Local Filipino Filmmaker Shea Formanes Chats New Movie, Seattle Scene
I Watched Her Grow was filmed entirely in Seattle with a homegrown crew. Filmmaker Shea Formanes was kind enough to chat with me about the film and her process.
The story is about Ada (Michelle Colman Padron), a botanist struggling with grief over her mother Mirren's (Eloisa Cardona) death. Ada takes in the mysterious teenager Wren (Taylor Freeman), who seems to be struggling from the same affliction as Mirren did.
HeadSpin’s Dance Battles Foster Community and Talent in Wallingford
Co-hosted by the dancers Auto and Orb, these monthly battles are created by HeadSpin Productions and DJ’d by DJ Fever One. The battles are open to all styles, meaning contestants might be paired up against someone who does a totally different street style than them, though they will have the same song. The contestants compete 1v1 for a cash prize. Whoever wins in each battle progresses until there are two contestants left.
Dacha’s Pomegranate Tree Opens Greek Myths to Immersive, Inclusive Narratives
I discovered The Pomegranate Tree by a fleeting chance. I was discussing the potential of immersive theater in large scale productions when one of my cohorts told me I must see a Dacha show if I hadn’t already. I followed Dacha on Instagram and admittedly forgot about the suggestion shortly after—until a post of theirs crossed my feed.
Max’s Musings: William Blake
What is the final threshold between adolescence and adulthood?
After discussing three modern poets, I wanted to choose a traditional poet for discussion this week. William Blake, a Romantic, is most known for Songs of Innocence and Experience where he tackles the duality of childhood innocence and real-world experience.
The HaHa Report: Kitchen Sink Comedy
Ah, the open mic. All comedy babies’ first step. The watering hole where veteran amateurs and “I’ve always wanted to try” newbies gather to throw cold wet spaghetti (jokes) at a wall (their friends, and bar patrons who did not know this was going on tonight) to see what sticks!
At its core, the open mic is a place for everyone—yes everyone—to come in and try new (stand-up only) material. But traditional open mics have a reputation;it’s become synonymous now with dive bars, pool balls clacking over your tight five, and comedians performing sets comprised of hate speech scantily veiled as “just a joke”.
Deep Cuts Podcast: Ghoulies II Night at The Rendezvous
Hosts Morgue Anne and Evan J. Peterson discuss that night’s feature presentation, providing insights from behind the scenes as well as more nuanced critiques of the subject matter. If you’re active in Seattle’s horror scene, those names may seem familiar to you. Morgue Anne is literal goth royalty, elected Ms./Mx. Gothic Seattle 2020 and dubbed “The Plague Queen.” She is a burlesque performer, DJ, panelist, and more. Evan J. Peterson is a horror/game writer whose work has appeared in Weird Tales, Nightmare Magazine, and PseudoPod, to name a few.
Seattle’s Meghan Thréinfhir Puts the “A” in STEAM with STEM-Infused Art
Meghan Trainor’s work has always had spiritual connections. With a practice firmly rooted in her own ancestral Irish Catholic imagery and iconography in her early art-making days, Trainor found new inspiration via Mexican folk art when she was exposed to the work of Frida Kahlo and later from a nearby shop when she worked at Pike Place Market in the 1990s. Importantly, a 1980s show at Seattle Art Museum about African spiritual objects left a significant impression.
GeekGirlCon Delights Geeks Again with Fun, Inclusive Vibes
Walking through the convention doors, the themes of safety and inclusion were immediately present. Having gone virtual in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID, this was the third GeekGirlCon to return to an in-person format. But the specter of the pandemic still looms over gatherings of this sort—masks were required for all attendees—the medical sort, cosplay masks notwithstanding.
The atmosphere of inclusivity cannot be missed; throughout the event, everything from the decor to the exhibits to the dedicated nursing area conspire to make it clear that you are welcome, whether you’re team Star Wars or Star Trek, you’re a kid or raising one, and no matter how you identify.
Worldwide Badass Brings Intersectional Tattoo Community to Capitol Hill
After the tattoo expo at the Seattle Center, tattooers across Seattle received a notable amount of appointments to fulfill new client requests. Having entered the Seattle market recently, Worldwide Badass (WWBA), a tattoo company, has found their space in the Seattle market on the famous Pike Street in Capitol Hill. Calel Metcalf and Dario Rodgriguez, best friends and owners of WWBA, make statements on the state of the market and share some advice for new and upcoming tattooists, companies, and how they may see themselves moving into the Seattle community.
