01.26.2024

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Today’s Forecast

🎨 Spanning the local art world

Bridge Artists in Residence program goes to new heights

Artist Vivian Li in an orange dress and black shirt sits at a desk inside the Fremont Bridge with the blue-colored bridge components in the background

Vivian Li said she was compelled by the Fremont Bridge for its “magical” elements. | Photo by SEAtoday staff

It’s a rainy December day and Seattle artist Vivian Li is guiding us to her small studio inside one of the towers on the Fremont Bridge. To get here, we’ve had to pass the mechanical guts of the 117-year-old bridge that have just settled down after opening for a passing boat. It was a little freaky.

But Li didn’t seem to mind — this has been her quirky daily routine for several months. It’s all part of the deal in the SDOT Bridge Artists in Residence Program.

In this 15-year-old initiative, SDOT grants local artists $10,000 to work onsite and create special projects inspired by Seattle’s most iconic drawbridges. Past artists have created everything from graphic novels to lighting installations to musical compositions.

This time around, Li and Mariah Vicary (an artist stationed at the University Bridge) created data visualizations drawn from their unique experiences.

Someone holds a video controller in front of a screen showing fish swimming around. — Mariah Vicary’s interactive, environmentally focused works utilize game controllers.
|
Photo via SDOT

Finding inspiration

Li, with her background as a comic artist, used the bridge to conduct hands-on research two days a week September through December. During that time, she tallied the number of people who crossed the bridge and boats that passed below. She also asked locals to choose a mascot for the bridge — a troll, perhaps?

“I feel like there’s more culture on the Fremont Bridge than the other bridges around Seattle,” she said, noting that she received lots of waves and curious looks from pedestrians. ”People are very attached to it.”

An illustration with cars, bikes, and pedestrians in various colors all bunched together — Fremont Bridge’s data visualizations included colorful drawings of the people and vehicles that passed by.
|
Photo via Vivian Li

See the results

The fruits of Li’s labor is a series of whimsical illustrations, graphs, and web stories. Vicary created interactive, digital representations of the local aquatic wildlife that users can explore with video game controllers to see firsthand how the bridge interacts with our environment.

You can see the both artists’ works in a free gallery show at King Street Station from Feb. 1 through Feb. 10. where they’ll be on handto answer any questions.

Asked

What color was the Fremont Bridge originally painted when it opened in 1917?

A. Yellow
B. Green
C. Purple
D. Sky blue

Take a guess

Events

Friday, Jan. 26

Yesterday & Today: The Interactive Beatles | Friday, Jan. 26 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center, 10020 SE 256th St., Kent | $20-$32 | The McGuigan brothers perform a set of Beatles covers based on audience suggestions — no two shows are alike.
Third Annual Beard Competition | Friday, Jan. 26 | 8 p.m. | Skål Beer Hall, 5429 Ballard Ave. NW, Seattle | Free | Show off that winter-primed scruff or just gawk at other wonderful whiskers — Viking gear welcomed, but not required.

Saturday, Jan. 27

Kidstock! 2024 | Saturday, Jan. 27 | 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 Fourth Ave. N., Edmonds | Free | The full-day festival for kids of all ages features live performances, artsy workshops, and lots of interactive activities.
Seattle Wedding Show | Saturday, Jan. 27-Sunday, Jan. 28 | Times vary | Seattle Convention Center, 705 Pike St., Seattle | $20-$25 | If you’re planning for your own big day — or helping others — this is the place to be to scout local vendors like florists, caterers, and dress-makers.
Sistah Scifi West Coast Book Tour | Saturday, Jan. 27 | 12-1:30 p.m. | Northwest African American Museum, 2300 Massachusetts St., Seattle | Free | Author Nisi Shawl celebrates “Kinning” — the sequel to her acclaimed debut novel “Everfair” about a steampunky alternate history featuring airships and tyrants.

Sunday, Jan. 28

Family Day with Birds Connect Seattle | Sunday, Jan. 28 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | National Nordic Museum, 2655 NW Market St., Seattle | Free | Bring the kids to learn about starlings and other common birds in the area while working on feathery crafts.
Seattle Kraken vs. Columbus Blue Jackets | Sunday, Jan. 28 | 6 p.m. | Climate Pledge Arena, 334 First Ave. N., Seattle | $85-$550 | Cheer on All-Star Oliver Bjorkstrand and the Kraken crew as they take on a feisty East Coast foe.

