Seattle Twist

While January brings Seattle a 26% chance of sun and rain turning to showers with a chance of drizzle later in the day, Susan Robb, Sierra Stinson and Jim Demetre are creating and curating ONN/OF an art exhibition and “light festival” that forecasts a weekend needed light.

Housed in The Sweater Factory, an 11,000 Sq Ft warehouse in Ballard, ONN/OF was born from 2011’s isolation-inducing, La Niña-drenched winter weather. This year, instead of hiding away on what has been scientifically proven to be the worst, most depressing day of the year, Susan, Sierra, and Jim invite you to engage with a weekend of visual art, performance, installation, projection, music, food and drink, and workshops that in some way use “light”.

This event takes place Saturday and Sunday, January 28th and 29th at The Sweater Factory located at 1415 NW 52st, Ballard, directly across from the Bardahl Oil sign (enter through the back alley).

There are dozens of artists and a variety of arts, events, exhibits and opportunities

Onn/Of Website

Mini-Rex plays tonight at Cafe Racer starting at 9pm.

Friday at noon at the Copacabana terrace. Hope it doesn’t rain!

Nectar Lounge in Fremont, on Wednesday, Feb. 8.

Soul Jelly starts at 8:30 and will play for an hour, followed by Beet Oven and Luau Cinder playung some funky grooves.  And, it is free!

Fantagraphics Bookstore kicks off Black History Month on Saturday, February 4 with the debut of two diverse books. Seattle-based music scholar Pat Thomas, author of Listen, Whitey!: The Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1965 – 1975, will be joined by Seattle authors Mark Long and Jim Demonakos, who together with cartoonist Nate Powell created the graphic novel The Silence of Our Friends.

While researching this book project in Oakland, archivist Pat Thomas discovered rare recordings of speeches, interviews, and music by noted activists Huey Newton, Bobby Seale, Elaine Brown, and others that form the framework of this definitive retrospective. Listen, Whitey! also chronicles the forgotten history of Motown Records’ Black Power subsidiary label, Black Forum, which released politically charged albums by Stokely Carmichael, Langston Hughes, Bill Cosby and Ossie Davis, among others. Obscure records produced by African-American sociopolitical organizations of the period are examined, along with the Isley Brothers, Nina Simone, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Watts Prophets, Roland Kirk, Horace Silver, Angela Davis, H. Rap Brown, Stanley Crouch, and others that spoke out against oppression. Thomas will give a slide and music presentation, and limited number of advance copies of the book will be available to the public. Also making its debut is a companion CD of the same title from Seattle-based Light in the Attic records. The album features rare tracks from African-American activists like Dick Gregory, Eldridge Cleaver, Last Poets, and others, with protest music by Bob Dylan, John and Yoko Ono, Gil Scott-Heron, Roy Harper, and more.

The Silence of Our Friends is the semi-autobiographical tale of Mark Long. Set in 1967 Texas against the backdrop of the civil rights struggle, a white family from a notoriously racist suburb and a black family from its poorest ward cross Houston’s color line, overcoming fear and violence to win the freedom of five black college students unjustly charged with the murder of a policeman. Co-authored by Jim Demonakos (founder of Seattle’s Emerald City Comicon), and drawn by award-winning cartoonist Nate Powell, The Silence of Our Friends is a new and important entry in the body of civil rights literature.

Join these remarkable authors on Saturday, February 4 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery, located at 1201 S. Vale St. (at Airport Way S.) in Seattle’s colorful Georgetown neighborhood. Phone 206.658.0110.

Seattle and the entire Pacific Northwest was hit by a major snow storm starting the week of January 15th with major snow fall seen on the 18th. By 1/20, it was already melting, but we went through some of the photos and found this great old song by Sherwood “Snowing in Seattle” and put them together in a little video.

“Janet in a Snow Yoni” by Ed

“Trader Pup and Hula” by Elicia

“Home” by Tamitha

“Snow Fro” by Yo Jo

“Hello Snow Kitty” by Cole

“The Hood” by Marlow

“Snow Peace” by Darcy

A New Solo Play Written & Performed by David Schmader
Directed by Matthew Richter

Fridays and Saturdays, Jan. 20-Feb. 4, 8 p.m.

A comedy about unfunny things, “A Short-Term Solution to a Long-Term Problem,” commissioned by Richard Hugo House, is writer/performer David Schmader’s solo play about the dramatic life upheaval that drove him to spend a decade “living every day like it’s your last!”—a profoundly ridiculous adventure that finds Schmader aiming his pointy-headed, fall-off-your-seat wit at marriage, Mormons and the type of relaxation that comes from watching a baby get a spray tan.

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

Tickets are $20/$15 for students and are available online, by calling (206) 322-7030 or at Hugo House during normal business hours.

Doors open at 7 p.m., and the bar will be open prior to and following performances.

Written and performed by David Schmader

Directed by Matt Richter

Vito’s 927 9th Ave (at Madison) Seattle

Friday, Jan 27th from 9pm-midnight – never a cover !

Lushy at Vito’s Jan 27th  -  Facebook event page link

Christine Gregoire, who recently proposed a same-sex marriage bill, is retiring and the likely Republican candidate for governor will be Rob McKenna.  McKenna does not support marriage equality and you may also remember he sued the federal government and President Obama for his health care plan, in the name of the citizens of Washington State.

