Local Arts Twofer!

We heart art.

Oh geez. Art's in trouble...again. And this time, we are not talking about Art Bell.

You all heard of 4Culture? Of course you have. You're no fool. 4Culture is super rad, using the King County lodging tax to give much needed support to hundreds of artists, arts organizations, theaters, museums, local history projects and bands every year. That funding is set to expire in two years. Say it ain't so! Well, maybe you can. Tomorrow night, Advocate4Culture, (a citizen advocacy group) is rallying the troops with friend and neighbor Grey Gallery & Lounge. If you think art is important to the community you and yours call home, get your booty on over there, and figure out how you can make a difference in securing these necessary funds for the vibrant culture you love.

The deets:

Advocate4Culture
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
6-9pm
Grey Gallery & Lounge
1512 11th Avenue, Seattle, WA

Meet other lovers of the arts. Join the effort to preserve and improve the culture of this city. Shake a tail feather to the sweet sounds of DJ Vital. And, of course, get in on some free babycake action. What's a Seattle arts event without free babycakes?


Grey Gallery & Lounge - Friend. Neighbor. (Art) Lover.

Oh yeah - the twofer. Grey Gallery & Lounge + 4Culture - duh. Two great tastes that taste great together. Support 'em both in one shot. Tomorrow. Do it. Do. It.

Art for November

It's November and we have a fresh crop of new art in our cafes to go with our new Cupcake of the Month, Cranberry Orange!

Entryway Proposal for University Art Museum by Leo Saul Berk

Our Capitol Hill store is pleased to present a new group show called I do which explores the relationships between artist couples.

Dawn Cerny & Davidson Warren Burnam collaborated on a set of photographs that re-enact war scenes from a battlefield in Delaware. These photographs eventually became the source material for Dawn's show last year at Henry Art Gallery called "We're all going to die (except for you).". In conjunction with Blitz, Davidson's band Katherine Hepburn's Voice will perform live at 7pm on Thursday, November 12.

Claire Cowie & Leo Saul Berk are each exhibiting two prints. Leo's are architectural renderings for a museum. Claire is showing two prints from an architectural sculpture. Between the two of them, they've created very different takes on imaginary spaces.

Erin Shafkind

Artist Erin Shafkind is exhibiting new work in West Seattle in a show called, The Flats of Life.

"Growing up in Los Angeles, with a single mom, McDonald’s every Tuesday, and lots of television I have been greatly influenced by popular culture and modern mythology. I always felt that there was something else, something intangible that I needed, but more and more I wonder if this is a product of growing up in American Corporate culture that strived to create illusion so we would consume. Do I know what I want? What makes me happy?

In this show I am sharing a few photographs and several objects made from 1/4” birch plywood. Spinning off the idea of the flat image I am trying to create something fun yet iconic, therefore potentially mythic and even sacred. Each wood piece is editioned to 11, the idea of repetition hopefully pushing the boundaries of the machine. Yet all are hand cut and drawn and are objects that I find to be truly beautiful."

One of Cupcake Royale's dear friends, curator Daniel R. Smith, returns with his annual poster show in Madrona. This year it's the Seattle-Moscow Poster Show, highlighting some of the best poster designs from Russia and Seattle. This show had its debut at Bumbershoot, where it's become a yearly highlight for the festival.

"In this third and final poster show linking Seattle to cities around the world (following Havana and Tehran), I chose to visit Moscow. My decision was based on the strong tradition of Russian graphic design, current and historical political differences between our countries, and the idea of exploring design in a post-revolutionary culture—a thematic bond that unites Havana, Tehran and Moscow from the perspective of the United States."

Dan is currently traveling so this show will be installed Saturday, November 7.

In Ballard this month, we're pleased to present returning artist Brandon Ilenstine.

"I find great pleasure in studying modern minimalism, high fashion, and urban decay. The unique contrast of traditional beauty against the deterioration of modern destruction is awe-inspiring and serves as the basis of my work.

My images investigate the nuances of human hope and evolution through self exploration. I love iconic imagery, anatomical illustration, and chaotic backgrounds. I explore abstract dream-like scenery and meditative environments which suggest the expansion of one’s self without the interruptions of the world."

Art for October

Get Excited by Chona Kasinger

West Seattle is celebrating rock-n-roll this month with new art by Chona Kasinger. Titled Almost Famous, this series offers us "A glimpse into the incendiary world of rock and roll as seen by an underage live music photographer/writer." See more of her work here.

Learning from the loudest voice by Chris P.

One of our favorite artists will be showing in Madrona. Chris P. opens up The Cud That Chews Itself. To see more of his work, swing by our Madrona store or check out his website.

