SE ATTLE WEEKLY’ S 2014 HOLI DAY GIFT GUI DE • PA RT TWO
BELLEVUE SQUARE
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The Bastyr Dispensary
Holiday Sale
December 1-6
THE GREATEST GIFT ... 4 Daniel Carrillo’s portraits are a little dangerous, yes, but also timeless.
WISH LIST ... 4 The proprietor of Pie School tells
us what she wants, including affordable housing and potato chips.
BUY LOCAL ...6 When the holiday bustle is
too much, another, saner world awaits in West Seattle.
BUY NEARBY ... 7 Navigating the weird, tax-free
shops and wholesome-ish holiday attractions of Portland.
fancy foods, and superhero capes.
4 9 COVER ILLUSTRATION AND LETTERING BY CHRISTINE HERRIN
BLACK FRIDAY WAS A DARK DAY this year. With sales down 11 percent by some estimates, holiday cheer turned to holiday fear. So it was when Robert Reich took to Facebook and laid down some unconventional wisdom about the lagging sales. “The biggest losers from slack holiday sales are small businesses—especially independent ‘mom and pop’ operations—as giant big-box retailers and online sales take a growing portion,” the noted economist wrote. “That’s bad for our communities, and further reduces the countervailing power of small businesses against giant corporations.” It gets pretty political from there, so—in the interest of keeping this gift guide non-partisan—we will stick with his primary point: Small businesses need a lift. This sentiment falls in line with Seattle Weekly’s Holiday Gift Guides. We believe in supporting local business, but not just because it’s better for the community. The fact is that it’s good for the gifter too. When you spend your hard-earned money on local shops and makers this season, you are really doubling your gifting power, goosing your goodwill. Yes, you are buying a delicious jar of coral pink plum jam for Aunt Sandy, but you are also assuring greater cheer for the Ayako Family, who hand-jarred that jam. Yes, your son will likely never stop wearing the superhero cape and mask you get him, but your purchase will also assure that the folks at World of Whimm will keep kids in capes for years to come. And yes, your niece will love that chunky knit snood, but local designer Suk Chai will also love the money you spent on it and will use it to fuel a spring line. Seattle will glow merry with your largesse, and you will be deemed twice as nice. This double-gifting effect is especially prevalent in the world of art—to which we have devoted an entire section of Gift Picks this week, as well as our Greatest Gift. Investing in art is not about scoring some early work by a future star that will someday be worth millions; it’s about investing in that artist so he or she can have a future. When you give the gift of art, you’re giving an artist a morale boost and providing him or her with funds to keep going. Your sister or brother or father or mother will receive a dazzling, thought-provoking original work to hang on the wall. When guests ask where it came from, you will be mentioned, as will the artist, and maybe some update on what the artist is doing now. Guests will be impressed; perhaps they will become customers—and the gift will keep giving and giving and giving.
Mark Baumgarten Editor-in-Chief
• 20% off sale on all jewelry, gifts, body care, books, candles and more December 1-6! • Free Living Naturally talk on “Winter Gifts: Making Herbal Products at Home” Learn how to make your own infused oils, muscle rub and lip balm 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, December 6 • Health and Beauty Products Fair Noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, December 6 Events.BastyrCenter.com 3670 Stone Way N. Seattle 206.834.4100
SEATTLE WE EKLY’ S 2014 HO LIDAY GI FT GU IDE • PART TWO
GIFT PICKS ... 9 Presents for all, including local art,
GIVING DOUBLE
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HEATHER MALCOM
MIRROR, MIRROR
KATE LEBO
Daniel Carrillo’s daguerreotypes capture the essence of their subject, the true power of photography, and the spirit of the season.
Poet, teacher, maker of amazing pies. A Bolt Bus From Seattle to Spokane
According to my favorite Spokanite, it takes four hours to drive to Seattle. Seattle friends say six hours to get to Spokane. When I drive, it’s five hours, all of which would be more pleasantly spent reading a book or dozing or catching up with an interesting acquaintance who happened to take the same bus. Why white-knuckle Snoqualmie Pass on a snow day when you could put your life in the hands of a Bolt Bus driver?
