THE COLLECTIVE

We are proud to partner once again with our friends at Seattle Opera for their upcoming Black Artist Market on Saturday, December 14th . Along with Intentionalist and Wa Na Wari , we've worked together to curate dozens of Black arts vendors. Expect to discover handmade gifts, one-of-a-kind decorations, and delectable treats, all while supporting local artistry and celebrating community. From 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM , visitors can peruse unique treasures from Black artists, artis

Music producer Quincy Jones poses for a portrait to promote his documentary "Quincy" during the Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 7, 2018, in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File) If your home was anything like mine this fall, "Thriller" was on constant rotation, not only through the living room speakers but through the car stereo as well. I watched, and often joined in, as my son imitated the infamous zombie dance from Michael Jackson's quintessential 1980s music

Dr. Maxine Mimm, credit Susan Fried. Dr. Maxine (Buie) Mimms was a most notable individual who touched more lives than we may ever know.  When someone of her gravity and reach transitions, the stories of how she showed up for folks are plentiful.  She loomed larger than life and wondrous in her ability to seemingly be everywhere, all the time, for everyone.   Dr. Mimms was the first Black teacher I ever saw. In elementary school, she showed up at Colman School, where I atten

If your nervous system could use a reset in these less-than-stable times (we know ours could!), then we highly recommend checking out the offerings of our friend, Jennifer Moore . Jennifer is a musician and artist who has been called to launch a dedicated healing practice for the community through sound. From full moon and equinox sound baths to private body tuning sessions, she harnesses the power of sound to energetically clear the path back to our true selves. Jennifer fou

The ancestral chorus of angels received more new members this month. Tributes to James Earl Jones, Frankie Beverly, and Tito Jackson abound. We take this moment to share the obituary of one new angel who has not been as widely celebrated but who is of incredible importance to many in the Seattle region, the legendary music director, Robert Knatt . Mr. Knatt became an ancestor at the end of August at age 76. Knatt taught music at Rainier Beach High School, South Shore Middle S

Known for her larger-than-life, vibrant, satirical artworks and beloved Pioneer Square galleries—Martyr Sauce and MS PAM (Martyr Sauce Pop Art Museum)—Tariqa Waters is always telling a story that we want in on. Now she's moving beyond public artworks, television shows, and the canvas to create something that gives us all an exclusive "in" to her world—and it will fit perfectly on your bookshelf or coffee table—an upcoming book entitled Who Raised You? A Martyr Sauce Guide t

Wally Amos founded Famous Amos Cookies in 1975 and was somewhat of a hero in Black communities. He was famous, and as far as everyone knew, he was successful. Amos told the panel of investors on the television show Shark Tank , “I’m a damn good promoter, but I’m not a business guy and my focus was not on how much money I was gonna make, I just wanted to have a good time,” explaining what happened when Amos sold his business and the rights to his cookie name in 1988. His 2016

Brought to you by KEXP in partnership with Friends of Waterfront Park, AFROPUNK Seattle is invading Pier 62 on Saturday, September 7th! The event is all-ages and spans most of the day, from 2 PM to 8:30 PM, and includes performances from headliner Cautious Clay , Black Ends , BLAST , Lace Cadence , Faridaguyzzz , and hosted by KEXP’s Eva Walker . AFROPUNK will also highlight community organizations, feature food trucks, and offer a 21+ Beer Garden. AFROPUNK began in 2005 as

We will never get our fill of Black art and are happy to see that Festival Sundiata is returning to Seattle Center as part of Seattle Center Festál this summer, in partnership with Sundiata African American Cultural Association (SAACA). Festival Sundiata (pronounced: Soon-jah-tah), is the longest-running African American festival celebrated in the Pacific Northwest and Seattle, holding its first festival in 1980. The festival is named in honor of the Sundiata Keita, the his

No matter how long the days or short the nights, not enough time seems to sit between the notices of transitions; the passing of beloved artists from this realm to their forever existence.  First hitting the radio airwaves in 1978 with a self-titled album, Angie, Angela Bofill had the volume turned way up with her second album less than a year later featuring the ever memorable, I Try . In the early 90s, Will Downing added his sultry voice in his remake of the song, but nobo