Remembering Shelly’s Leg: Vitally Proud Space in Seattle’s Queer Herstory
Shelly’s Leg (1973-1977) was Seattle’s first openly gay bar and safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. The popular nightclub got its start in a rather unique way. Shelly Bauman, the founder of Shelly’s Leg, lost her left leg in a parade accident in the early ‘70s. She used the money from her settlement to open the nightclub in 1973. Bauman chose to create something that was groundbreaking for its time. Her decision to open the club was about more than just business; it was about creating a community.
Max’s Musings: Halsey
When I discovered Halsey came out with a collection of poetry, I immediately added it to my must-read list. I get enthralled when musical artists or actors release poetry collections and break from their typical art form. Poetry has become more accepted and common among celebrities to make another mark of change on the world.
Dacha Theatre Breaks Fourth Wall with Immersive Narratives
In the last century, theater has met its greatest adversary yet: film. Much can be accomplished through the eye of a camera which cannot be easily done in a live space, like forced viewpoints, CGI, and extravagant settings to name just a few. But there is one limitation to film which it may never truly conquer: It exists predominantly behind the fourth wall.
House of Spirits Closes Out Halloween in Style
Anyone in the Seattle area with an Instagram may have seen ads in the last few weeks for House of Spirits: Tale of Vaughan Mansion, a Haunted Cocktail Soirée. Intrigued by the images of a candlelit, creepy costume ball, my friends and I got tickets for Halloween night. In our finest macabre attire, we trudged through the rain over wet red and brown leaves plastered to cobblestones, our heels clacking through puddles, to the historic Rainier Chapter House in Capitol Hill, a recreation of George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
Post-Election, Find Light in the Dark: Climate Action
This November, many of us watched in despair as Donald Trump was re-elected to become our next President. The outcome leaves us with a profound sense of grief for our nation and our planet. For those who have spent years fighting for climate justice, the result feels like a gut punch, threatening to erase gains made in recent years and compounding the urgent need for action.
Why is 2024’s Presidential Election a Nailbiter? Ask Gen Z.
On October 23, 2024, Kamala Harris said at a Town Hall that "we have to get past the era of partisan politics." I understand her strategy. The idea that these times are bigger than partisan politics is easy for disaffected liberals to accept and cast a begrudging vote for Harris at the end of the day. The argument is as simple as it is stark: Trump is far worse. With the intent of overturning Roe v. Wade, Trump appointed justices to the Supreme Court who eventually did just that, removing Americans' constitutional right to get an abortion.
Max’s Musings: Rupi Kaur
Everyone experiences trauma. This is a human experience we all share. We all have different ways to deal with said trauma. So how do writers and artists process their trauma?
Poets and artists are not only bold enough to share their trauma through their art, but creative enough to spin their trauma into beauty through bravery. Trauma allows those to understand loved ones as well as the inner mechanisms of themselves through reparation.
Pole Prowess: Empowerment Through Sensual Movement
“Tell me your name, pronouns, and anything that’s going on with your body today.” The instructor begins, tacking on a question of the day. This practice and sameness at the start of each class grounds me, bringing me into my body and preparing my mind to solely focus on sweat, bruises, and cheering on the successes of me and my classmates as we learn together.
GeekGirlCon '24: Bigger, Bolder, and 100% Geekier
Geek Girl Con has been a mainstay of Seattle conventions since 2011, and aims to create a safe and inclusive space to elevate voices and perspectives which are often ignored and left out, especially within traditional “geek” spaces. It is often regarded as Seattle’s biggest “small” convention with over 50,000 attendees per year.
Five Questions with Artist Brandon Vosika
Brandon Vosika (BV): I used to live and work in a notoriously haunted building, and I guess it felt worth mentioning in my bio because I feel a deep nostalgic connection to old ghost stories and haunted houses from my youth. Now I have a new studio and only live in the haunted building! I used to put ghosts in my work a lot but I don’t so much anymore. They’ve become very popular which makes me want to stay away. In general, I’m not influenced by the PNW in my work aesthetically. Okay, I probably am subconsciously because I’ve lived here my whole life and love the rain and dark, but the typical PNW-themed art I find totally uninteresting.
Silver Screen Queer Camp at Benaroya’s Frankenstein Feature
For an extra special (and extra spooky) Halloween treat, Benaroya Hall hosted a unique double feature presentation of the classic Bride of Frankenstein and Mel Brooks’s parody of the franchise, Young Frankenstein. The hook? Orchestral accompaniment for the Bride! The Seattle Symphony performed Franz Waxman’s iconic gothic score under the guidance of conductor Nicholas Buc, who also conducted the world premieres of the live performances of several of John Williams’s movie scores, so he is no stranger to Hollywood orchestral maneuvers.