BY T.S. FLOCK
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rapidly reproducible—what with smart phones and Instagram—that part of the magic of the image has been lost. Returning it to its place as a fine craft that results in a unique physical object might seem stubbornly retrograde, but the work of Daniel Carrillo proves that the slow, methodical process of early photography may in fact still be the most beautiful. Carrillo rightly says that daguerreotypes are like “polished jewels.” They glint and glitter with shadowy images, each a unique object with weight, presence, and fragility. Victorian art critic Lady Eastlake referred to such early photography as “the mirror with a memory,” but, true to some superstitions, these images have more than a memory; they seem to have a soul of their own, and their haunting beauty transfixes in a way that standard portraiture rarely does. The artist’s fascination with this particular form of photography began at a workshop in Rochester, N.Y., the birthplace of Kodak. There he learned the ins and outs of wet-plate photo-processing, which requires a great deal of preparation, polishing, and chemistry—as well as 10 seconds of stillness from the model. Some of the equipment is now quite rare, so he created his own. These challenges alone might deter would-be enthusiasts of the medium, but the addition of corrosive and poisonous chemicals makes the process particularly “elusive,” as Carrillo puts it. The danger is real, even though damage to one’s body and nervous system can take time to manifest. Carrillo himself was cavalier about these dangers at first, but art legend Kiki Smith put the fear of God in him when, at a portrait sitting, she scolded him for not taking proper precautions for himself. The lesson seems to have stuck, so hopefully he will be at his craft for many years to come. It’s a unique craft, to say the least—one that a perfectionist like Carrillo will always be honing, though he is already one of the most sought-after artists in his genre. His portraits of local and international art luminaries reside in many permanent collections, including that of noted photography collector Elton John. One could select from his existing pieces, but as a gift of art, a commissioned portrait could be a lasting memento and heirloom that stands
A Haircut From Sheli Kersten Every day with Sheli is a good hair day. I can walk into her Red X Salon (1121 Pike St., 340-1177) with a vague idea about bangs and big hair. She’ll translate that into “Loretta Lynn with a Stevie Nicks rising sign” and take care of the rest. She won’t talk your ear off and she won’t judge your love life, but she will give you a beehive if you ask for it.
COURTESY DANIEL CARRILLO
SE ATTLE WEEKLY’ S 2014 HOLI DAY GIFT GUI DE • PA RT TWO
Photography has become so ubiquitous and
Tim’s Cascade Jalapeño Chips Everywhere
Top: Untitled half-plate daguerreotype. Right: Portrait of Chauney Peck and Chris Engman.
the tests of time and trends. Ambrotypes range greatly in size, though larger sizes can only be shot in studio, while smaller plates can be shot elsewhere. The preparation of daguerreotype plates takes two weeks, so if you want to give one as a gift, it’s best to act sooner than later. The medium is unwieldy and unpredictable in less-capable hands, but Carrillo’s expertise consistently renders ethereal images with a power and presence unlike any other. Whether you are giving your own image or gifting a session to someone else, the result will be enjoyed by all timelessly. E See daniel-carrillo.com for fee schedule and contact info for commissions.
If a gas station has Tim’s Cascade, I’m likely within same-day distance from Seattle. As great as it is to have this sign that I am close to home, I’d like it even more if, everywhere I drove, in all small towns, Tim’s Cascade chips were everywhere, salting me up and crunching me out for another couple hundred miles. Affordable Housing Confession: I haven’t had
a Seattle address since May 2013, when the rent on my Ballard one-bedroom spiked by 50 percent and I decided the smartest decision as a working artist was to struggle elsewhere. The gypsy life has its perks, and couch-surfing in Seattle can be quite comfortable, but I’m bummed about leaving. Affordable housing close to the action—that’s what I want.
The Delridge Grocery Cooperative West
Seattle’s Delridge neighborhood, with no nearby traditional grocery stores and limited access to fresh groceries by public transit, has been called a food desert. The Delridge Grocery Co-op will change that landscape when they open their retail location on Delridge Way. Build-out begins in 2015, and they need more members to make it happen. Let’s make it happen! E Lebo’s Pie School is currently enrolling students. Get more info at pie-school.com. You can also purchase her cookbook, Pie School: Lessons in Fruit, Flour & Butter, at booksellers everywhere.
