48º | Occasional showers | 56% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:57 a.m. | Sunset 4:31 p.m. | High tides 10:32 a.m. and 12:16 a.m. | Low tides 4:31 a.m. and 6:31 p.m.
🪵 Seattle’s welcoming wooden art
Meet the Native carver behind the Summit’s welcome figures
The Mowitch Man is one of two welcome figures outside the Summit building. | Photo via Andrea Wilbur-Sigo
Take a stroll around the Seattle Convention Center’s new Summit building downtown and you’ll be greeted by two huge wooden statues.
Native artist Andrea Wilbur-Sigo, the first known woodcarver in her family for eight generations, carved the Mowitch Man and the Creator to reflect the traditions of her Coast Salish heritage.
“Welcome figures stood in front of our longhouse sites and were there to protect you when you came to visit,” she explained. “It’s a way to say you’ve arrived.”
The carving took a year — but Wilbur-Sigo’s artistic journey goes back much further.
Carving out a legacy
Born in Seattle and raised on the Skokomish Reservation, Wilbur-Sigo started creating art when she was just 3 years old. But learning the carving trade was challenging early on.
“It has been told to us from generation to generation that women were never carvers,” she said. “But I come from a long line of stubborn women. So I always laugh about that when it’s said... There’s a part of me that can’t believe that my grandma didn’t carve.”
Times they are a-changin’, though. Wilbur-Sigo has met other female carvers at gallery shows. She was also among the cohort of five Native female artists to create art for the Summit building.
Andrea Wilbur-Sigo is also a diver, which helped inspire the forthcoming Kelp sculpture.
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Photo via Andrea Wilbur-Sigo
The next generation
Wilbur-Sigo also gets satisfaction out of molding minds. She teaches art classes for kids + adults and serves on the board of the Squaxin Island Tribe’s museum.
“As I got older, I realized it’s important to lay a foundation for our next generation to learn about who they are,” she said. “I like to think that art does that for everybody, but it definitely does that for our Native children.”
A collaborative sculpture called Kelp meant to raise environmental awareness will soon appear alongside her Creator figure at the Summit building. And you can see more of Wilbur-Sigo’s art at UW.
Events
Friday, Nov. 3
Friday Night Music Series | Friday, Nov. 3 | 5-7 p.m. | Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14111 NE 145th St., Woodinville | Free | Enjoy sweet tunes from local musicians while sipping on vino from Washington’s esteemed estate.
“When We Become Ours” Book Launch | Friday, Nov. 3 | 6-8 p.m. | Asian Counseling and Referral Service, 3639 MLK Jr. Way S., Seattle | Free | Attend a reading of the new YA story collection that celebrates adoptee voices and community.
Saturday, Nov. 4
Beagle and Basset Hound Meetup | Saturday, Nov. 4 | 9-10 a.m. | Dog Yard Bar, 1546 NW Leary Way, Seattle | $16 | This should be a howling good time with floppy ears for days.
Seattle Kraken vs. Calgary Flames | Saturday, Nov. 4 | 7 p.m. | Climate Pledge Arena, 334 First Ave. N., Seattle | $115-$560 | The Kraken hope to douse the Flames with star Matty Beniers and crew.
Phoebe Robinson | Saturday, Nov. 4 | 7 p.m. | Neptune Theatre, 1303 NE 45th St., Seattle | $35 | You may recognize this raucously entertaining comic from the podcast-turned-series “2 Dope Queens.”
Sunday, Nov. 5
Fall Forest Bathing | Sunday, Nov. 5 | 9-11 a.m. | Kubota Garden, 9817 55th Ave. S., Seattle | $30 | Let the beauty of nature wash over you at this tranquil greenspace.
The Fruit Salad Show | Sunday, Nov. 5 | 1 p.m. | Seattle Public Library Central Branch, 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle | Pay-what-you-can | The eclectic performances include puppetry, drag, sketch comedy, music, and lots more.
“Seinfeld” Trivia Night | Sunday, Nov. 5 | 6 p.m. | Clock-Out Lounge, 4864 Beacon Ave. S., Seattle | $6 | What’s the DEAL with all these questions? Test how much you know about the hit ‘90s sitcom.
