An art benefit at the Fremont Abbey on Saturday will feature paintings and sculptures from an artist collective in the small Kenyan village of Ngecha.  

The event is being organized by a group of UW students who met the artists during a study abroad trip last summer where they studied human rights theory and worked for local human rights organizations.  Organizer Meri Bauer tells me, “We attended an arts festival that the Ngecha Artist Association directed and were impressed by their passion for art and faith in its power as a force for social, political and economic change.  They told us that in Kenya art is underappreciated, but they each have an innate need to create and their community has come to understand and appreciate their work.”

The result of that encounter was the creation of PAUSE, an art program that aims to explore the connection between art and human rights and to join together the communities of Seattle and Ngecha.  The benefit on Saturday is from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. in the Great Hall at the Fremont Abbey (4272 Fremont Ave N) and showcases 130 pieces from the Kenyan artists.  Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door.  All proceeds from sales of the art will go to the Ngecha Artist Association. 

People driving through Fremont yesterday may have wondered what was going on at the Fremont Bridge.  There were people carrying colorful signs dressed in colorful shirts.  The bridge was laced with colorful pennant strings.  Despite the parading and fanfare, it wasn’t a protest.  This was a celebration.

“Bridge Talks Back” is the result of artist Kristen Ramirez’ summer-long residency inside the northeast tower of the Fremont Bridge.  For the past three months, she collected sounds from in and around the bridge, as well as Seattle residents’ stories of it, and compiled them into a sound art project that honors the historic Bridge through all of its daily rhythm and noises.

For the installation’s opening, sixteen different horn players were stationed inside the bridge’s four towers.  As cars began stopping for the bridge to go up, they played a piece composed by Fremont-based trombonist Tom Yoder.  

The recording of various sounds, from cars and horns to birds and bells, were then played over the structure’s overhead speakers.  Each time cars sat idle for the bridge, nearly one hundred performers engaged in choreographed fanfare with handmade signs.   

The public art project was commissioned by the Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs from the Seattle Department of Transportation’s 1% for Arts Fund.  The audio composition will continue to play over the bridge’s speakers during daytime bridge openings from now through April 2010.  You can also hear those recordings, as well as those of residents’ bridge stories, by calling 1-800-761-9941.

Update: It’s not too late if you’d like to be part of the celebration.  Interested performers must be available from 12-4pm.  There will be a check-in tent on the Queen Anne side of the bridge near The Nickerson Street Saloon.

Whether they intend to or not, cars and pedestrians stopped at the Fremont Bridge on Saturday will witness the opening of artist Kristen Ramirez’ public art project.  “Bridge Talks Back: A Sound Artwork” is the result of her summer-long residency inside the Fremont Bridge. 

Between 1-4pm, drivers waiting for the bridge to go up can expect to sit back and enjoy choreographed fanfare each time the bridge opens.  One hundred performers and musicians have volunteered to be part of the celebration, and 16 different horn players will play out of the structure’s four towers.  A sound collage will blast over the bridge’s sound system, and will include clips of boats, birds, bells and the bridge itself.

Hundreds turned out to participate in the annual “Luminata” lantern walk around Green Lake on Tuesday night.  Organized by the Fremont Arts Council, the procession celebrates the autumnal equinox.

For the past few weeks, local artists lead a series of workshops where people could learn to make their own lanterns.  Above, artist Leslie Zenz adjusts the bodice to her illuminated bird costume. 

It took two full weeks of 8-hour days to create “The Bird and The Mayor”.  The cane and paper luminaria were originally created to be worn by stilt walkers as part of the Arts-A-Glow festival in Burien earlier this month.

This impressive “Dragon” also took weeks to make.

People of all ages were invited to participate in the parade. 

Handmade art lanterns were carried by both hand, boat and with this “big catch”, bikes. 

Music and singing could be heard all along the promenade.  The festival concluded with hot cider and treats.  Happy Fall to everyone! 

