Much of the historical attention lavished on the events of WTO Week in Seattle during the past decade has been focused on the turmoil downtown. But for many of us who lived in Seattle at the time, the Seattle Police Department’s paramilitary invasion of the city’s ultra-liberal Capitol Hill neighborhood on the date in focus here still stands out as vividly as the previous day’s downtown mêlée.
Category Archives: Culture
Natalie Diaz: Meth, Mistakes & Mischievous Barbies
Diaz’s well-crafted verse and rich language evoke the familiar themes of death, deception, festivity and family. Her meth-head brother is brought up often in her poetry—especially in regards to how his addiction breaks down their parents. Both bit by bit and in giant, violent pieces.
Ellen Forney, Marbles & Me
By now you’ve most certainly heard about Ellen Forney’s immense talent and infinite heart illustrated in her graphic memoir Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, & Me, an artwork documenting her struggle with mental illness. The publication offers beautiful illustrations of the author’s endless quest to become the best writer, artist and human that she can be.
November 24, 1885: Anna Louise Strong
An undeniable icon in Seattle’s radical history, as well as that of the nation, Anna Louise Strong was born on the date in focus here in the uncannily-named Friend, Nebraska. She acquired many distinctions during her long life as a social justice activist, among them a Ph.D. in philosophy earned at the age, still precocious today, of twenty-three.
Seattle: Meet Artsyo
A self-proclaimed “OKCupid for art,” Artsyo is a brand spankin’ new online search engine that pairs users with local art and artists. Enter their “Pimp My Wall” contest by November 29th for a chance to overhaul your wall with a new original artwork on Artsyo’s dime.
Interleavings: Serendipity and the Auto/Biographical Process
Edith Buxbaum: she also liked to cook.
Odin’s Horse and the Lehrstück ohne Lehre
In our post-Bush era, political theater is increasingly rare. In our remote, cozy and often smug city of Seattle it is rarer still. Anything encouraging Americans to get together in a group to solve problems is a general anathema. Stereotypes have hardened. Dialogue is emotional and without sense. Issues are treated not as matters to solve by consensus but rather to be solved by fiat. It is no wonder discussion feels polarized.
November 6, 1970: The Seattle Seven
“Did you ever hear of ‘The Seattle Seven’? … That was me … and six other guys.”
October 31, 1979: Launching The Rocket
The year 1979 was a very good year for rock music, both internationally and in Seattle. In the wake of the punk explosion a few years before, much innovative and inspiring original rock music was then being created, performed, and recorded. Evidence of that renaissance can be found on the many now-classic LPs released that year, such as Joy Division’s “Unknown Pleasures,” Gang of Four’s “Entertainment!” and Talking Heads’ “Fear of Music.” In Seattle, many young rock musicians were greatly inspired by all this new musical activity coming from other, more prominent cities, and as a result, several new groups emerged in our city that year dedicated to playing original, cutting-edge music.
Interleavings: Serendipity and the Auto/Biographical Process
I found Dr. Remick’s name in a Little School folder. What was it doing there? It turns out that at the same time Dr. Remick was an affirmative action officer and attended that Women’s Studies meeting, she was the parent of a Little School pupil when it was in the Bellevue facility.
