What a terrible week! There are only few events that I am not downgrading. I even had to put the quotes back on "Ballard".
Let's get it behind us and move on: The Week of Downgrades.
Friday, 5/14
5:30 PM Dangerous Curves @ Broadway Performance Hall.
7:00 PM? The Art of Resistance political artists' conference
7:00 PM BEFORE AND AFTER (AND INBETWEEN) @ Vain
8:00 PM Hindsight Gala Opening
Saturday, 5/15
10:00 AM U District StreetFair (1st day)
6:00 PM ART OPENING @ Lucky Dog Espresso
9:30 PM Blacklight Night @ ToST
Sunday, 5/16
10:00 AM U District StreetFair (2nd day)
4:00 PM Prospettiva Plural XIV - LOW WINDS @ CoCA.
7:30 PM ANDY KAUFMAN: DEAD OR ALIVE? in Hollywood (CA)
Monday, 5/17
Noon Norwegian Constitution Day in "Ballard"
Thursday, 5/20
6:00 PM Ken Kelly Opening Reception @ Howard House
7:00 PM? SIFF 2004 Opening
Friday, 5/14
Dangerous Curves @ Broadway Performance Hall.
Here is what I found in my inbox one day:
Big girls behaving badly where women of size shine in this show. The show is 50% self-acceptance, 50% vibrant empowerment, and 50% outrageous.
After reading those intense responses to Dan Savage's comments on low-rider jeans in this week's Stranger I was wondering: How do you downgrade an event about overweight women without being disrespectful? One of my voices answered: You treat them just any other person on this planet and you don't make any exceptions only because they are big. It would be disrespectful to give them a good review only because I thought they need my support to their self-acceptance. Trying to be polite while not liking an event has never been one of Party Volcano's strengths.
So here comes our downgrade:
The show will be 50% boring, 50% who cares, and 50% let’s have a beer at Linda's back porch in the sun instead.
Dangerous Curves, May 14th, 5:30 PM, Seattle, $10.
http://www.dangerouscurvesseattle.com/
ROLL WITH IT: http://www.thestranger.com/2004-05-13/savage.html
The Art of Resistance political artists' conference
The press release says:
The 2004 conference is the first annual gathering of political artists from around the country and the world. The conference will consist of two days of workshops, speakers and events exploring political art. Conference participants will receive hands-on skills and practical knowledge, a broader understanding of the history and current state of political art and benefit from the rare opportunity of being able to spend a weekend in a building full of political artists from across the country.
We hope to strengthen the movement of artists for global justice by linking together communities of artists whether geographically bound or connected by specific issue.
The Art of Resistance will host three nights of open events featuring film, performance, spoken word, music and visual art and a political art exhibit which will be on display during the conference.
THE ART OF RESISTANCE political artists' conference
Seattle, May 15 & 16, 2004 - www.artofresistance-seattle.net
BEFORE AND AFTER (AND INBETWEEN) @ Vain
Jessica (and a bunch of other folks) writes:
VAIN presents
BEFORE AND AFTER (AND INBETWEEN)
new monoprints by VAIN Free Thinking Fellow Cara Lynn Kleid
Friday, 14 May 2004 7-10PM
With special guests Connie Merlot and Hot Carla hosting karaoke and
performances by Tamara "the trapeze lady."
Paintings by Tara Morgan and Shaun Sure Thing.
Join us for an evening of local art, Champagne, cupcakes, and sherbert
punch! $3.00, 21+
I like Vain parties, especially their V-Day parties. This one should be fun too. Somebody told me that it used to be an old bordello. On the second and third floors there are usually rooms with some weird performances or entertainment going on. Three bucks sounds like a good deal.
VAIN is located at 2018 1st Ave between Virginia and Lenora.
Info: www.vain.com 206.441.3441.
Hindsight Gala Opening
The press release says:
The Gala Openings of our consolidation series are far and away some of
the best-attended contemporary arts events in Seattle. They are the
nights that Consolidated Works debuts its new shows, and in full
arts-amusement-park fashion. The evening features bands and DJ’s
playing all night, films playing continuously, performances in the
theater, exhibits in the resource center, and of course tours through
the new visual arts exhibit. This series, we’ll also be unveiling our
first foray into the publishing arts, a stunning 32-page contemporary
art book.
This spring’s opening features:
DJ’s on trikeS
Pleasure Craft
DJ King of Pants
DJ Tom Butcher (Codebase/Force Inc.)