We carry ugly Christmas sweaters, costumes and accessories for santarchy, decor
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Seattle’s Original Party Store Since 1936
124 Denny Way (206) 284-1980 www.championparty.com
SEATTLE WE EKLY’ S 2014 HO LIDAY GI FT GU IDE • PART TWO
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Give and you shall receive!
SE ATTLE WEEKLY’ S 2014 HOLI DAY GIFT GUI DE • PA RT TWO
Holiday shopping in the city of Seattle can be
something of a nightmare. Downtown is chaos, and you’d be delusional to think you could find a space your first go around a mall parking lot. When you can no longer count the number of salespeople who’ve told you the item you’re searching for is sold out, and need to get in a different headspace to plan that big midwinter soirée, know to head for the West Seattle Bridge. Once there, start at the Junction and stay at the Junction. You needn’t go anyplace else. Because most of the population will be driving the opposite direction, it’s fair to assume the commute will be smooth. As your holiday stress subsides slightly, you might begin to notice your hunger pangs. Shopping-induced fatigue is real. In this case, Fiddlehead Fine Foods & Cafe (4310 S.W. Oregon St., 708-7891), best known for its brunch, is a must. Be warned that the establishment is rather untraditional; customers order at the counter and coffee is self-serve. Never mind that you have failed to materialize any gifts on your list yet—let alone made any progress on that party for your in-laws. Enjoy the pork hash and the ambience. Emptied spice jars filled with flowers sit atop refurbished doors-turned-tabletops, which, coupled with turquoise accents, create an atmosphere comfortably and colorfully eclectic. Having finished your meal, stay on California Avenue and find Fleurt (4536 California Ave. S.W., 937-1103). The shop retails fresh flower arrangements and gifts, including cards, jewelry, and a great collection of home goods. Stock up on stocking stuffers as well as season’s greetings. Fleurt’s flower bar may very well inspire you to step up your table -etting game. With the help of floral designers, create a bouquet sure to wow guests. Feed the inspiration sparked there at Terra
Chad Knight, cuts up cubes of stew meat for a customer. Hot pastrami at Terra Cole.
Cole Butchery (4541 California Ave. S.W.,
258-2475) to further party planning. Terra Cole offers only sustainably sourced products, so no matter what cut your party prefers, you’ll be serving quality. The store specializes in meat, though most prepared sides fit alternative diets, as do the specialty spices and sauces available. After making a serious dent in that infernal get-together, retrain your mind on gifts. Easy Street Records (4559 California Ave. S.W., 938-3279) is a must-hit for vinyl new and old. Need help finding the right sound? Don’t be afraid to ask the supremely knowledgeable staff. And for the bibliophile on your list, try Merryweather Books (4537 California Ave. S.W., 935-7325) and the Pegasus Book Exchange (4553 California Ave. S.W., 937-5410). Before you leave, venture outside the Junction to Locöl (7902 35th Ave. S.W., 708-7725). The restaurant and beer/wine bar offers several vegetarian options, and with its wood walls and gas fireplace, it’s the ideal setting to wait out rush hour. E
Fleurt
neighborhoodgrills.com COURTESY FLEURT
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BY ABBY SEARIGHT
KYU HAN
For every $50 you spend on gift cards, get a $10 bonus certificate.
Get away from the bustle and find gifts and goods in West Seattle. KYU HAN
GIFT CARDS! The perfect gift.
