A glimpse of the Rainier Valley's soul is on display in Belltown's Virginia Inn through the end of August.
Photographer Joanne Petrina's "Rainier Valley Narrative," is a series of color portraits lining the venerable pub's walls. Those willing to break off from the conversation, food and beer to take good look at the faces gazing back at them will learn something about southeast Seattle.
Few things are more intimate and naked than posing for a photgrapher. Petrina is like a sculptor with stone - given enough time she brings out what's really there. And what's really there are the unmistakable character lines of interesting lives well-lived.
In the value-added department, Petrina has produced a book of the exhibit's photographs in black and white, accompanied by the brief stories of the people who sat for her.
"People say you can look at these images and you can tell these people know you," Petrina says. The southeast Seattle resident shops in many of these people's stores. The well-traveled Petrina has an on-going respect for people and different cultures. Her portraits speak of mutual trust between photographer and subject.
Remo Borracchini is here, seated amidst a trio of tall, white wedding cakes that have made Borracchini's Bakery & Mediterranean Market something of a local legend. Petrina's accompanying story takes note of the family history, and strength of family. "I told my three daughters, in no uncertain terms, that they could marry whomever they wished but that I would not permit them to leave Seattle!" Remo says.
Petrina is also aware of the neighborhood's intricate connections: :"Remo was best man at Art Oberto's wedding 50 years ago and his daughter married into the family that ran the Pike Place Market," Petrina writes. "His brother in fact built the 'Mutual Fish' building."
Speaking of Mutual Fish Company: Kevin, Dick and Harry Yoshimura are caught together in a rare moment of stillness.
Buzz Anderson, president of the Rainier Valley Historic Society, poses while wearing a society boater hat. "Buzz Anderson is a walking treasure chest of Rainier Valley history," Petrina starts off.
Wearing a sweater vest and tie, Chuck Kusak, of Kusak Cut Glass Works, sits at a table surrounded by the elegance of glass, right hand under his chin - an image that could have been lifted from 19th century Czechoslovakia. "He handed me a leatherbound book containing his grandfather's transactions, all written in an elegant and decorative hand" Petrina notes. "The script is not unlike the designs he cut into the crystal and passed on to his son and grandson."
About Georgia Johnson, of Chris' Louisiana Style Food, Petrina writes, "People knock on the window, pat their stomachs and wave as they pass by." Art Oberto looks back at the camera, in Oberto straw hat and Oberto tie, with a disarming, blue-eyed candor.
Mike Prontera, of Mike's Barber Shop, holds up comb and scissors, as if beckoning the next customer, in the old school, Italian barber sort of way - which just might have been Petrina herself. "Mama Mia!" look at your hair, you look like your head just came out of a washing machine!" is how Petrina quotes Prontera greeting her.
Petrina, 46, was born on the east coast and has traveled much of Latin America, including Cuba. She has seen how others live. Her eye for detail and her way with people have created an exhibit that catches the humanity of her subjects, and stands as an implicit rebuke to the demographers, statisticians, marketing experts and government surveyors who think they've got humanity all figured out.
Petrina's "Rainier Valley Narrative" booklet, which is for sale, opens an invaluable window on the valley.
"It's been a rich, rich experience - the lovely time I have spent knowing these people," Petrina says. It shows.
"Rainier Valley Narrative" at the Virginia Inn, 1937 First Ave. in Belltown, through Aug. 31. Those who can't make the show but are interested in the booklet can e-mail Petrina at jpetrina@earthlink.net
