The 1909 Columbia City building has been the site of a furniture store, hardware store, shoe shop, World War I surplus store, a ladies' apparel boutique, and most recently an office supply store.
In its new incarnation, the building, at 4864 Rainier Ave. S., will house the Columbia City Gallery, an artist's cooperative supported by SouthEast Effective Development since 1999.
A grand opening celebration marking the occasion will take place Thursday, July 8, 5-9 p.m Speakers will include State Sen. Adam Kline (D-Seattle); King County Executive Ron Sims; Michael Killoren, director of the Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs; and Sue Coliton, senior program director of the Paul G. Allen Foundations. A performance by Seattle Miyagi-Kai will kick off the event. Food and refreshments will be provided.
The new space will debut with an exhibit of new, diverse works form Columbia City Gallery artists, featuring a variety of media, including paintings, drawings, photography, mixed-media, sculpture, mosaics, ceramics, jewelry, fabric and glass. The exhibit will run until Sept. 5.
The Columbia City Guest Gallery will feature the work of local artist Mary Cross, whose work is a mix of cast glass and metal with other mixed-media fabrication. The guest gallery is a space devoted to showcasing local, emerging artists and serves as a teaching studio for adult and youth classes.
SEED is a non-profit community development organization. SEED and the Columbia City Gallery started a capital campaign to raise funds for a new building in early 2002 after the gallery's three-year lease on their previous space ended. By March 2003 SEED successfully raised $322,000 and purchased the historic 2,200 square foot building in the heart of Columbia City.
A membership collective, the Columbia City Gallery includes 18 artists representing different media.
Since 1975 SEED has worked to strengthen the neighborhoods and business districts of southeast Seattle through a trio of program areas consisting of arts and culture, affordable housing and economic development. SEED's Arts Program develops and implements programs in the visual and performing arts for artists and residents of southeast Seattle.
For more information call SEED's arts line at 206-760-4285.
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