PARTY OVER THERE
WEIRDER, CHEAPER, CHARMING Yes, Seattle is still better, but Portland is worth a visit for the holidays. BY JEANNY RHEE
Canoe
Welcome Sights JOSH PARTEE
Most notable for being Seattle’s weirder—and
A HARDWARE STORE ON CAPITOL HILL
206-322-1717
COURTESY BETSY & IYA
HAPPY HOUR BAR MEZZANINE OPEN
In the Southwest, visit Canoe (1136 S.W. Alder St., 503-889-8545), a retail shop special-
SEATTLE WE EKLY’ S 2014 HO LIDAY GI FT GU IDE • PART TWO
betsy & iya jewelry
izing in timeless and functional objects for everyday use, such as Eena’s specialty craft canvas bags and Flint & Lars pet toys. This is the perfect spot to find something for the sophisticated and perhaps high-maintenance individual on your list. The newly developed Union Way ShopBlue skies in December. ping Arcade (1022 W. Burnside St.), which connects downtown Portland’s West End with A hardware store on Capitol Hill. the Pearl District, is a long, intimate corridor 206-322-1717 you could mistake for 1417 12th Avenue a Eurowww.pacsupply.com pean-style apartment 1417 12TH AVENUE building. (BETWEEN PIKE Stop by AND UNION) Quin to find goodWWW.PACSUPPLY.COM ies for Oaxacan Messenger Bag by stockingWill Leather Goods. stuffers: The candy shop features rich caramels, handmade lollipops, and other classics made with topnotch ingredients. For the burly man-friend on your list, there are two perfect arcade shops to hit before heading home: Danner, Portland’s American-made leather boot company, and Will Leather Goods, a lifestyle brand offering high-end, buttery-smooth leather goods. If the timing of your trip is right, check out some of the city’s most popular holiday attractions, including the 2014 Holiday Ale Festival pm (Dec. 3–7, holidayale.com) held at Pioneer Mon-Fri: 3pm-6pm • Sat-Sun: 12pm-6 Courthouse Square (701 S.W. Sixth Ave.), promoted as the “premier winter beer-tasting venue on the West Coast,” with more than 50 specially For private parties up to 40 people, brewed winter ales to keep you toasty (and cheeremail alibiroom@outlook.com ful) for the holidays. And if you’re into crafts or k Kitchen Open Until 1am | 7 Nights a Wee know someone on your gift list who is, make sure to attend the Super Colossal Holiday Sale From Crafty Wonderland (Dec. 13–14, crafty wonderland.com) at the Oregon Convention Center (777 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd,, Open Mon-Fri: 3pm-1am • Sat-Sun:12pm-1am 503-235-7575). It’s a bonanza of more than 250 10406 HOLMAN RD NW • SEATTLE, WA 98133 www.greenwoodalibi.com local vendors selling handmade goods and crafty gifts you can get only in Portland. E COURTESY WILL LEATHER
arguably cooler—vegan sibling, Portland is the ultimate (and tax-free!) shopping destination for folks wanting to channel their inner oddness during this year’s gift-giving season. To take in all the quirky gift shops and toys, handcrafted jewelry with cult followings, and specially made goods available exclusively in Portland, make this trip an overnighter (or an all-weekender). Portland’s public transportation system undeniably beats Seattle’s, so you can leave your car behind and take Amtrak instead. To spare yourself getting lost in the city, make sure to find out about Portland’s TriMet system, which integrates the city’s buses, MAX Light Rail, and streetcars. You’ll also want to study the map of Portland on your ride down, as it’s separated into four quadrants. Starting from the Alphabet District in Northwest Portland, head to betsy & iya (2403 N.W. Thurman St., 503-227-5482) to find miraculously affordable handcrafted jewelry, plus clothing, bags, accessories, and more. Each piece is perfectly balanced with thoughtful asymmetry for a boho-chic feel. You can mosey on through to the back of the store to find their onsite studio and see where all the metal magic happens.
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The Perfect Gift For the one you love...
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SE ATTLE WEEKLY’ S 2014 HOLI DAY GIFT GUI DE • PA RT TWO
GIVE A UNIQUE GIFT! • Oaxacan carvings • Religious artwork • Talavera pottery • Huichol artwork • & more
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PIKE PLACE MARKET Post Alley (just off Pine St) 1409 1ST AVE (2nd location) between Pike & Union 206.464.0490 www.MilagrosSeattle.com
Give the gift of comfort.