Untitled by Weston Jandacka

A beautiful and moody show by Weston Jandacka is now hanging in Ballard. "In this series of illustrated photographs, he offers up an ambiguous story to the viewer. Each image being individually it's own story while also playing a role in the overall continuity to the series. One can conjure up personal conclusions through these stage sets." See more of his work here.

Bridge Talks Back. Join the Convo.

Hold onto one of these, and it can be yours forever. (Image lifted from the Bridge Report.)

Yeah. We said convo. Because sometimes there just isn't time to write out an entire word. And then sometimes, there's time to write out all kinds of words. On signs. And then parade them around the Fremont Bridge. Who wants in?!

In case you haven't heard, Bridge Talks Back is the result of artist Kristen Ramirez's summer long residency at the Fremont Bridge. Thanks to the City of Seattle's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, along with SDOT's 1% for the Arts Fund, Ramirez has spent the summer in the Northeast Tower collecting sounds, ideas, memories, thoughts, and associations that will all come together as a 6 month sound installation piece, and will launch with a public art happening on Saturday, September 26th.

That's where you come in.

Ramirez is looking for volunteers to hold hand-painted signs, colored with the collected phrases and ideas that define the bridge, as part of the celebration from 1-4 on September 26th. Show up at noon to check in, and then spend the next few hours of your life as part of a super awesome piece of public art. You. A piece of art. And if that weren't enough, (Seriously? How could that not be enough?) you get to keep your one-of-a-kind, hand-painted, Fremont Bridge-inspired sign, PLUS you get a really rad tee shirt that will probably make people insanely jealous of you and your accomplishments for years to come.

So, here's what you do: Email Kristen Ramirez (ktramirez@hotmail.com) with your name and contact info, and let her know you wanna be a part of something big, namely, Bridge Talks Back on September 26th. Then show up for the orientation tomorrow at 6 pm in the meeting room at the Fremont branch of the Seattle Public Library. If you can't make the orientation but still want to be a part of the arty funtimes, email her anyway.

For more info on the project, click HERE.

And stay tuned for Ramirez's October show at superfriend & neighbor Grey Gallery and Lounge over on Ye Olde Capitol Hill.

Art for September

It's September and that means new art in the cafes. Check out your neighborhood store and see great art by these folks.

Indian Creek by Eddy Radar

In Ballard, Eddy Radar is showing six stunning Manmade Landscapes. Eddy says,

"What I see in these landscapes is the hidden beauty of industry and formatted space. The minimalist essence, the geometric order, and the quiet presence of these huge structures all reflect the same timeless grandeur, whether the expanse is of concrete or of grass."

In the Clouds by Javier S. Ortega

In Madrona, the talented Javier S. Ortega presents Blue Dreams. Javier hails from Seville, Spain where he studied art before completing his education in Florence. He's showing a new series of portraits.

When I grow up by Lina Raymond is now hanging in West Seattle. In this whimsical series, Lina looks back on childhood and ruminates on how she thought things would be when she grew up. 

It's poster show time again!

You may remember waaay back in 2007, we sponsored a little thing called the Seattle-Havana Poster Show. Curated by Daniel R .Smith, the show featured a collection of silk-screened posters from artists in Seattle, WA and Havana, Cuba. Using the similarities in aesthetic and thematic content as a launching pad, the project commented on larger cultural issues that spoke to the medium and subject matter of the pieces. It was pretty bad A.

We were so stoked on Seattle-Havana, that last year we sponsored the Seattle-Tehran Poster Show. Dan was back at it, curating a collection of posters from a culture in which any form of expression can be considered a politically charged activity and juxtaposing it with the current body of poster art in Seattle, a culture in which people say whatever they please. In a city where poster art is as ubiquitous traffic signs, the idea of a poster as a self-contained statement from within a much larger cultural conversation was pretty profound. We were like, totally diggin' what Dan was doin'.



Luckily, he's still doing it! He's back this year with the Seattle-Moscow Poster Show. As the others did before it, Seattle-Moscow will premiere at Bumbershoot and then move its way through our cafés. We can't wait to see this new work on our walls, and are so glad to be a part of this series again. This year, you can help out, too. Dan is currently in the running for a $10,000 grant to help fund the exhibit. Turns out, going to Moscow is not free. Neither is getting a body of artwork from Moscow to Seattle. Neither is hanging an art show. The grant is from Portland-based do-gooder clothing company Nau. Follow THIS LINK to their site. Log in. Vote for Dan. And then revel in your own do-goodery. Brag about it a little. Especially if it gets your friends to go to the site and do the same.

