Art Is Everywhere

Last week, I was in Iceland for Reykjavík Arts Festival, the biennial celebration of the arts, and I was blown away by how much it seemed to touch every corner of the city. Seattle and Reykjavík have been sister cities for 40 years, and this trip was about looking at what that relationship means now. More to come on that. For now, though, I’m still thinking about the festival itself: dance, aerial arts, opera, performance art, family programming, outdoor activities, so much music, and even an official festival scent. The goal was to engage all five of the senses, and a lot of it was free and open to everyone. One of the first shows I saw, Karin Sander: 1957-2057 at Reykjavík Art Museum, is still on my mind.

Karin Sander: 1957–2057 is on view at Reykjavík Art Museum as part of Reykjavík Arts Festival.

Courtesy of Reykjavík Arts Festival

During a tour of Sander’s show with curator Markús Þór Andrésson, what stood out was how much he talked about proximity. In Reykjavík, ideas can move quickly because everyone seems to know each other, and there’s a shared understanding that the arts help define the city, and even the country. It reminded me of Seattle, especially around big happenings like Bumbershoot.

One of my favorite pieces in Sander’s show makes visitors part of the art right away. You’re invited to place your coat, bag, or whatever you happen to be carrying, inside tall glass display cases inside one of the rooms (you lock the case and keep the key), while your things stay on display as you move through the galleries.

It is such a brilliant idea, and instantly fun to watch and participate in. As people arrive, the gallery fills with jackets, backpacks, scarves, shopping bags, umbrellas, and the stray evidence of daily life. Sander calls them “spontaneous exhibitions changing.” The show keeps remaking itself, not through the artist alone, but through everyone who walks in. You come to look at art, and then, almost by accident, you become part of it.

Photo by Nate Gowdy

Parade Perch

If you’ve ever watched the Seattle Pride Parade from three people deep on the sidewalk, you know the joy of the day can come with a little neck-craning. This year, Seattle Pride has expanded reserved grandstand seating for anyone who wants a clearer view of the city’s biggest Pride celebration. The parade is Sunday, June 28, along 4th Avenue downtown, with a 10 a.m. pre-show at Westlake Park and an 11 a.m. start.

This year’s theme is “Rally,” and grand marshals include queer activist Deaunte Damper and the PWHL’s Seattle Torrent. Free priority ADA seating is also available for seniors and people with access needs at Westlake Park and 4th & Lenora, though pre-registration is required and space is limited. Grandstand areas open at 9:45 a.m.

Get more information here.

Courtesy of The Port of Seattle

Gate Expectations

I spend a fair amount of time at Sea-Tac International Airport, usually moving at that silly airport pace that isn’t quite walking but not really running either. So I’m always glad to hear about anything that makes the airport feel a little less like an endurance test. This week, the expanded C Concourse opened, adding four floors and more than 145,000 square feet of new space, including a two-story marketplace, new dining and retail, a central staircase, and a glass-enclosed outdoor lookout with views of the airfield and Olympic Mountains.

Designed by Miller Hull and Woods Bagot with the Port of Seattle, the expansion also includes a nursing room, sensory room, interfaith prayer and meditation room, and a pet relief area.I’m especially interested in the art, which features work by Northwest artists, along with a first-of-its-kind artist residency developed with Pilchuck Glass School and Tacoma’s Museum of Glass. The Port has artist spotlight videos on Crystal Worl and Fumi Amano, whose residencies helped shape work for the new space, and the views into that process are really cool. SEA is still SEA, but more daylight, more art, and a place to see outside? I’ll take it!

Courtesy of Edmonds Serves

Edmonds Serves

I live in Edmonds, so I’m biased, but I have always loved it. Even on an ordinary day, it can feel like I’m on vacation in my own town. The ferry and the train both meet at the waterfront, and there are sandy beaches, the best English pub ever, good restaurants, a legit Creative District, and a real sense of community. There’s a reason world traveler Rick Steves still calls it home after all these years.

Now Edmonds has another thing to brag about. The city was recently recognized as the first “Community of Service” in the country by the National Museum and Center for Service, and it’s launching Edmonds Serves, a citywide initiative celebrating local volunteerism. Downtown storefronts will feature residents and organizations that serve the community, with QR codes connecting people to Edmonds-area nonprofits and volunteer opportunities.

What a sweet idea, and also a reminder that making a city better usually starts with people asking how they can help.

Courtesy of Trailhead Direct

Bus to the Woods

Trailhead Direct is back, which means you can get to a hike without circling a trailhead parking lot like a vulture. The transit-to-trails service runs weekends and holidays through Aug. 30, with buses leaving Seattle every 30 minutes for hiking areas along the I-90 corridor.

One route starts in Capitol Hill and heads to the Mount Si area, including Little Si and Mount Teneriffe. Another starts at Mount Baker and serves Margaret’s Way and Squak Mountain. Regular Metro fares apply, and riders 18 and younger ride free. The buses seat 22 to 27 people, with racks for two or three bikes, and Metro’s trip planner has the full stop and schedule details.

Find more info here.