Retro-futurist films playing all night, including:
A Boy and His Dog
Escape from New York
Teenage Cavemen
Crimes of the Future
Live séances with the long-gone
Expiration-less foods
The ConBar open all night for your alcoholic pleasure
I am going because I want to see what they did with the material Jamie and I submitted for the Hindsight book ("24 hours in the life of Seattle’s contemporary arts"):
At 12:01 am on Saturday March 27, dozens of writers, photographers,
illustrators, and artists began a 24-hour content gathering marathon as
we sent them into the streets of Seattle to capture moments in the
studio, moments at the typewriter, moments in the rehearsal room and
moments on the film set. Our teams covered artists in their studios,
arts organizations at work, artists rehearsing, writing, creating (and
even filing for unemployment). We have commissioned an artist-created
exploration of the arts community, and the arts ecology, in Seattle.
This is a document freezing in time a specific, and extremely recent,
24-hour period. It’s a snapshot of the Seattle zeitgeist of the
relative present. It puts the recent past into an unchangeable
permanent document—it allows the reader to gain hindsight on a period
of time recent enough to be considered part of the present. This book
is an attempt to freeze a moment in time, and to explore how we can
distance ourselves from it and gain some insight into it.
It’s a stunning small publication, a 32-page soft-cover full-color
publication, designed by Carol Chapman and printed with the support of
Windward Press.
A week before the very 27th of March 2004 I got an email from Matt, who explained to me the concept of Hindsight and asked me whether I would be interested in participating. I said I don't know if I could be of any help but I threw out the idea of asking Jamie (the most talented party photographer in town in my humble opinion) to take some pictures of my party adventures on that day. Matt liked the idea and we agreed on documenting two evenings (At Risk Youth from 12:01am to 2am at, and Naked Sushi party from 10pm to 11:59pm). We wrote little Cold Lava reports - one of them a pretty mean naked sushi downgrade in good old Party Volcano fashion - and dropped off our material a week later.
When Matt saw the pictures he got really excited because of the accidental intersections of circles of friends. Some of the people shown on the party pictures (Susan Robb and others) were also on the list of artists with Hindsight assignments. There is one funny detail I would like to point out. I somehow made it on that list of contributing artists twice - as Bernd Paradies and The Party Volcano.
That's exactly how I feel sometimes!
The Gala Opening of the Hindsight Series
May 14, 2004
8 pm – 2 am
$7 / Free for Members
$3 for the Hindsight book.
Jamie's link: http://doggirl.smugmug.com/
Saturday, 5/15
U District StreetFair
If you wear socks and Birkenstocks during winter; if you live in "Ballard" and your seat belt is sticking out your car while you enter a one way street in the wrong direction; if you wear shorts with a T-shirt to your grandma's funeral; if your favorite dish at (the now closed) Still Alive in Fremont was corn with beans and green bread soup with an ice soy latte; if you are the reason why I learned the term "Mexican Standoff"; if you drive 50mph on I-5 and use the left lane; if you tell the Safeway cashier your life and let everybody else in line wait; if you think you invented "naked sushi"; if you think "avocado" is a lawyer and "Esperanto" is a country; if you whistle on the bus - well, then I have the right event for you:
For 35 years the University District StreetFair has been the kick-off event for the festival season in the Seattle region. Attracting more than 50,000 people and nearly 400 booths to the District, the StreetFair is an energetic and exciting celebration of arts and crafts, community, music, and food. You'll find a whirl of color, craft, creativity and downright craziness! Join the thousands of people who attend. There will be two entertainment stages, and unique local and regional arts & crafts and an array of international food. The StreetFair is a free event, located in the heart of the University District on University Way NE, and is produced by the Greater University Chamber of Commerce.
The University Street Fair is a gigantic accumulation of bad taste. I have seen painted flower pots, wooden ties that are supposed to go on your walls, questionable "handmade" paintings, kitschy photos, and other useless but exceptionally ugly things. The bands are of course bad.
The only positive side about the University Street Fair I have found are local restaurants along the Ave, that hand out small snacks and samples for a buck. Last year my girlfriend at that time and I stopped at Flowers and got invited to too many cheap Margaritas. She ended up vomiting out all her snacks, which - poetically speaking - returned to the place they came from and where they maybe belong to: The Ave.
May 15th & 16th
Saturday, 10am-7pm
Sunday, 10am-6pm
http://www.udistrictstreetfair.org/entertainment.html
http://www.udistrictstreetfair.org/map_page.pdf
http://www.udistrictstreetfair.org/
ART OPENING @ Lucky Dog Espresso
ART GARCIA,
Seattle artist shows paintings & prints at the Lucky Dog Espresso on Roosevelt Way NE, next to the Trading Musician.