For more info on the Seattle-Moscow Poster show, and to buy the super sweet show catalogue, CLICK HERE.

RE-BLOG!

We're SO excited about being on THEIR blog, that we're writing about it on OUR blog!

The New York Times, that is.

They came by our new café on Capitol Hill last week to take some photos and feature it as the work of art it truly is. Brooke Hodge, L.A. based design writer and curator, wrote THIS POST about our new digs in her bi-weekly column "Seeing Things."

Art for August!

Hi folks! Allow me to interrupt your regularly scheduled blog for a quick introduction. I'm Joey Veltkamp and I'm Cupcake Royale's newest curator. Bosslady Jody has really been stepping up her game lately. If you've been to the new location on Capitol Hill, you've probably noticed the store itself is a piece of art. But don't worry, she hasn't gotten all highfalutin' -- the art will still be locally sourced (just like her ingredients) and focused on community (just like her cafes).

Dylan (detail) / Dolly (detail) by Gretchen McAllister

Gretchen McAllister returns to Ballard to share her flashy portraits of people we love. Her paintings are acrylic on birch board and always brighten up the space. The show in untitled but with a painting of Dolly, does it really need a title? Speaking of Dolly, don't forget we're sponsoring Three Dollar Bill Cinema's presentation of 9 to 5 in Cal Anderson Park on Aug 21.

Heading Home by Grego Rachko

Painter Grego Rachko just installed a great show in Madrona. It's chock full of his still lifes and crowds. In fact, it's even called Still Life and Crowds. Grego also shows at La Familia Gallery, The Hideout and other great art-viewing places. The show just opened and he's already sold a piece or two. Swing by and check it out before they're all gone.

Slugbug of '77 by Alisha Baker

Soon to be showing in West Seattle is artist Alisha Baker. Her new show is titled Along the Way and consists of oil and acrylic paintings on found objects. Alisha just received her BFA from UW and is heavily influenced by the outdoors, especially the oceans.

Flat Screen Figurine by Claudia Fitch

And lastly, Roy McMakin has curated a real nice show for the debut of the new Capitol Hill location. It's got new pieces by Claudia Fitch, Ken Kelly, Jeffry Mitchell and yours truly. Ken Kelly's pinkish-red painting in the front has been blowing everyone away.

If you're interested in showing your great art in our great cupcake & coffee houses, please shoot me an email at veritecoffeeart@gmail.com. Look forward to hearing from you.

The Final Countdown!

That's right people! Just one more week until we throw open the doors to our sweeeeeeeeeeet new bakery and café at 1111 E PIKE on Capitol Hill! Yes. Yes. YES! Join us next Wednesday, July 22nd for DAY ONE of Capitol Hill cupcake goodness. We open at 6, and stay open 'til 11, so you can get your cupcake on all day long. Here's what you can expect:

1. CUPCAKES! Featuring our new "More Moisty-er!" recipes. PLUS, we'll have the delicious Strawberry 66 through the end of this month.




2. COFFEE! Truly fine baristas serving up the best from Stumptown Coffee Roasters.



3. ART! Our opening show is a doozy, with work from the likes of Claudia Fitch, Ken Kelly, Jeffry Mitchell, and Joey Veltkamp.

To be fair, this cupcake café is a work of art in and of itself. Designed by Roy McMakin & Ian Butcher over at DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE, and all put together by the good guys over at Dovetail, we kind of can't believe how gorgeous it is. With glasswork by Greg Lundgren, woodwork by Sterling Voss, countertops and furniture by Big Leaf Mfg, and a custom stained glass Cupcake Royale by Seattle Stained Glass, it's all pretty magical.



Which brings us to...

4. MAGIC! That's right. We told you it was the Final Countdown. 7 days and counting.

Art Party at the Henry!

If you have been following this blog at all (hi Mom!), you have probably noticed that we are kinda into the arts. We at Cupcake Royale are firm believers that art is a real good thing for every community. Whether you grew up in a house decked out in obscure Picasso originals, or just some super sweet doodles on the fridge. It's all cool. Whether you like to be standin' and starin' and contemplatin' a piece for hours, or you prefer to give her a good once over, note the pretty colors, and move on, you should come to the Henry this Friday for their Open House party with art, food, booze, and yes, cupcakes!

Here are some things to entice you:

• Open bar and wine bar

• Music and projections by Leeni

• Food by Lark

• Honey Peanut Brittle babycakes...from Cupcake Royale

*** And...The Brink award will be announced at 8PM. The Brink is new to the Henry under director Sylvia Wolf. It will be awarded every year to an up-and-coming artist of Washington, British Columbia, or Portland, and comes with a $12,500 solo exhibition and an acquisition of work. We like the sounds of that.

