobby on a quarterly basis, and are working with Youth Media Institute and the Highline School District to implement non-violent extracurricular creative youth activities in the schools and in the White Center Downtown Business District.

But we have more work to do, and we are in urgent need of your support so that we can create the anchor of our vision and visiability, DREAM Community Gallery. We are asking for a small donation of $10.00 from 100 people, a $15.00 donation from 55 people, and 10 $100.00 donations. You will be supporting the entire White Center Cultural Community, helping to give visibility to local artists in all media, ages, and neighborhoods. A gift right now will assure that WCFTA can continue on our mission to be a catalyst for the coming together of the arts and cultural community of White Center. The time has come for a permanent home for the arts in White Center. Our current projects are:

• DREAM, a Community Gallery sustained by an in-house Coffee House, providing un-juried exhibition space for local artists and performers, and providing a safe gathering place, and empowering activities, for youth
• Development of our arts education programming
• Collection of oral histories and artifacts for a permanent local history collection
• Facilitating cross medium and cross cultural collaborations, and continuing to bring positive business to White Center through the Art Walk

We appreciate gifts of any amount, and in return WCFTA is working hard to promote art and culture in the daily life of White Center residents. We are to receive a $5,000 grant. We need more to open our Community Gallery by February 20^th, the first anniversary of White Center for the Arts. We have scheduled two dance performances, a musician, and two artists for the evening of February 20^th, and they are counting on your gift to help make this happen. When combined with the work of our dedicated volunteers, established, emerging, and students artists, the community as a whole will benefit from seeing our mission to bring art, and the celebration of culture and heritage to all of White Center and its neighbors, succeed.

To give a tax deductible donation, visit our website: http://www.whitecenterforthearts.org/

Sincerely,
Shelli Park
Chair, White Center for the Arts

P.S. You may be fortunate enough to have an employer that will match your gift. This is a great opportunity to give maximum impact with your gift to White Center for the Arts.

Even if you don’t live in White Center, but know that this is a worthy cause, please donate and know that you are supporting strong work in a beautiful community.”

(Photo by Brian Barr)

Our good friends at White Center for the Arts‘ next event is an “Art Walk” this Saturday, Oct. 17th, from 6pm to 9pm, with stops at numerous places in White Center.

Here are the details:

WHAT: White Center For the Arts 3rd Saturday Art Walk

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 17th, 6pm to 9pm

WHERE: Here are the scheduled stops:

• The Salvadorean Bakery (1719 SW. Roxbury St.)
  Raina Anderson: photography
  They are running a special for those who stop by during the ART WALK:
  • Option 1: two pupusas and one tamale of your choice for $6.50.
  • Option 2: one pupusa, one tamale of your choice, rice and beans for $6.95.
  • The choices for pupusas are: pork, pork cheese and beans, chicken and cheese, cheese and beans, cheese and loroco; and zucchini and cheese.
  • The choices for the tamales are: chicken, pork and sweet corn.
• Full Tilt (9629 16th Ave South)
  Onion Carillo and Jody Luna Robinson
  With Music by Shit Gets Smashed and The Shiners
• Proletariat Pizza (9622 16th Ave SW)
  Amanda Helmick: mixed media
• Dzul (9622 16th Ave SW)
  Tattoo and Airbrush Urban Art
• Café Rozella (9434 Delridge Way SW)
  Robert Houk Jr.: Painting
  Carlos Espinoza: Carving
• Big Al Brewing (9832 14th Ave SW) – CLOSED ON THE 17th
  Julio Castro: photography

INFO: More info available at their website: www.whitecenterforthearts.org

Our good friends at White Center for the Arts‘ will be holding their next art event on Saturday, Sept. 19th, this time at a new venue – Big Al Brewery, located at 9832 14th Ave SW in White Center.

Here are the details:

WHAT: White Center for the Arts’ 3rd Saturday Art Event, featuring:

• Photography exhibit by Alexander Meas and Ken Champoux
• Live bands, Proletariat Pizza, Full Tilt Ice Cream, Big Al’s Beer and “fun surprises”

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 19th , 7pm to 10pm

WHERE: Big Al Brewery, located at 9832 14th Ave SW, Seattle;‎ – (206) 453-4487‎

INFO: Lots of art, artists, live music, pizza and microbrew, with a portion of the night’s take going towards funding WCFTA’s Community Gallery/Coffeehouse and After-School Arts Education program.

Here’s more from their press release:

And now for something completely different…

At least the venue is different.