For nearly 2 weeks, the galaxy has been appearing afoot at the corner of N. 36th and Evanston Ave N.  It’s the result of passionate - and tireless - efforts by Project Manager and Lead Artist Jessica Randall.  She comments, “This is the real center of the universe”.

ArtSPACE has been in the works since 2005 but it it took a year just to get the permits approved.  It wasn’t until the summer of 2007 that they finally got lift-off for SPACE and construction began.  Several artists have contributed to the art display, from glass planets and lighting fixtures to out-of-this-world benches.  (Photo by Kirby Lindsay.)  

Jessica says the reaction from passers-by have been remarkably good, with people complimenting the work and expressing their thank yous.  “I must represent something people want to see more of.”  She adds that hopefully there will be many more community pieces like this to come.  If all goes smoothly, the art installation should be completed by next week. 

Over the last few weeks, volunteers with the Fremont Arts Council have been thinning out an art storage area under the Ballard Bridge. If you look through the fence, you can see relics of former Solstice Parades, Trolloween, the Moisture Festival and Circus Contraption.

We found Maque daVis with the Fremont Arts Council under the bridge Sunday afternoon. “I am cleaning up the space in regard to the city telling us that the neighbors don’t like the looks of the storage yard,” he said. He’s been carting away any art pieces older than 3 years. “We will be decorating the outside fencing over the next month or two, in hopes that we fit in with the upscaling of the neighborhood,” he said, calling it “urban camo.”

He said other non-profits, like the Sunday Markets and Sustainable Ballard, have also used the storage space over the years, but now the city wants to charge them a fee to stay. “(It’s) a bit disappointing,” he said, noting the Arts Council doesn’t have much money to spend for storage rent.

Updated: A group of concerned neighbors gathered at the Troll Wednesday evening to brainstorm ways to enhance the green spaces around the Fremont landmark. Some of the ideas included turning it into a park, planting a pea patch, adding lighting, installing seating and adorning it with community art.

The land is owned by the city, and it’s larger than it appears from the street.

On the left, a trail leads to a flat space, currently occupied by a small homeless camp. Neighbors say that WSDOT crews occasionally park their equipment there while working on the Aurora Bridge. Together, both sections of land total about two acres, covered with heavy brush and blackberries.

Neighbors say that there have been a few attempts over the years to spruce up the area, but they’ve been unsuccessful. “I like a challenge,” says Kimberly Scrivner, a neighbor who decided to head up the new project. “I think right now the momentum is right. People are excited. People are willing to participate in the community.” The goal is to compile neighbors’ feedback into a grant application for neighborhood matching funds. Scrivner also suggested engaging the local business community. “It sounds like (Google) is the type of company that might support this type of thing,” she said. “I’m hopeful.”

You can fill out an online survey with your suggestions, and coming August 22nd, volunteers will remove blackberries, trim the brush and plant trees.

The “Show to End All Shows” has ended, and Fremont’s Circus Contraption is calling it quits this week after 11 years in Seattle.

“It takes an enormous amount of time and makes people a very little amount of money,” said Erin Brindley, Circus Contraption’s managing director. “Everyone’s ready to move on.”

This last weekend, they put just about everything up for sale in a big rummage sale in the circus’ performance space at Theo Chocolate.

Even this original handmade prop that once took Bunny Lamont around the world was up for sale. The tongue-in-cheek price tag? $300,000 or best offer. A farewell celebration is scheduled for this coming Saturday, July 18th, with favorite vintage performances, special guests and a live auction “to help us bury our debt in the smoldering embers of greasepaint and poodle fur,” the website explains. As of this writing, tickets are still available.

But this might not be the end of Circus Contraption. “We’re keeping the set of the Show to End all Shows with the hope we can scrounge up enough money to take the show to New York for one final hurrah,” Brindley said.