Friends of Waterfront Park is hosting a fundraiser on Pier 62 and some of our favorite people will be a part of the action! This will not be a traditional sit-down gala. Instead, guests will be encouraged to explore the pier and interact with the artists and entertainment. Artists Perri Rhoden and Mia Imani are contributing art installations and experiences for attendees. Damon Bomar's Brown Liquor Cocktail Co . will have the libations to get you feeling festive and the bel

Loss often has the ability to render the most verbose, speechless. This is certainly the case for many grieving the loss of one of our time's greatest theater champions, Ron Simons.   It was a beautiful and heartbreaking sight to see his gorgeous face on the big screen during the In Memoriam segment of the 2024 Tony Awards program. Ron transitioned to become an angel just days before the broadcast, on June 12. This loss is so personal. Arriving in New York on June 13, high on

We urge you to check out this timely piece of theater exploring the generational trauma on Black women's bodies created by our friends, the poet Jourdan Imani Keith, and performer and director Sadiqua Iman. The Uterine Files is a trilogy following three Black women through living, learning, and remembering the war against their wombs. You can read a full preview of the production via South Seattle Emerald here . Content advisory: The Uterine Files is an Intergenerational Afro

T he name Noah Davis is possibly better known among collectors and art curators than among today's artists who would be his contemporary. Seattle-born Davis died in 2015 at the young age of 32 and in his short life created a purely distinctive body of both abstract and figurative, realistic and dreamlike paintings. According to the Davis bio posted on art representative David Zwirner's website, Noah's work is "about Blackness and the history of Western painting." Collectors o

Bob Marley said, "One good thing about music is that when it hits you, you feel no pain." The music of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly will forever provide pain relief, but the days of seeing their live performances are coming to a close. After five decades and nine gold albums, at the end of 2023, it was announced that frontman Frankie Beverly was retiring. This past March, the group embarked upon the I WANNA THANK YOU farewell tour, marking the end of an era that began in 1

What would the city look like today without the many DIY innovators who helped birth Seattle's iconic music scene? Luckily, we don't have to find out—an early group of innovators is finally getting the collective spotlight thanks to a collaborative still-life documentary series. AS MANY WEIRDOS AS POSSIBLE (AMWAP) celebrates the musical legacy of the Pacific Northwest, focusing on the diverse creators who shaped the scene between 1985 and 1995, spanning genres from hip-hop

Local musical phenom Shaina Shepherd has been busy. After spending the tail end of 2023 playing at festivals with bands like Margo Price and The Head and the Heart, staging knock-out performances at sporting events for every major league team in Seattle, opening for the iconic powerhouse Liv Warfield, and collaborating with the likes of rock star Duff McKagen, you'd think she would be ready for a much-deserved break. But that's not how Shaina does it. “Vocalist Shaina Shephe

by  Colleen J. McElroy 1935–2023 these days I speak of myself in the past tense writing about yesterday knowing tomorrow is no more than mist crawling toward violet mountains I think of days when this weather meant you were not so far away the light changing so fast I believe I can see you turning a corner the rain comes in smelling of pine and moss a kind of brazen intrusion on the careful seeds of spring I pay more attention to details these days saving the most trivial unt

Mark your calendars and plan a trip to the Henry Art Gallery at the University of Washington to catch this iconic exhibit, opening February 24th. Hank Willis Thomas: L OVER ULES - From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation February 24, 2024 — August 04, 2024 Hank Willis Thomas: L OVER ULES  is an expansive exhibition featuring 90 works covering the 20 years of artist and activist Thomas’s prolific interdisciplinary career, including photo-conceptual

February 11th marked the 12th anniversary of the tragic passing of one of music's greatest voices, Whitney Houston . Like most monumental events, many of us can recall exactly where we were when we heard the news. The recent Grammy Awards was also a stark reminder given her death was on the eve of the 2012 Grammy celebration. The slate of 2024 Grammy winners may have no memory or knowledge of the dynamic power of Whitney's multi-octave voice. They may be drawn to the drama th