4303 University Wy NE Seattle 98105 • 206-632-3254 And remember we always validate parking for all UDPA parking lots.
LOOK LIST
Women’s wear, from boots to snoods. SKIF International Knit Poncho
Small boutiques often carry both local designers and international ones, and are the perfect place to find original gifts. My Dressing Room owner Bea McCammon carries carefully chosen lines as well as clothing designed and sewn for her own label, BEATA. The SKIF International Poncho featured in the shop is a cool on-trend piece with the look of couture but not the price tag. Made from natural fabrics and yarn, the chunky knit and asymmetrical rough fringe edge make this a statement piece. LISA COLE $300. skifo.com. Available at My Dressing Room, 1817 Queen Anne Ave. N., 695-2725.
COURTESY MY DRESSING ROOM
UNFORGETTABLE EDIBLES Presents you can plate.
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Comalapa Short Boot
5. Ayako & Family Jams
Sarsen Rider Coat
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2. Truffle Salt
I love truffles. I don’t love the idea of paying hundreds of dollars for them. Fortunately, La Buona Tavola in Pike Place Market offers a wide range of delicious and versatile products imported from Italy and made with world-class truffles. While the oils and creams are nice, I go straight for the truffle salt, which has a longer shelf life, is super-easy to use (just sprinkle it on to finish a dish), and, combined with popcorn, makes the perfect accompaniment for an
ACTION & ADVENTURE
Obsessions and identities for kids 6 to 11. L’Explorateur Kit
Perfect for the curious mind, this kit provides everything an
evening of binge-watching. ZACH GEBALLE Truffle Trio Gift Package, $29.95. trufflecafe.com. 3. Boat Street Pickled Figs
Of all of Renee Erickson’s pickles, I’d choose these every time. Black Mission figs are soaked in a syrup of red wine, sugar, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, and sea salt. The result is a beautifully balanced sweet/sour combination that’s incredibly rare in a pickle. I was skeptical that they’d pair well poured over vanilla ice cream—until I tried it. While cooked figs can become too treacly, these manage to retain their original fresh flavor, possibly due to the addition of the savory ingredients. NICOLE SPRINKLE $10.99 for 9 ounces. Available in Renee Erickson restaurants as well as specialty shops throughout Seattle, including Metropolitan Markets and PCC. 4. AgLocal Meat
A gift box filled with bacon, lamb legs, rib-eyes, and shortribs will woo your favorite carnivore. Better yet, AgLocal, the CSA for meat, delivers adventurer needs to discover the mysteries of the world: a briefcase (complete with travel patches), compass, water bottle, binoculars, field notebook, pencil, canvas adventure sack, strings, and a set of cards with instructions on how to tie knots. Kids can keep their field tools in the canvas bag while filling the briefcase with recent artifacts from their latest adventure. $80. clovertoys.com. Animation Studio
Tired of your kids playing on their iPod? Have them put those shiny things to more creative use. Using a mobile device or camera, this kit will help guide your child to create his or her very own stop-motion movie. The
Maybe the best thing about living in the Pacific Northwest—other than legalized same-sex marriage, legal weed, and amazing music—is the lovely nature that surrounds us, from hiking trails to delicious farm-fresh food. Another fine example: Ayako & Family jams. From a farm in Yakima, these tart, hand-jarred jams—including China red plum, coral pink plum, and apricot—go great with biscuits, yogurt, or cheese. Each is well-balanced and not overly sweet, and keeps the essence of the fruit intact. JACOB UITTI $12 for 8 ounces. ayakoandfamily.com. E
Designer Heather Blanchard’s Sarsen Fall 2014 Collection debuted at the 2013 Bellevue Collection Independent Designer Runway Show, where she wowed the audience with her edgy, modern pieces. The
kit includes a mini-stage set, pressout props, a press-out puppet monster, storyboard samples, and a helpful handbook to instruct would-be movie makers on the skills of crafting their very own animated story. $20. clovertoys.com.
colors, ensuring that your child’s unique personality shines through while keeping his or her hero identity top-secret. The masks’ simple design and the capes’ large buttons and loops ensure easy adornment without assistance. Check out World of Whimm’s other superhero items, including cuffs, to complete the look. $32. etsy.com/shop/ worldofwhimm. E
Super Hero Cape and Mask
Help your child discover his or her inner superhero! Locally made by World of Whimm, these capes and masks come in a variety of designs and
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Citrus can come in winter—for Japanophiles, at least, who will thoroughly enjoy this sampler. Yuzu is a unique, highly fragrant citrus originating in East Asia and popular in Japanese cuisine. This large sampler includes many ways to enjoy it: as a juice for cocktails and spritzers, in marmalade for jam and tea, and as a ponzu base made with bonito and kombu that’s great for sushi and fish. TIFFANY RAN Whole flight, $60. Marx Foods, 144 Western Ave. W., 447-1818, marxfoods.com.