Monday, Jan. 29

Walla Walla on Tour | Monday, Jan. 29 | 5:30-8 p.m. | McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St., Seattle | $100 | Hang out with Washington winemakers to learn out about the latest harvest, try new offerings, and enjoy our state’s bounty without having to cross the snowy Pass.
Marc Cohn | Monday, Jan. 29 | 7 p.m. | Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland | $73 | Check out the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter known for soulful hits like “Walking in Memphis.”

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Transit

To prep for the Eastside-only Light Rail line on the way, Sound Transit is starting to send trains on test runs every 10 to 15 minutes between the South Bellevue and Redmond Technology stations. The line should open in the spring once everything’s ready to roll.

Announced

He can do this all day. Captain America himself — or just Chris Evans, really — will be one of the major guests coming to town for Emerald City Comic Con March 1-2. Tickets to his autograph and fan photo session go on sale Wed., Jan. 31.

Traffic

All of I-5’s downtown southbound lanes between Exit 166 and I-90 will close from 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 through 4 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 28 due to construction. This closure includes the Yale Avenue/Howell Street on-ramp. Look for detour signs or plan an alternative route.

Arts

A new jazz venue is trumpeting its arrival in Pioneer Square. Local musician Thomas Marriott and his Seattle Jazz Fellowship organization have taken over the former Café Nordo at 109 S. Main St. Inaugural concerts begin this weekend with a $20 suggested donation. (Seattle Times)

Sports

The Seattle Sounders have signed exciting international star Pedro de la Vega to the team. The 22-year-old forward has played for Argentina’s Club Atlético Lanús where he scored 17 goals and 14 assists over five seasons.

Closed

Beacon Hill’s acclaimed Filipino restaurant Musang had to shut down temporarily because of a burst water pipe. All upcoming reservations were canceled and Chef Melissa Miranda launched a GoFundMe campaign to help support her staff during the indefinite closure for repairs.

Community

Seattleites, you are natural photographers — we’ve chosen the finalists for our SEAtoday Picture of the Year contest, and now we need you to vote for your favorite. See the finalists + help us crown a winner.

Closed

Restaurant Patty’s Eggnest recently closed its Crown Hill location on Holman Road after 25 years in business. The mini franchise known for its all-day breakfast dishes may also close its Northgate location soon due to redevelopment in the area. It still has five other outposts outside Seattle. (My Ballard)

Cause

Seattle/King County Clinic, happening Feb. 15-18 at Seattle Center, is looking for dental, medical, and eyecare professionals to volunteer, along with social workers, health insurance investigators, interpreters + general volunteers. The clinic will provide free vision, dental + medical care to people struggling to access/afford healthcare. Sign up to volunteer.*

Travel

Need plans for mid-winter break? Seabrook, the award-winning beach town, is hosting daily family-friendly activities Saturday, Feb. 17 through Sunday, Feb. 25 (think: a Bricks 4 Kidz® LEGO® workshop, indoor snowball games + a fun run). Book a vacation rental and enjoy miles of wide-open beach, hiking, biking, restaurants, and more.*

Environment

🗑️ Let’s talk some trash

How Seattleites can train to be a Master Composter

Two women (both in gray wool hats and work clothes) dig into a blue bucket of dirt with their hands.

The Master Composter/Sustainability Stewards program is co-managed by Tilth Alliance and Seattle Public Utilities. | Photo via Tilth Alliance

Ready to get your hands dirty? If you’ve always wanted to show off those mad composting skills, Seattle has a special class you can take to become a Master Composter — also known as a “sustainability steward.”

You’ll train to be a volunteer who helps educate locals about the importance of reducing waste through composting. To start, there’s a 30-hour classroom course that covers topics like improving soil health, sorting composting from recyclables, and managing storm water.

That training is followed by 35 hours of volunteer outreach that could involve everything from cleanup work at events to helping a community garden get their composting system in order.

Classes take place on Wednesdays + Saturdays, March through April, with online and in-person training opportunities.

Applications for the program are due by Feb. 19. No previous experience is necessary — you only need to be a Seattle resident to sign up.

The Buy

The Buy 1.26.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

A colorful box of bonbons, a heart-shaped peanut butter bar, or any other small business-made chocolate to indulge and treat yourself this weekend. Don’t forget to add a hot cocoa bomb to cart, too.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Gabe

From the editor

It was so cool to visit with Vivian Li last month to see what she was up to in the Fremont Bridge. Locals do have strong opinions and Li said she loved connecting with people during her survey on potential bridge mascots. One great suggestion? Sasquatch on a paddleboard.

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