Fremont Abbey Arts Center Birthday Bash in Seattle

Seattle is so full of creativity. It’s like the rain that keeps folks indoors so many months of the year imposes some kind of inspirational compulsion, no matter what their choice of medium.

Founded six years ago by music-lover and visionary pillar Nathan Marion, the Fremont Abbey Arts Center is one of the last remaining community art centers in town. It’s also one of my favorite places to visit on the whole of the West Coast and there’s reason to celebrate this coming Saturday, November 19th.

Not only is it the official sixth birthday of this epicenter of music, painting, poetry, dance, and all around good times, but The Lonely Forest’s John Van Deusen is playing… and Mychal and Melodie from Campfire OK… and 10-year-old piano student Aidyn… and the jazzy sounds of Seattle Teen Music. Some serenade!

Plus, the nibbles from Upper Crust, Portage Bay, and Madras will be a divine pairing for an utterly enticing silent auction. Bid on VIP Tori Amos Tickets at The Paramount, a cooking class/dinner taught by Tutta Bella Neopalitan Pizzeria’s Chef Godjic, an Amazon Kindle, Pacific Northwest Ballet Nutcracker tickets, lots of art, dinners, parties at the Abbey, and so much more. There will be door prizes like tickets to my favorite concert concept – The Round – where a melange of musicians, painters, and poets interact live on stage, melding their individual creativity into a single artistic experience.

The night wouldn’t be complete without the resident VJ Craig Van Den Bosch keeping the scenery as exciting as the company.

Come out and support this wonderful place. Throughout the year there are loads of concerts spanning genres, and classes that make it possible for art education to be affordable for everyone – low income and non-profit workers included. Even if you’re a young family there’s a kid-friendly 5pm pre-party with shared child care on offer. It’s going to be a blast – in more ways than one, and a chance to vote for the proliferation of music and art in a city that’s inspired me and so many others. If you aren’t in the area you can still donate.

Seattle activates my urge to create – here are a few snapshots I took on a little lawn during a recent impromptu Seattle trip. I was feeling very appreciative for the simple things, and having fun playing around with my camera and different shades of green. I was so quiet I attracted a visitor, this stoic stray cat.

I invite you to wax creative on your next galavant, wherever it may be. You need no license for artistic expression.