Monday, Nov. 6
Rare Scotch Whisky Tasting | Monday, Nov. 6 | 7-9 p.m. | The Barrel Thief, 3417 Evanston Ave. N., Seattle | $60-$95 | Prep your palettes for peaty-ness with the Scotch Malt Whisky Society as your guide.
KISS: End of the Road World Tour | Monday, Nov. 6 | 7:30 p.m. | Climate Pledge Arena, 334 First Ave. N., Seattle | $40-$1,000 | We wanna rock n’ roll all night and party every day with these face-painting legends.
Yikes — a Seattle water taxi intercepted a runaway barge in Elliott Bay yesterday afternoon that was drifting toward the Seattle Aquarium. The barge collided with a marina near Pier 66, but luckily no injuries were reported and the barge was later secured. (Seattle Times)
Concert
When they come around, we’re always excited. Green Day announced they will play a concert at T-Mobile Park with the Smashing Pumpkins and Rancid on Sept. 23, 2024. Tickets for the Saviors Tour go on sale Friday, Nov. 10.
Weather
Whew, that was a doozy. High winds knocked out power for thousands of Seattleites yesterday and even forced the Woodland Park Zoo to close (the animals were okay). Things should be calmer today, but another storm system is coming this weekend. (FOX 13)
Closed
After two years in business, Ballard restaurant Station 18 Drinks & Eats has closed. The owners have put a “for sale” sign up at the gastropub situated inside an old firehouse. It was home to Hi-Life and then Valentinetti until 2021. (MyBallard)
Traffic
Southbound lanes and the left lane of northbound I-405 will be closed this weekend for construction work on the Lind Avenue Bridge span. Those closures will begin at 11 p.m. tonight and last until 4:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 6. (KING 5)
Development
A local developer has plans for a 1920s-built Capitol Hill property that currently houses popular bar Bait Shop. The property at 606 E. Broadway will be torn down for a proposed five-story, mixed-use building with 121 apartment units and retail space. There’s no announced timeline for the demolition. (Capitol Hill Seattle)
Biz
Small Business Saturday is just around the corner — Nov. 25, to be exact. What local businesses will you be supporting + which local deals should we check out? Let us know and we may feature your recommendation in an upcoming newsletter.
Arts
Looking for a colorful new gig? The Chinatown-International District (CID) Small Business Relief Team is seeking mural artists for three paid projects in the the CID at 710 S. Jackson St., Little Saigon Park, and 668 S Lane St. The submission deadline is Monday, Nov. 20.
Stat
52% — that’s how much office space demand in Seattle has dropped year-over-year, per a new report by real estate tech platform VTS. The number represents the lowest demand of all cities measured. (GeekWire)
Read
Check this out. The Seattle Public Library is developing a new long-term strategic plan it’s developing for its community equity efforts, core services, and lots more — and wants your feedback. The online survey will be open through Wednesday, Nov. 15 and takes ~10-15 minutes to complete.
Finance
This five-star-rated card offers not one, not six, but 21 months of 0% intro APR on qualifying balance transfers — giving you nearly two years to save big. (All with no annual fee, to boot.) Learn more and apply.*
Wellness
Why optimize hormones as you age? You can improve strength, bone density, libido, blood pressure, and mood. Learn about your testosterone levels with Wellcore’s At-Home Assessment Kit.*
Plan Ahead
💡 Lights out
How to cope with early darkness in Seattle
King Street Station sure gets moody sometimes. | Photo by @emslens_1714
Wait, we’re not ready yet. This weekend marks the end of Daylight Saving Time, which means setting all the clocks back an hour starting at 2 a.m. Sunday (yes, we still have to do that despite national lawmakers leaning toward eventually ending the practice altogether.)
Rather than raging against the dying of the light, we have ways to illuminate your fall and winter.
Flow in the Dark | This periodic Yerbana yoga class at Flow Fitness studio in Fremont features glow-in-the-dark body paint and glow sticks. Check the page for updated schedules each week.
Sweaters from Pipe & Row | Nothing can sass old man winterlike fine knitwear — this Fremont boutique has stylish options for all kinds of incandescent personalities.
Yes, I too got excited when I saw the headline that Taylor Swift was returning to the PNW in late 2024 ... then realized the shows will be in Vancouver, not Seattle. Maybe time to plan a road trip? It’s only a couple of hours away.
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