All posts by dennis

Events

“A Gallery in the Garden” at Swansons: July 17 to Aug. 2

For two weeks, Friday, July 17th thru Sunday, August 2nd, A Gallery in the Garden, will provide local artists the opportunity to showcase their work in a site specific venue and offer patrons direct inspiration to how art can enhance their own homes and lives. Opening night will treat ticketed guests to a first hand selection of gorgeous works of hand blown glass, forged iron sculpture and functional art for their garden while they enjoy entertainment by local musicians, fine wine and fine fare. Swanson’s Nursery will continue to sell the displayed art with all proceeds benefiting Pratt Fine Arts Center, a non-profit arts education and resource center. Last year’s event, promoted on KPLU, proved to be a great success drawing an audience of 1000’s over the course of the sale with an opening night welcoming over 300 guests.

Serving over 3,200 students annually through year-round youth and adult education programs, Pratt has brought the visual arts to life for countless Seattle citizens of all ages, skill levels, ethnicities, and economic means. Each year Pratt serves over 600 school age children with free classes. In addition, adult scholarship and tuition assistance programming provides over 500 emerging artists with continuing education and professional development through studio use, master workshops and artist residencies.

Land Use/Zoning, Walkability

Walkable Crown Hill Project Report Available

The Walkable Crown Hill Project (http://walkablecrownhill.org) in Spring 2008 received a grant from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods to examine ways to make our un-sidewalked streets a little more pedestrian friendly. One of the project goals was to develop a tool kit of alternatives to the traditional gutter-curb-planting string-sidewalk system used in most areas of the city.

As part of the grant, a consultant (Makers Architects) was hired to assist with holding public involvement meetings, and developing the tool kit. In consultation with the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), they suggested we draw up some more traditional projects as well and prioritize those.

We held two public design charrettes in which over eighty Crown Hill residents participated to come up with alternative (hopefully less expensive) means of getting a more pedestrian friendly environment in Crown Hill.

The final report of the project is now available at http://www.walkablecrownhill.org/docs/CH_Ped_Plan_Final.pdf

A big thank you to all who participated in the process. And an extra special thank you and appreciation goes to Bert Hopkins who volunteered many hours of his personal time to shepherd the contract and the process.