BONUS! First person to email art@cupcakeroyale.com with the name of a famous "Art" gets a free admit-two pass to the party. That means a person of celebrity status named Art, and no Garfunkels. That's too easy.

All the galleries are open.

Member and Patron Preview: 6-7:30PM
General Admission: 7:30-10PM

$10 / $8 Students and Seniors / FREE to Henry Members

UPDATE: We have our winner! Congratulations Kirsten Terry. And she could not have answered more hilariously:

Art Bell! Host of creepy conspiracy radio show Art Bell Coast to Coast.

UPDATE #2: Daily Candy agrees, this party is where it's at for the weekend! Click HERE to read their blurb on it...complete with a mention of our sweet, sweet cakes.

Another local arts Twofer!

Chaos Sauce | Darin Shuler

This time it's the work of our very own Darin Shuler paired with the local non-profit stylings of Richard Hugo House. Darin's show is up at ZAPP through May 31st with receptions on April 9th and May 14th from 5-8pm.

What is ZAPP, you say?

Well, ZAPP is the Zine Archive And Publishing Project at the Hugo House. Aimed at both exposing the Seattle community to literary works of the lesser known variety as well as fostering the freedom of expression that is sure to flourish when DIY publishing opportunities are readily available, it's one of the largest collections of its kind in the whole wide world.

To learn more about ZAPP, along with all the other awesomely bookish offerings of Richard Hugo House, visit their website .

And to see more of Darin's work, visit his.

UPDATE: The April 9th reception has been cancelled.

ARTcakes wrap-up

As promised, here are the deets on the artists showing in Madrona and Ballard this month.

Madrona
Manya Fox
National Parks
Photographs (C-prints)
In Manya's Words...This group of photographs explores ideas about nature and the West and how we as American's interact with our natural spaces.




Ballard
ArtWalk | Saturday 11 APR | 6-9 in the pm
The Infrared Lament: black and white infrared photos of people
Black and white infrared photographs
In the artists Mr. Shiflet's words...This collection is a small sample of my love for black and white infrared film and the lament that it is no longer made.



Also, if you click HERE, you can see photos of our Ballard artist...dressed as a tiger.

Rarr.

Local arts Twofer!

We sure love the Northwest Film Forum, and we're really looking forward to being neighbors when we open our Capitol Hill café on 1111 E Pike this summer. And right about now, we just couldn't be more excited about their spring gala, because this year it's being produced by Implied Violence.

In case you haven't heard of Implied Violence, they are the winners of The Stranger's 2008 Genius Award for Arts Organization. Founding member and Managing Director Mandie O'Connell can also be seen pulling shots and frosting cupcakes in our Madrona café. Small world, eh?

So, in attending this year's spring gala, you get the Local Arts Twofer! we promised you in the title of this post. Support the Northwest Film Forum's upcoming year of amazing film programming - films you will not likely be lucky enough to see anywhere else - and expose yourself to the work of local theatre group Implied Violence.

Also, there will be cupcakes in the Dessert Dash, so get your biddin' chops ready.

Unbridled Stimulus Package

An evening of dinner, bidding opportunities, performance, games, and froth to benefit Northwest Film Forum

Produced by Implied Violence

Saturday, April 18
China Harbor
2040 Westlake Avenue North
6:00 P.M.
By reservation only
Seating is limited

For more details, and to buy your tickets, go here:
http://www.nwfilmforum.org/party

ARTcakes: Dan Conner lays the smack down on reality TV

Before there was Reality TV, there were real TV characters. Characters, you say? You mean like celebrities who wanna lose weight? Or some beautiful well-to-do young people whose personal lives we cannot go one minute without hearing about?

No.

char·ac·ter - the personality or part which an actor recreates

Thanks Merriam-Webster, for clearing that up. And thanks Gretchen McAllister for hanging your super sweet art show in our West Seattle café entitled, Men I Love. Gretchen, (who just so happens to have a day job in our Ballard café putting smiles on the faces of all who are lucky enough to get their morning cup from her,) has created a body of work here that harkens back to a day when there were actors on TV playing roles that were meant to actually connect with viewers in some way, shape, or form.

Whether it was Dan Conner working yet another dry wall job to pay the small town Illinois bills during the recession of the early nineties, or Lloyd Dobler exchanging his heart for Diane Court's pen (ouch), these fine men were keepin' it real.

Ok, that last one was a movie, but you get the idea.

The show is up through the end of the month, and West Seattle ArtWalk is Thursday, April 9th from 6-9 pm. Resist the temptation to stay home and watch Make me a Supermodel, and get on out and look at some art!