In the classic Hollywood musical comedy, the Music Man, appears one day in a small, culturally-starved, Iowa river-town and begins to sell the idea of a boys' band. Attesting to the strength of that basic human need for beauty and artistic expression, the Music Man's dream spreads like wildfire, bringing the town to life.
Likewise, Jerri Plumridge, arts director for Southeast Seattle Effective Development (SEED) has honed in on the artistic needs in this community. Plumridge came to the Rainier Valley in 1980 as a student intern for SEED. A petite University of Washington creative-writing student with a gentle disposition, Plumridge didn't even have a specific job assignment at the time. She was just supposed to make herself useful in some way.
Fortunately Plumridge brought with her a keen interest in the arts and a unique ability to tune into a community. She saw a Rainier Valley rich in talent and cultural heritage and suspected that tapping this wellspring would help revitalize Southeast Seattle.
"I saw a need," Plumridge said. "Something was lacking, so I went to the director of SEED and asked to revive our arts and culture program."
After all, SEED's mission is to promote positive community development, and Plumridge knew this development must incorporate beauty, arts, and culture as an integral part of civic life. If not, it's a dreary business at best.
Plumridge began by promoting and enhancing cultural programs already in existence, such as SEED's annual Jazz Festival and the Historic Columbia City Festival. She worked with local artists and residents to form the Southeast Seattle Arts Council.
At the same time she applied for grants from a variety of private foundations, as well as the Washington State Arts Commission, the King County Lodging Tax Fund, and the Mayor's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs to name a few.
Today SEED's arts department partners with schools, businesses and neighborhood organizations to oversee an impressive array of public arts and cultural projects like the Rainier Valley Cultural Center, the Jazz and World Music Concert Series, the Rainier Valley Youth Theatre, Public Art Workshop, the Columbia City Gallery, and much more.
We have all seen Plumridge-influenced arts projects gracing our public spaces: the Darigold Mural, the Spirit of Washington sculpture in Columbia Park, and the Lakewood Park mosaic walkway and benches are a few. The results of Plumridge's efforts are all around us in the South End. How dreary our world would be without her!
Plumridge says that, as a resident of Southeast Seattle, her goal has always been to make sure we view artistic beauty on a daily basis and that we don't have to go outside the neighborhood to fulfill our music and culture needs. If I had never worked alongside Plumridge on a public art project, I might have looked about in wonder at the mystery of what has made all this happen. But when our neighborhood was awarded funds to enhance its identity with public art, we were immediately referred to Jerri Plumridge of SEED.
The organization served as our fiscal agent, and Plumridge worked with us to choose an artist, coordinated the creative logistics, and managed our budget to make sure the limited funds would stretch to complete the projects.
Plumridge worked to obtain the greatest possible community input from start to finish. First she brought together a group of neighbors and friends to interview prospective local artists and view their work. We unanimously selected the graceful, culturally sensitive work of Alessandra Panieri who produced a variety of initial designs we displayed at various neighborhood locations.
Ballots were provided so people could vote on their favorites. On a companion project, Panieri worked with a group of school children to design fanciful multi-cultural geometric animal figures, which have recently been installed in Othello Park.
Long after our grant funds were exhausted, Plumridge never left our side. The Othello Neighborhood's public art works are Plumridge's babies as much as they are ours.
Even now, as Sound Transit ploughs the streets with backhoes and bulldozers, Plumridge has been in touch, making sure our treasures are carefully preserved. The poles upon which the banners hung will soon be torn down to bury utilities.
I found myself having nightmares about our beautiful neighborhood kiosk being ploughed under the pavement. But, because of Plumridge's persistent efforts, these works of art will reside in safe, temporary locations around the neighborhood until the throes of construction are over.
Thanks to Jerri Plumridge for bringing Southeast Seattle's neighborhoods to life with music, culture and the arts.
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