O MIY ASHIR
1. Yuzu Sampler
MARL
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SEATTLE WE EKLY’ S 2014 HO LIDAY GI FT GU IDE • PART TWO
healthy and responsibly raised meats from familyowned farms on the West Coast once a month. Choose from Family Style (7 or 14 pounds), Grill Master (5 or 10 pounds), Fit and Lean (5 or 10 pounds), or the Farmer’s Pick (7 or 14 pounds) for adventurous meat-eaters. Those stumped or in a rut can consult aglocal.com, which provides recipes and gift options for those looking for a one-time deal. TR From $85. aglocal.com.
Uxibal (pronounced oo-she-bal) is fashion with a mission, founded by Seattleite Britini Port, whose business model supports female artisans in central America, where work options for women are extremely limited and life can be a struggle. The Comalapa short boot in black features a suede and denim lining inside a sleek form, plus stitched details on the front and a signature motif handwoven by artisan Lidia of Comalapa, El Salvador. The responsible sourcing makes it a thoughtful gift that feels as good as it looks. T.S. FLOCK $215. uxibal.com. Available at Moorea Seal, 2523 Third Ave., mooreaseal.com.
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Look List » FROM PAGE 9 rider coat was a standout, a modern-day version of Little Red Riding Hood—with an edge. This 100 percent melton wool lined and fitted coat with an oversized hood has a hi-low hem and an off-center zipper. It’s a gorgeous pop of color in the sea of gray and black on Seattle streets. LC $279. shopsarsen.com. Available at Momo, 600 S. Jackson St., 329-4736. Lunatic Leggings
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The locally designed and made clothes by Actual Pain have made a splash nationally with their fine construction and motifs inspired by black metal. Items are made responsibly in small batches, so they frequently sell out, but a perennial favorite has been some of the leggings, whose monochrome designs include baroque, Goetic sigils, and crazed marble patterns. For the moonchild in your life, Lunatic Leggings are bold and cool, but accessible with their line of moons in different phases. TSF $52. actualpain. myshopify.com. Available from Craft and Culture, craftandculture.com.
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This chunky knit snood from local designer Suk Chai will make an amazing gift because it’s perfect in both form and function—and it’s just plain gorgeous. Manufactured by a German knitting manufacturer in a supersoft Italian alpaca blend, this beautiful piece is unisex, and would be fabulous pulled over your head or down around your shoulders to keep cozy and chic. LC $280. schaischai.com.