Jay Inslee is running as the Democratic candidate for governor and he fully supports bringing marriage equality to Washington state. He’s been encouraged by the willingness of legislators on both sides of the aisle to join the effort of passing it in the Legislature, and is hopeful they will succeed.

According to a recent poll by KING 5 News, Attorney General Rob McKenna has a 46-43 percent lead over Rep. Jay Inslee and as of year’s end, he had raised $3.76 million to $3.32 million for Inslee, and had $2.28 million in the bank to $2.03 for his Democratic opponent.

Why am I telling you this? So you can take action and join us in a fundraising brunch for Jay this Sunday, January 22nd 11:30 to 1pm at the home of James and Sue Tupper near Sandpoint by Lake Washington. The snow will be gone by Sunday and we can all drink a glass of champagne to Jay’s candidacy.

We need to fill the coffers and friends are asked to donate at least $250 to attend the event, to help Jay’s candidacy and to make sure we have equal rights for all of Washington’s citizens.

RSVP to Alexa at 206-328-2969 or email to Alexa

Please read this important message from our friends at Ghost Gallery, which many of you know. We at Seattle Twist believe in supporting local artists, and worthy causes like this. It would be super cool if you could contribute a few bucks to them in this effort.

Flood Insurance Deductible

As many of you have already heard, we had a flood in the main front gallery and petite works room on Wednesday, Jan. 11th. All is cleaned up (Thank you Cait, Sophie & the Flood Crew!), but there was quite a bit of damage, both to some goods, books, antique furniture, electronics and some structural damage. Lots of little things adding up to be a big cost.
The building owners are refusing to take responsibility for the incident, therefore we’re scrambling to get everyone compensated and the ceiling repaired ASAP.

We do have Insurance, along with a very large deductible, which is where we really could use some fast help!
To make it fun, and a perk for you, here is the deal:

If 100 people each donate $10 (or more), we will have a party for all of you! DJ, Drinks, Dancing, Awesome.

Also, those who donate will EACH receive a Gallery Membership ($50 value), which gets you 20% off Boutique items, and 10% off Miniature Art for 1 year. (Out of town folks can have this honored with phone/online purchases)
If you’re already a member, then you will receive a bottle of wine on us, in addition to the party:)

Be sure to leave your full name along w/email address so I can make out your Membership Card.

We wouldn’t be here without all of you, so Thank You in advance!
Love,
Ghost

HERE IS A DIRECT LINK TO THEIR FLOOD INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION PAGE

Also, their Facebook event page for this is here, if you’d like to share.

Ghost Gallery website

Art Zone with Nancy Guppy episodes hit the air Fridays at 8pm on The Seattle Channel 21 and at 11pm on KCTS 9, with repeats on both, as well as streaming online. Above is the episode from January 13th 2012. In addition to Wade Madsen’s highly entertaining story about playing a turkey, Nancy is also covering Bruce Bickford; David Schmader’s new show; Jeff Ament’s new bass; and new music from In Cahoots.

Art Zone!

In celebration of the upcoming Seattle “Elvis” Invitationals that is happening on Saturday, January 14th at EMP, Top Pot Doughnuts has come up with a special commemorative “King’s Rings” doughnut, a raised ring covered in maple cream frosting and smothered in caramelized bacon.

The King’s Rings will be available for sale at the Top Pot Doughnut shops on Friday, January 13th. However, if you’d like to sample these luscious creations for free, plus see a great performance by Billy Joe Huels of the Dusty 45′s, go to the taping of the New Day Northwest TV show at KING-5 on Thursday, 1/12. You’ll need to email the Audience Coordinator Suzie Wiley- newdaytickets@king5.com before 8am Thursday, so they have a head count.

This is a charming film based on Dr. Seuss’s final book before his death, a story about life’s ups and downs, told by the people of Burning Man 2011.

I thought it appropriate to share this, since so many Seattleites make the trek down to the desert to attend this art-filled event on the Playa.

In 1962, Elvis visited Century 21 Seattle World’s Fair and made a film,

“It Happened at the World’s Fair”.

Fast-forward, 2012 is the 50th anniversary of the Seattle World’s Fair.

To commemorate this event, Elvis will be returning to the Seattle Center for the 15th annual “Seattle Invitationals”, the search for Seattle best amateur Elvis Tribute Artist (ETA)

The event is at Experience Music Project (EMP) at the Seattle Center on Saturday, January 14th. Doors at 7:30pm, show at 8pm

Tickets available from EMP and Brown Paper Tickets -21 and over with ID required

WEBSITE: http://www.SeattleInvitationals.com

All Elvi perform with a live band, The Kentucky Rain Band with special guest Billy Joe Huels, plus punk-rock Elvis band The Graceland Five.

Master of Ceremonies (and amateur Elvis) Jim Dever from KING-5 TV

Celebrity judges include Nancy Guppy, Mark Christopher from KVI and Vern Fonk-guy, Rob Thelke.

Tickets available from EMP and Brown Paper Tickets

21 and over with ID required