LESCHI
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of James Washington Jr.'s birth by attending Susan Platt's slide show and lecture on the life and works of this famous African-American artist. This event will be the program for the November meeting of the Leschi Community Council, on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the Central Area Senior Center, 500 30th Ave. S.
A painter as well as a sculptor, James Washington Jr. was born in the South but ended up here in the Central District, where he became associated with the Northwest School of artists (Mark Tobey, Morris Graves, George Tsutakawa and others). He studied under Mark Tobey for a while until Tobey told him that he really didn't need a teacher.
In addition to this event, the Pratt Fine Arts Center presents "Continuing the Legacy," an exhibition that features the work of artist-in-residence recipients of the James and Janie Washington Foundation program.
According to Pratt Fine Arts, "This show celebrates the friendship between Edwin T. Pratt and James Washington and their community involvement in Seattle's Central District. The James & Janie Washington Foundation supports emerging visual artists through their Artist-in Residence Program by providing recipients with the equipment, space and technical assistance to make sculpture on a scale that might otherwise be unaffordable, in a setting conducive to experimentation."
The show opens Thursday, Nov. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Pratt Gallery, Tashiro Kaplan Studios, 306 S. Washington St., Suite 102.
You can learn more about this artist by visiting his home at 1816 26th Ave. The Foundation has preserved the home and the studio space as an historic site. Call 709-4241 to arrange for an appointment to visit.
James Washington's sculpture can be found in many spaces in the Central District: Bailey Gatzert Elementary School, Odessa Brown Clinic, Meany Middle School, Mount Zion Baptist Church and the fountain under repair at 23rd Avenue and East Union Street.
We hope the fountain restoration will include a plaque identifying the artist, which may create more respect for this work that is often used as a receptacle for trash.
Green Seattle is coming to Leschi Saturday, Nov. 7. Green Seattle is the group that oversees the natural areas and is affiliated with Seattle Parks and Recreation. Each year it visits "natural" sites in the city on Green Seattle Day. Each site has been able to order plants (native species, of course), and a big planting party ensues.
This is a great time of year to plant as the liquid sunshine in this area keeps those plants thriving. This coincides with the regular first Saturday work party at the Leschi Natural Area, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
We have been told that all volunteers will be fed a lunch, and there will be a sign with the history of this natural area for those who just want to stop by and see what's happening.
However, they will have 200 plants that want a home in the ground, so try to stay long enough to plant a few.
- Diane Snell
MADISON PARK
Our first fund-raising effort in a long time was a success! Thank you to all who participated and/or donated your books, CDs, DVDs, videotapes and personal artwork. We collected the equivalent of five to six car-/truckloads of books and DVDs for the sale. Without your support, we would not have been so successful.
Several book dealers who attended commented that Madison Park is a "reading neighborhood." This is likely to be the new slogan for future book sales. These comments prompted us to declare the book sale an annual event. Stay tuned for the date of our next book sale.
A special thank you goes to the Park Shore artists who donated their artwork for the book sale/art auction. We had an amazing array of watercolors and styles. Funds from this auction go toward our new LOLA (Love Our Lake Access) project. This project focuses on revitalizing the lakefront, while providing greater access.
Did you know that as a resident or tenant of Madison Park you are automatically a member of the Madison Park Community Council (MPCC)? We do not charge or collect dues. Rather, we depend on donations to cover our work projects and operational costs. Our basic operating costs include rent, website, supplies and insurance.
This year we made great strides in pedestrian safety, upgrade of the Triangle Park by Bing's and the merger of the new MPCC website with the Madison Park Business Association.
All our work is volunteer; we have no paid staff. For more information about participating, go to www.madisonparkseattle.com.
We need your help now to help raise $25,000 for 2009-10. We also need volunteers.
We have a wonderful community, but it is up to all of us to keep it strong, fresh, safe and distinctive. Please contribute your time and money (contributions are tax-deductible) to our neighborhood village: MPCC, 1900 43rd Ave. E., Seattle, WA 98112.
- Ken Myrabo
MADRONA
Get to know St. Therese Catholic School. The school, at 900 35th Ave. in Madrona, is conducting tours for interested parents at 9 a.m. on Nov. 12, and 24, and Dec. 1, 10 and 15.
St. Therese offers classes for children in kindergarten through eighth grade.
To schedule a tour, contact Sandy Gunder, at 324-0460, Ext. 117, or e-mail sandyg@saintthereseparish.org.[[In-content Ad]]