White Center for the Arts September Third Saturday Art Event is being hosted by Big Al Brewery!!

September 19th, 7PM until 10PM.

Come enjoy Art, Music, Food, Beverage, and Prizes; a rockin’ Saturday night, and help WCFTA reach it’s funding goal.

Please pass this along to all of your friends and make it a party!

Our diverse neighbor to the north, White Center, is holding its 21st Annual “Jubilee Days” Street Fair this  Saturday, July 18th and Sunday, July 19th, celebrating this year with the theme, “Living The Dream.”

Here are the details:

WHAT: White Center’s 21st Annual “Jubilee Days” 2-day Street Fair

WHEN: Saturday, July 18th from 10am – 11pm and Sunday, July 19th from 10am to 6pm

WHERE: 16th Avenue SouthWest between Southwest Roxbury Street and Southwest 100th Street White Center, WA. 98108

COST: It’s FREE! Lots of FREE PARKING!

SATURDAY, JULY 18th – 10am to 11pm & SUNDAY, JULY 19th 10am to 6pm:

• Sat. at 1:30pm: A 1K “Microthon” Fun Run
• Saturday at 2pm: Parade, starting at SW 112th St, Heading North to SW 100th St
  • Check In: Saturday, July 18, 2009 at 12:30 to 1:00
  • Assembly Staging: at McDonalds in White Center
  • Award Categories – Classic and antique Cars, Specialty, Novelty, Drill Teams, Marching Bands, and commercial groups.
  • Walking, Marching and Dancing units (carried by the forward left-sided person)
  • Distribution of objects, such as candy, flyers, etc.: Must be handed out curbside. Please do not drop objects in the street where children may be tempted to retrieve them. No silly string. Please use litter containers.
  • FOR ENTRY FORMS CONTACT: AMANDA AMEND (253) 592-2048 or email your entry at amend2@comcast.net
• An Art Show. Wonderful Arts and Great Crafts
• Information and Food booths
• Beer Garden
• Two Stages with Entertainment!
• A Kids Center with free hands-on activities
• FREE PARKING!

INFO:

• Cleanliness – Please keep the area clean. Local businesses have supported this fun activity and with everyone’s help we can leave it as good as, or better, than we found it.
• Manners – Rude or threatening behavior will not be tolerated. Please be courteous to one another and volunteer staff as well.
• Food – Food is available in the parade staging area at Mc Donalds and from the Street Fair Food Court at the end of the parade route.
• Parade Route – Starting at SW 112th St, Heading North, to SW 100th St. Leave the area via 15th for easiest departure. You can leave your car at the beginning or end of the parade route to avoid any unnecessary walking. Please do not leave valuables in your car and lock your doors. Jubilee days is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
• Announcer’s Stage – Hosted by First Choice Espresso.
• Awards – Amanda Amend will contact the winners and send out the awards accordingly
• Activities – The Street Fair offers food, crafts, the Kid’s Center, entertainment on two stages, and the carnival.
• HAVE FUN!

Also, our friends at White Center for the Arts will be heavily represented at Jubilee Days all weekend, including an Art Event Saturday night from 5pm to 10pm

For both days of the event, White Center for the Arts will have a booth in the community area where everyone can participate in a future public art project. This will be the first of many community art projects that they’ll host, and will consist of a clay mosaic.

“Do what you want with your piece of clay, sign your name or initials, and we will make sure that your piece is placed in the finished mosaic,” they say in a press release. “Fun for one and all. And you’ll be a famous artist!”

White Center for the Arts will also have a float in the parade, which starts at 1pm at the McDonalds on 16th Ave SW near 114th. They’ll be handing out candy and flyers as they float towards downtown White Center on 16th Ave SW with the rest of the crew.

“You’ve got to see what we are making this time!” adds the press release with more than just a hint of intrigue.

White Center for the Arts is hosting another Art Event this coming weekend in conjunction with Jubilee Days in the parking lot of the Skate Building on 17th Ave SW. They’ll be active for their regular hours of Saturday night from 5pm to 10pm, and encourage fairgoers to enjoy the nearby Beer Gardens, and the music flowing from the stage while you watch art in action!

For more information on WCFTA, visit their website here.

If you’d like to volunteer, click here: http://www.jubileedays.org/Volunteer.htm

If you’d like to become a sponsor, click here: http://www.jubileedays.org/2.htm

Maps/Directions: http://www.jubileedays.org/6.htm

More information available at www.jubileedays.org.