Reception for the artist this Saturday May 15th 6-9pm.
Lucky Dog Espresso
5828 Roosevelt Way NE
http://www.evite.com/pages/gt/events/view.jsp?event=CXSTVJYCKFWBHZGVNMTW
Blacklight Night @ ToST
The email says:
May 15th is Blacklight Night
From the same production team that brought you
The Gathering of the Ram,
we are proud to invite you all to another phat event,
===MicroChip Trip===
an excursion through the eclectics of electronic music
Now is your chance to get yer blacklight gear ready
for the playa. We are fillin' the Tost with blacklight
love to make our dance floor something fierce.
You know how we do.
Dance floor specialists, dawg.
9:30pm-11:00pm: DJ Hipster
we startin' the night off right with the illest
trip-hop and broken beat rockin' the underground!!
11:00pm-12:00am: DJ Vital
Keep ya headz crackin' with wicked hip-hop done the
way it should be done! And ya don't stop!!
12:00am-1:00am : Osiris Indriya
An extra special guest from the producers of the
Oracle Gatherings will drop a massive dance set to get
our dance floor dirty and grimey!!
1:00am-2:00am : Shapeshifter vs. DJ LeS
Rippin' up 4 turntables and 2 mixers, we're gonna play
the sikest breaks known in the electronic scene of
Seattle. You don't wanna miss this one, folks!!
Visuals by FoxfireFX
Produced by Shapeshifter & Static Factory Media
Get yer blacklit costumes ready!!!
We're all gonna glow...
Tost Lounge, Fremont
Saturday, May 15th
9:30pm, 21+, $6
Sunday, 5/16
Prospettiva Plural XIV - LOW WINDS @ CoCA.
I like CoCA's new space but I don't think I will be in the mood for autistic jazz on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
Prospettiva Plural is a monthly series of music that presents diverse perspectives and approaches to performing on a single given instrument at each concert. Practitioners of improvised and composed music working from jazz, new music, and improvised music backgrounds are billed alongside each other, encouraging a dialogue between these areas of music-making. Prospettiva Plural takes place every third Sunday at CoCA.
Prospettiva Plural XIV - LOW WINDS
Featuring 3 30-minute solo performances by:
ARRINGTON DE DIONYSO - bass clarinet
CRAIG FLORY - baritone sax, bass clarinet
SCOTT GRANLUND - bass saxophone
Sunday May 16 @ 4 pm
CoCA 410 Dexter Ave N
$8/$5CoCA members all ages
ANDY KAUFMAN: DEAD OR ALIVE? WITH TONY CLIFTON in Hollywood (CA)
Baroness Jzeannette is pointing out this interesting event in Hollywood:
Hey You, yeah, you over there with the volcanic activity in your snakeskin pants.
So you already know that comedian Andy Kaufman said he's coming back in 20 years, right? May 16 makes twenty years, Toots. His partner Zemuda's putting on the party.
C'mon, fork over the dough, let's go, I'll panty wrestle you on the way down....
Jeannette
Here are the details:
Andy stated that were he to fake his death, he would return 20 years later to the day. MAY 16TH, 2004 IS THAT DAY. Over one hundred personal ads will be taken out, across the country and abroad, reminding him of his words. Will he show? This historic celebration will include a special premiere showing, along with star appearances by Rodney Dangerfield, Caroline Rhea, Bob Odenkirk, Paul Rudd, Rich Voss, Jerry "the King" Lawler, Andy Dick and a rare performance by International singing sensation TONY CLIFTON and his CLIFTONES. Also "Man on the Moon" co-screenwriter Larry Karaszewski will be joined by Andy¹s closest companions: George Shapiro, Lynne Margulies, and Bob Zmuda . Tickets $99.95. Special $250 VIP tickets include select seating & celebrity reception (hopefully with Andy). www.tonyclifton.net
House of Blues Sunset Strip »
8430 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
323.848.5100
date : Sun, May 16
door : 7:30pm
show : 8:00pm
genre : Comedy
age : 18+
http://www.hob.com/tickets/eventdetail.asp?eventid=25970
Monday, 5/17
Norwegian Constitution Day in "Ballard"
I am afraid I have to add the quotes back to "Ballard":
Norwegian Constitution Day or "grunnlovsdag," commonly known as "Syttende Mai" or the 17th of May is a celebration of the day in 1814 when Norway’s constitution was signed in the town of Eidsvoll, Norway.
