Articles

REPORT: Chinatown ID Artwalk 9/19/09

Written by Kari Berger

DIRECT/INDIRECT OBJECT in Chinatown/International District neighborhood of Seattle

photos: Ben Zheng, Deborah C. Hughes (Anita Bingaman's and DCHs' b/w series on the wall)

Saturday, Sept. 19, started out cold and wet but ended with Chinatown brilliant in the late afternoon sun. Again UWPG had the use of the two beautiful retail spaces as in August for a gallery-style show of work, thanks to Diane King. Seven photographers and one sculptor combined to make a completely new show.

photo: Kari Berger (Elsa Raibon's "Amerique" series, and a large piece by Deborah Hughes')

Participating artists were: Deborah Conger Hughes, Jon Sparks, Anita Bingaman, Maria Festing, Stan Raucher, Kari Berger, Elsa Raibon showing photography and Mel Bingaman showing his painted clay figures. Mel's "Dude of Urbino" contemplated visitors in return for their attention.

photos: Kari Berger (salon wall with sculpture by Mel Bingaman), Deborah C. Hughes (Mel's "Dude of Urbino", Maria Festing's Textures and a large piece by D. Hughes behind)

A lively turnout, despite the packed nearby sports arenas and other major events around the city, visitors studied and discussed the work with the artists, and found quotes about art in "fortune cookies" custom made for us by a local company. Some lodged their complaints that fortune cookies ought to have fortunes in them, not homiies or pithy statements about art.

photo: Deborah Conger Hughes

Much of the work was black and white, some very large. As before there were series of works by individuals plus a large wall of "random" stand-alone pieces arranged salon-style in varying sizes and frames by various members of the group.

Related threads emerged from the open theme of the title, Direct/Indirect Object: the actual clay sculptures of figures, images of sculpted figures, and images of someone seeming to sculpt herself from clay; closeups of textures; glimpses of other cultures (Italy, US from a French perspective, Japan) and private/public moments; and inkjet prints on silk banners in the windows that did not particularly follow the theme but added another dimension.

One series was presented as a "flip chart" standing on an easel, created with the intention for people to handle and flip the pages to see the work in sequence. Wear and tear on the piece from handling was welcome, though people tend to be reluctant.

photo: Kari Berger ("mudwoman" series as flip chart by K.Berger)

Another UWPG photographer, Ben Zheng, showed his work in "Canton Alley". See his story below.

The artwalk is becoming a widespread and I think successful way to bring people out into the commons of various city neighborhoods to enjoy artwork and the buzz of new company, unusual venues for many artists to show work outside the formal gallery settings, and a chance for business owners to broaden their usual roles for a bit. It may be kind of a new urban cultural overlay on this community, but it does bring new people into an area that has been sidelined and is now experiencing an infusion of energy, attention and money while keeping a firm hold on its historical Asian roots.

photo: Kari Berger (view of 602-7th. Ave. S from the street as night falls, ER, DCH, Jon Sparks series, and banners on windows by KB)

It has been our privilege to show work here and see the area as participants, not just visitors or tourists to one of Seattle's oldest communities.

photo: Stan Raucher (Elsa Raibon and Deborah Hughes)