JESSICA CARTER
SE ATTLE WEEKLY’ S 2014 HOLI DAY GIFT GUI DE • PA RT TWO
SCHAI Vita Snood
CON Hoodie by Reverie
Seattle-based clothing line Reverie has a savvy peculiar to the region—street, pop, and glitch art, topped with a logo that the similarly savvy will recognize as inspired by the art of Jean-Michel Basquiat. This informed vision produces easy-to-wear clothes with clever details. The hand-dyed CON Hoodie’s palette of blue and green is at home in the Pacific Northwest, tagged in the back with a lo-tech decal of a flat, digital, commoditized world. Besides looking hip, it’s a smart statement that one doesn’t see coming. TSF $65. reverieseattle.com. Available at Trichome, 618 S. Jackson St., 905-9884, trichomeseattle.com. E
DECK THE WALLS Local artwork at the right price. 1. Violet’s Highway by Alex Achaval
Neon signage, rodeo culture, pop, and fashion merge in the vivid, lurid, and layered portraits by painter Alex Achaval. A female figure rises from a wreck of architecture and cattle skulls. A chieftain stares en face, half-erased by swaths of color. Achaval grants his subjects totemic power, even as they are swallowed by encroaching forces. The work is provocative and visually striking, demanding more than attention— rather a conversation. $975. alexachaval.com. 2. Linestrider Tarot: Two of Swords by Siolo Thompson
The tarot has been an inspiration for many artists, but few complete their own deck of 78 symbolically dense cards. Thompson is methodically producing her Linestrider Tarot, whose intricately drawn animals and spirits against white are a beautifully contemporary approach to the centuries-old system. Originals $210, prints $40. siolothompson.com. 3. Memento Mori Prints by Joey Bates
Bates’ delicate cut-paper art is really a form of sculpture, though it is almost flat against the wall when hung. Faces and flowers emerge from a white surface, lined only by fine shadows. Skulls gape in a field of soft blue, pressed flat but still full of depth. His flower prints are also quite marvelous. $80. Inquire at Ghost Gallery, 504 E Denny Way, ghostgalleryart.com. 4. Untitled (Catalogue Number AA_09_03) by Arturo Artorez
Artorez’s life has been colorful, to say the least, in no small part due to his own adventurous spirit. Even the mundane remnants of passing days—timecards, ephemera, losing lottery tickets—become small surfaces on which to depict mysterious scenes, spirits, Buddhas, beasts, and beauties. Sifting through them is a journey in its own right. Enjoy it. $250. vermillionseattle.com. 5. Sketchbook Watercolor: Busy Site by William G. Hook
Architect and artist William G. Hook’s sketchbook overflows with lush watercolors. His eye for structure is matched by his sense of color and light; using the medium to its fullest he captures scenes of transition around Seattle, beautifying the chaos of construction and the dampness of our climate. $350. Inquire at Alki Arts, 1124 First Ave., 432-9936, alkiarts.com. 6. Left for Dead by Robert Hardgrave
Hardgrave’s works are almost always immediately recognizable, though his style continues to vary from series to series. The seemingly shifting geometric patterns, layers, and undulating shapes create a multitude of forms that are universally appealing, and have provided ample opportunity for collaboration. $800. cullomgallery.com. See Beth Cullom and Hardgrave present the new works at a pop-up gallery event, Dec. 6.
Lyu Boutique
Happy Holidays!
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10 7. March Box Set: Immaterial from LxWxH
9. Wolf-Girl by Don Fritz
Each limited-edition box set from LxWxH Gallery contains works by two artists and a writer. Immaterial, which addresses philosophical tangibility, is a brilliant blend of conceptual work for the more abstract art lover. The set includes a 20-page art book by Dylan Neuwirth, wrapped prints from Jeff Gerber’s series Potential Dust, and Greg Lundgren’s short story The Dominus Interviews. $225. lengthbywidthbyheight.com.
The ceramic books of Don Fritz are enigmatic objects—dark, textured, un-open-able, with the heft of a tome or treatise yet decorated with cartoonish figures. This enigma verges on piquant satire with Fritz’s dash of voyeurism: Two figures on opposite sides of the book seem to see each other, but we cannot see between them or within. $900. Inquire through Gallery IMA, 123 S. Jackson St., 625-0055, galleryima.com.
8. Wind-Up Bees by Braden Duncan
10. Hide and Go Seek: Photolith by Heidi Kirpatrick
These small portraits of birds and bees sell like hotcakes. Each one is irresistibly charming—perfect for a kid’s room or that small patch of wall or empty cubby that needs a little something to cheer it up. They are very affordable, so consider purchasing a set to bring the birds and the bees into a special someone’s home well before spring has them buzzing about outside. $60. Inquire at Ghost Gallery, 504 E. Denny Way, ghostgalleryart.com.
Kirkpatrick makes photography into something more sculptural, warm yet fragile, much like the bodies she photographs. The timeless moment of the photo becomes layered as it is fixed in resin with other objects and within objects, such as worn books and patinated tins. These pensive, sensitive works are sure to touch just the right person. $450. Inquire through G. Gibson Gallery, 300 S. Washington St., 587-4033, ggibsongallery.com. E
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