WHAT’S NEW

Saya Moriyasu, Tim Marsden, Bijoux, PINK

In the walk up gallery (WUG), Saya Moriyasu’s Lunar New Year installation
is up through March 18. Come by before it’s gone!

Next up, we’re excited to collaborate on an opening celebration with our sister art space, Fresh Mochi, across the street.

March 19, 6-8:00pm: Opening celebration!

Tim Marsden: O Sweet Spontaneous will be up at WUG from March 19 through April 24 .

Tim Marsden: O Sweet Spontaneous
Bijoux! Photo by Debora Spencer
PINK at Fresh Mochi

Winter Fair and December updates

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.

Featuring wood carvings by Rick Williamsengraved maps by Yes Segura, locally made soaps, candles and body butter, wearables by Babe of Belltown and Debora Spencer, greeting cards, jewelry and more.

Winter Fair
At The Grocery Studios
3001 21st Ave S, Seattle
Dec 17th 5p – 9p & Dec 18th 11a – 7p

illustration of hands wearing mittens holding a hot beverage

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.

three cute and fluffy figurines by Elizabeth Jameson

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

A scene from Modern Glaze holiday show, with illustrated tumblers, collage, and ceramics

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 Grocery Studios at sunset
Image by Robb Joyce

wikipedia edit-a-thon to highlight Black pnw artists

Friends! Please join us to help write and edit Wikipedia pages highlighting Black artists from our region.

Wa Na Wari and The Grocery are partnering with The Black Lunch Table to increase the visibility of Black artists from the PNW on Wikipedia.

The Seattle Wikipedia Edit-a-thon is happening online Saturday, July 31st 12pm PST

12pm-1pm: Online Training on how to edit and create Wikipedia pages
1pm-3pm: Drop-In Online Wikipedia Editing

Register at bit.ly/BLTEditSeattle

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.

july 2021 update

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.

in the home stretch

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.

Street view of The Grocery exterior, in the snow.
The Grocery in the snow.
The south side of the building at at night, with glowing light and icicles hanging down.
The South Stevens side at night, with icicles.
Snowy scene of the east side of the building.
East side in the snow.

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.

Front door of The Grocery, showing gallery windows with maneki neko.
Gallery windows in progress.

Thanks for your continued support and patience. We look forward to gathering again later this year.

Fireside chat with Greg Lundgren at The Sorrento

Demi and Janet will join Greg Lundgren in a chat at the Hotel Sorrento on Tuesday February 18, to talk about art spaces. Please join us!

6-8pm, Free
Hotel Sorrento
900 Madison Street
Seattle, WA 98104

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fireside-chat-with-greg-lundgren-of-vitos-the-hideout-mom-registration-92810000209

“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.”

Windows are in!

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.

New exterior lighting with perspective view of the windows. White framing will be painted black.
Photo by Janet Galore.
Front view of windows before exterior lights were in. White framing will be painted black.
Photo by Robb Joyce.
Side view showing the exterior lights, and the cool new step at the door. We plan to spend many afternoons hanging out here. Photo by Robb Joyce.
Corner view, before concrete and exterior lighting were in. Photo by Robb Joyce.

Renovation update and new designs in the online shop

Since our last update in August, Robb and Leo (A.R. Joyce Remodel), Vero and crew (Sound Concrete), Tyler and crew (O’Neill Plumbing), Jim (Mutuus Studio), Demi, and others have been hard at work on the lower level interior. The concrete floor is in, the framing is done, earthquake retrofit is done, the main plumbing is in, stairs are roughed in, and electrical is in the works. Windows have been ordered and are being manufactured. Meanwhile, Demi and Veretta have been landscaping and building like crazy outside, shaping the back yard.

It’s looking like we will be able to start using the space a little again in the spring, but we’re not setting any dates just yet.

In the meantime, we’ve added a few new designs and colors to the online store — check it out!

"Make some art" T-rex t-shirt
Shop for t-shirts and hoodies at The Grocery Studios online store.

Photos by Robb Joyce and Janet Galore.

Art behind the walls

As the walls were waiting to get prepped for covering up, we realized that there was an opportunity to make a time capsule of sorts, to invite friends and supporters sign the old walls, make some drawings, offer messages to bring good energy into the new space that would form layers of history and encouragement.

When you’re in the renovated studio room, you’ll know that behind the walls are all the best wishes of the community. A few samples:

ellen forneys wall drawing