“If you’re heading to The Grocery Studios this weekend to hear more about the stories your data can tell, you’ll see and feast on “Jelly jelly jolly jealy jello jellies,” a scrumptious site-specific installation by local artist Philippe Hyojung Kim. The installation, on view in The Grocery’s new window gallery WUG (through June 4), consists of plastic multichromatic blobs and polyhedrons and has the mesmerizing allure of a lava lamp. (Note: The artist talk is on Saturday, May 21, 1-3 p.m. and will include a DJ set of “mellow psychedelia to help elevate your consciousness” by Seattle composer/ambient sound artist Nat Evans.)”
Crosscut gave a nice overview of the Data Epics project, premiering at The Grocery on Saturday May 14 2022 in the evening. We’re proud to host this event, which features authors reading excerpts from short stories they wrote using data from home devices as input. Read more about the evening at Eventbrite, and see the article below!
We’re excited to announce our first public in-person event in the newly refurbished space, plus a few other announcements.
Winter Fair at The Grocery December 17 and 18
When Beacon Artswith South End Public Market reached out to us to host their Winter Fair, it was a perfect match. Stop by for two days of live music, spoken word, and unique creations to purchase from local artists Friday (12/17) from 5-9pm and Saturday (12/18) from 11am-7pm.
Winter Fair At The Grocery Studios 3001 21st Ave S, Seattle Dec 17th 5p – 9p & Dec 18th 11a – 7p
Parking: We’re in a residential neighborhood and street parking is limited. Please be kind to our neighbors so we can continue doing events! Consider a ride share or a short walk from bus and light rail.
COVID safety: Artist vendors will be indoors, so masks are required and we will be staggering entrances to make sure everyone stays safe.
Pop-up at Fresh Mochi
While you’re visiting the Winter Fair, check out the holiday pop-up sale at Elizabeth’s Jameson’s new art space Fresh Mochi, just across the street from The Grocery, at 2900 21st Ave S, Seattle.
Same dates and times! Dec 17th 5p – 9p & Dec 18th 11a – 7p
With art and crafts from: Laura Brodax, Kelly Lyles, Erin Shafkind, Mandy Greer, Lauren Grossman, Jonelle Lind, Marlow Harris, Stephen DeWilliam, Annabella Kirby, Elizabeth Jameson, Jesse Lloyd Proebstel, Diane Tchakirides, Eve Cohen, Eroyn Franklin, Trevor Johnson, and more.
Holiday show at Modern Glaze
Meanwhile in the north end, check out the holiday art sale at Modern Glaze, friend and collaborator of The Grocery Studios.
Modern Glaze is at 14800 Westminster Way N Shoreline, WA, 98133Holiday hours through December 23rd Thursday, Friday, & Saturday 12:00-5:00 and by appointment.
Featuring work by Janet Galore, Laura Brodax, Liang-yin Chen, Eve Cohen, Mercer Hanau, Angel O’ Leary, Sonja Peterson, Amanda Salov, Linley Storm, Christine Westergaard
Studios renovation update
Since the summer, we passed inspections, closed out our permit with the City of Seattle, and are now officially a residential building. We’re still doing finish work, but we’re now able to use the studio for art making and lightweight gatherings as COVID protocols permit. The studio is our personal living room and we use it for our own artwork, so we will continue to balance private use with occasional pop-ups and creative activities. We also want to ensure we are respectful to our neighbors and the vibe of the neighborhood.
You can read more about how we share the space at our homepage.
The Black Lunch Table (BLT) is an oral-history archiving project focused on the lives and work of black artists. The work of the Black Lunch Table includes oral archiving, salons, peer teaching workshops, meetups, and Wikipedia edit-a-thons. The BLT brings people together to engage in dialogues about the writing, recording, and promoting inclusive art history. One aim of the Black Lunch Table project is to address the racial and gender bias on Wikipedia by encouraging Wikipedia articles about African American artists.
We’re getting closer to getting final inspections for the renovation, and it’s hard to believe we’re nearly there. You know those renovation reality shows, where the owners say, “Oh, we have a schedule and we’ll be done in a year,” and then it always takes twice as long and costs twice as much as they planned…? Well, that’s a real thing. The last event we hosted was July 27, 2018 (More Serenades for Science), almost exactly three years ago. We had one last goodbye party with friends in August 2018, and then the whole lower floor was stripped bare to the studs and the dirt, with plywood where the windows once were.
After completely rebuilding the electrical and plumbing, pouring 2400 square feet of smooth and level concrete floors, adding gallons of spray foam insulation (it’s pretty much a picnic cooler), putting in efficient casement windows, new exterior doors, efficient mini-splits that heat and cool the air, who knows how many square feet of drywall, a spacious and accessible studio powder room, the beginnings of a kitchen ready for dinners and drinks, and yes, even room to make art and have big ideas, she’s starting to look like a useful space again.
There will still be much more to do after final inspection, but we can’t wait to share it with artists, makers, dreamers, and the neighborhood again. Do we have a date to open? No. Schedule? No. We’re just plugging along, and it looks like fall might be a time for things to start happening again.
It’s hard to say what in-person gatherings will look like with COVID variants and masks and all, but as it’s safe to gather, we’ll be ready.
It’s been a long while since our last update, and we wanted to let you know that we’re still working on the renovation, and we are in the home stretch! We anticipate being able to host occasional events again before the end of the year, once we are able to gather again.
Like everyone in Seattle in early February, we had a lovely snowstorm for a few days. You can see the updated building exterior.
While we are waiting to have pandemic restrictions lifted, we are working on finishing up our gallery windows, so we can show art to passers-by. For now, neighborhood kids seem to enjoy the collection of maneki neko. When it’s done, there will be lighting and space to display 2D art, 3D art and small sculpture, or video.
Thanks for your continued support and patience. We look forward to gathering again later this year.
“Fireside Chats are returning this Tuesday at 6pm with Greg Lundgren of Museum of Museums, Vito’s Seattle, and The Hideout!⠀Greg will be joined in conversation to talk about new art spaces opening in Seattle will be Demi Raven and Janet Galore of North Beacon Hill’s The Grocery Studios.
Expect to engage in conversation with artists, visionaries, community leaders, activists, and key players in Seattle’s arts, culture, social, and business scenes.”
Things are really coming along–windows are in, new concrete step at the side entrance, and exterior lighting for sidewalk safety. Deeply grateful for Robb, Leo, Vero & crew, and Jim & crew at Mutuus Studio.