After 11 years of performances, Circus Contraption is calling it quits. On July 14th, they’ll hold their last “The SHOW to End All SHOWS,” and this weekend they’re throwing a big rummage sale.

“This is the first time Circus Contraption has opened its vault of eccentric circus paraphenalia to be sold to the public,” organizers explain. “Everything from the backstage to the front of stage will be up for sale.” Costumes, props, set items, sound and lighting gear, ladders, hardware and more. The sale runs in Circus Contraption’s performance space at Theo, 3400 Phinney Ave N, this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A little under two years after opening in Fremont in a quirky space next to the former Triangle, the Orange Splot Gallery is going out of business this weekend. “I am closing mainly because I can’t keep up with my debt anymore,” said owner Kevin McKouen, who said the gallery is up for sale. “It could be a good business for someone who is in better financial shape than I,” he said.

The gallery has hosted dozens of local artists, including works from Ryan Henry Ward, who painted a mural right outside the Orange Splot. McKouen says if he’s unable to sell the gallery, he’s spoken with a couple people who are interested in leasing the space for their own art gallery. “So, either way, I have a good feeling the artsy spirit of the space will live on,” he said.

The Orange Splot is throwing a farewell party this Saturday night beginning at 6 p.m. and going into the night. McKouen said another get-together is planned for Sunday at 5 p.m. All are welcome. “I will miss being a part of the Fremont culture, and the Fremont Art Walk, but Fremont will still be here, so now I may have more of a chance to enjoy Fremont,” he says. “What I will miss most is my wonderfully supportive customers, and my inspiring artists.”

This was catching people’s attention in Fremont today.

A noose around Lenin’s neck holds a sign that says, “Size Matters. I’m Just a Capitalist Tool.” If you look closely, you’ll see who put it up there.

Taco del Mar, which is located right behind the statue. The restaurant recently re-opened after being closed for several months. So is putting Lenin to work to sell tacos smart advertising? Or a shameless publicity stunt that takes advantage of Fremont’s public art?

The colorful, creative and bedazzled penguins start their march today toward the Woodland Park Zoo. Back in April the Zoo did a “call for artists” to dress up 22-inch fabricated penguins in honor of the new Humboldt Penguin exhibit. Today, more than 50 penguins will start migrating from the Seattle Center through Ballard, Fremont and Greenwood/Phinney. Shown here is Laura Bee Designs’ “Dorothy Parker Penguin” complete with a pearl button necklace and a patent leather purse. Tonight the Art Up/Open Up Greenwood-Phinney art walk will feature 30 of the penguins from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The penguins will be auctioned off in July to benefit Woodland Park Zoo’s field conservation program.

Fremont movie-maker Martin Fossum has won an award at the Seattle International Film Festival for the Seattle Times’ 2009 3-Minute Masterpiece. The film, “Interstice” is a study of walkways and water at the Ballard Locks. The film was shot in sequence on Super8 film and there was no post-production editing. Fossum was one of nine winners in this category, the grand prize going to a 14-year-old from Bellevue. You can see the winning films here.

The Fremont Solstice Parade is quickly approaching, and artists are hard at work on a line of floats parked in front of the Fremont Arts Council building.

Saturday, June 20th will be the 21st annual Solstice Parade.

Most of the floats are still in the early phases of construction.

This man is creating a big globe out of paper mache. The parade will get underway on the 20th at noon, winding through Fremont to Gas Works Park. More information on the Fremont Art’s Council site.

This Saturday night, come down to Fremont Canal Park from dusk to 11 p.m. to see an energy-efficient lighting display created by Nth Degree Creative of Everett. You can also buy LED glow sticks, lumi-loons, LED-lit balloons and fiber optic necklaces to help light up the canal. The funds go to help support Northern Lights Northwest. More info here.

Fremont Arts Council volunteers touched up the N. 38th St mural today.

The colorful mural under Aurora north of the bridge is often damaged by graffiti. (Photo by SPONeill. See more right here.)