In the Greater Seattle area, the day has been celebrated since 1889 with proclamations, speeches and a parade. Enjoy life and the freedom we have. Join us in the celebration of both.
When most people think of the 17th of May Celebration they usually remember the parade, which is one of the largest ethnic parades in the United States with over 100 units every year. After all everyone, especially the children, love a parade. But there is much more to the 17th of May Celebration in Seattle than the parade and you can find out about all of the celebration on this web site!
Here is the line up:
12:00pm (Noon) to 2:00pm
Eat excellent food and listen to important speakers at the lunch.
LOCATION: Leif Erikson Hall, 2245 NW 57th Street
2:30pm to 5pm
Folk music is played, appreciated, and danced to at Bergen Place.
Entertainment featuring music and dance from Norway and other Nordic countries.
Bergen Place is located at the intersection of Market St., Leary Avenue and 22nd Avenue.
6:00pm to 8:00pm
Watch or participate in the PARADE
The parade starts at 6 p.m. near Adams School in Ballard, at the corner of NW 62nd and 24th Avenue NW. The route follows south to Market Street and eastward to Bergen Place, which is named after the Seattle Sister City of Bergen, Norway.
9:00pm to 12:00am
Then dance the night away..
At Leif Erikson Hall, 2245 NW 57th, No host bar.
$10 donation at the door. Must be 21 years of age or older.
If you decided to go don't forget to wear your "Norwegian bunader or ethnic costume, Norwegian sweater or your other favorite sweater, business suit, comfortable shoes, a flag, a good sense of humor and friendship. Smiles are appreciated".
Have a look at the pictures at the bottom of their web site.
Yes, the quotes are back on.
http://www.may17seattle.org/may17seattle.org/default.htm
Thursday, 5/20
Ken Kelly Opening Reception @ Howard House
This will look like a great art exhibition after you went to the U District:
Howard House is delighted to present the second solo painting exhibition by Ken Kelly. Please join us for the grand opening celebration Thursday, May 20, 6 - 8pm.
Ken Kelly’s recent paintings of subtly layered formal patterns made with mirror-image stencils flirt with disparate references like calligraphy, tattooing and symbolism. Distressed, bruised and troweled, the surfaces break up the symmetry of the metallic paint tendrils. New in this body of work is a distinct pattern of forms that jar the memory for symbols from 21st century culture. Unlike Ashley Bickerton’s use of corporate logos in the 80’s and Matt Mullican’s self-developed totalitarian symbolism, Kelly’s forms are a visual key to the negative space in the painting that have a subtle erotic feeling but also show Kelly’s virtuosity of creating meaning with layered pattern.
Opening Reception Thursday, May 20, 6 - 8 pm
Howard House Grand re-Opening Thursday, May 20, 6 - 8pm
NEW ADDRESS
604 Second Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98104
http://www.howardhouse.net
SIFF 2004 Opening
The press release says:
The Opening Night Gala of the 30th Seattle International Film Festival returns to the historic 5th Avenue Theatre. This spectacular night features an evening of film and festivities renowned as the "party of the year," and holds the promise of the exciting film festival weeks to follow. After the movie, treat yourself to an evening of music, drinks and delectables while lounging among the crowd at the post-screening reception at the Seattle Art Museum. A VIP ticket package including valet parking, a pre-screening reception, reserved seating and access to the post-screening VIP lounge, available to those wanting a bit more exclusivity and fun. Ticket prices are $50, Film and Reception; $125, VIP Film and Receptions.
They are showing The Notebook by Cassavetes:
THE NOTEBOOK
Director: Nick Cassavetes
USA, 2004, 121 minutes
A sweeping love story told by a man (James Garner) reading from his faded notebook to a woman in a nursing home (Gena Rowlands). Two teens from very different worlds spend one unforgettable summer together, until they're separated by her parents and then by World War II. The decisions they make determine the paths of their lives and love. Adapted from Nicholas Sparks' bestselling novel.
Friends I know that had been going to SIFF gala openings for years have expressed their disappointments lately. Last year was worse than the year before, which was worse than the previous year and so forth. The Seattle Art Museum was a bad location plus the open bar was understaffed and it took an hour to get a drink. The opening movies are also sometimes really crappy like that terrible musical they showed one year. All in all SIFF opening nights have turned into bad deals. Two thumbs down!
SIFF 2004 Opening Night Gala, $50.00
http://www.seattlefilm.com/calendar/dayview.aspx
http://www.seattlefilm.com/index.aspx?detect=yes
http://www.seattlefilm.com/film/program.aspx?id=24
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