Built in 1928-30, the Loveless Building, along Broadway East and East Roy Street, originally housed artisan shops and capacious apartments. Arthur Loveless even lived in the back of the building. The entire complex is listed as a historic landmark and is located at the southern end of the Harvard and Belmont Historic District, across the street from the Harvard Ext.
The area has long been a favorite of local architecture buffs as one of the most aesthetically unified areas in Seattle. This February, the shops feature a wide range of works by a variety of different artists. It seems clear that the Loveless Building is an Art Walk unto itself, so you do not have to wait for first Thursday to spend a delightful afternoon at this cozy corner on the Hill.
Restored murals at Fork
Fork, a new restaurant that will soon open where the Bacchus used to be, houses the exquisite original murals by V. Shkurkin, formerly of the Moscow Arts Theater. These murals were cleaned and restored back to their original vitality when they were the primary decorations for the original Russian restaurant The Samovar. The murals capture the common folk tales shared at a time when Capitol Hill boasted a large Russian community. Their exquisite lines and subdued palette erupt into a narrative story line that leads you through the entire restaurant.
'Visage' at Joe Bar
Known for superior crepes and coffee, Joe Bar was voted Best Gallery/Coffee Shop by the art critic at the Seattle Weekly. The new exhibition features Cornish graduate Cait Willis, who presents a series of portraits entitled "Visage." The paintings are unique portraits of the artistic community which swirls around the café.
"I asked people, when I could, what type of landscape would you be," said Willis, adding that "the more I worked on the series, the more I built up the layers of paint to create line drawings in the paint which was inspired by the art nouveau motifs of Vienna in the last century."
The series of acrylic on canvas paintings capture the individual creativity of the artists, writers, dancers and musicians who populate the café on a regular basis. On one canvas, the installation trio of John Sutton, Ben Beres and Zac Culler are marooned on their floating island off the 520 bridge (which stopped traffic last fall).
Another portrait is of the neo-'80s dance sensation, FANKICK! with polar bears in the distance executing their precision moves on an art nouveau northwest landscape. Each image reflects the individual's story as a member of this unusual creative community. This exhibition is one artist's perception of the amazing world which surrounds her. There will be an opening reception, (with the usual suspects) on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at the Joe Bar Café, 6 to 9 p.m. 810 E. Roy St.
Kobo
Kobo first opened its doors in 1995 featuring the work of small studio artisans of Japan and the work of Northwest artists. Kobo specializes in both traditional and contemporary works, offering a selection of objects in clay, fiber, metal, wood, bamboo, textile and paper.
The gallery has two drawings by Sandra Westford, which are still-life studies of pears. These graphite-on-paper works have a grace in the line and restrained use of sensitive shadow that makes these pieces pure beauty of form.
There is also Jim Brems' sculptures, which are rough and hand hewn. Two works, "Wheel" and "Iron Wood" allow a view of the artist's hand in service to the form. The overall ethos of Kobo is that of a calm aesthetic oasis in the middle of the bustle of the city. Kobo is located at 814 E. Roy St.
OKOK
The gallery presents "The Invincibility of Innocence," a solo show featuring new paintings by Blaine Fontana.
The exhibition opens on Feb. 11 with an opening reception from 7 to 10 p.m. The artist graduated with a BFA from Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. Currently, he works in Long Beach, Calif., as a fulltime artist.
His work reflects the fertile cross between the graphic traditions of extreme sports and the aesthetic traditions of the Japanese avant-garde like Group Zero and Gutai. He has been showing frequently on the west coast. Fontana also volunteers his time as co-art director and webmaster on the RTEA board, a nonprofit organization which raises money for art supplies for inner-city elementary schools.
OKOK will raffle off an original work with the proceeds going to ArtWorks, a local nonprofit which works with at-risk youth to create murals for schools, businesses and parks. The works will be up until March 12.
OKOK is located at 709 Broadway E.
Presence
The newest gallery in the Loveless Building, Presence features artisan jewelry and hand-crafted metalwork. The shop has something for everyone to enjoy. The metalwork in the shop from area artisans is very distinctive.
Owner Donna Rambo strives to carry up-and-coming artists not represented anywhere else in Seattle. The overall aesthetic is of a Euro-Urban lifestyle. Presence is located at 713 Broadway E.
Nestled at the north end of Broadway, the Loveless Building, is a one- stop district. February marks the start of a new revival of the creative spark that has always driven a better future for this part of town. The area of the Hill is electric with the seismic vitality that makes Capitol Hill an epicenter for urban art.
The next Capitol Hill Art Walk takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 1. For information on venues, go to www.thechaw.com.
Capitol Hill resident Steven Vroom can be reached at editor@capitolhilltimes.com or 46-1308.
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