Tag Archives: Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture

Muslim Performing Artist Essam Muhammad Stars in Break-Out Role in ‘Purple Don’t Cry’

by Nura Ahmed

Essam Muhammad, a Seattle-based performing artist and songwriter, has been telling the stories of the South End ever since he was a little kid. Art has been his first love since he was 9 years old. “I was exposed to the hip-hop scene from a young age,” Muhammad began.

Recently, Muhammad was able to bring those stories onto the big screen for the first time, acting in a starring role for the feature film, Purple Don’t Cry. Directed by Mamoun Hassan and written by Boonaa Mohammed, the film will be premiering at the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) on June 1. 

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Arts & Culture

Sistah Scifi’s Book Vending Machine Comes to the Northwest African American Museum

by Jas Keimig

Tucked into a corner in Shoreline’s Black-owned Black Coffee Northwest (BCNW), sits a bright blue and purple vending machine. This vending machine isn’t like other vending machines, stuffed with stale Fritos and old Rice Krispie treats. Instead, it’s filled with science-fiction books by Black authors — just swipe your credit card, and a book by Nichelle Nichols or Octavia Butler is all yours. 

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Arts & Culture

Emotional Baggage Carts and Painted Rice Paper at Wa Na Wari

Both local and national artists explore trauma and release at the Central District gallery.

by Jas Keimig

Theda Sandiford has always been making art. 

As the daughter of a Caribbean father and a German-Polish mother, the Queens-born artist grew up helping her grandmother sew sequins onto G-strings and feather headdresses for Carnival. “My grandmother was old school,” Sandiford told me over the phone recently. “She believed every proper young lady needed to know how to sew.” Deeply attuned to the world around her, Sandiford consistently found inspiration in items and objects that others might consider unworthy of artistic pursuit. 

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Arts & Culture

Columbia City Beatwalk Is Back for Its 28th Year, With Live Music and the First Full-Fledged Pride Edition

by Victor Simoes

Happening every second Sunday of the month from June through September, Columbia City Beatwalk returns, bringing live music and local vendors according to monthly themes, along with the first-ever dedicated Pride Beatwalk. 

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Arts & Culture

South End Scoop: Books & More From KCLS — May 2023

The King County Library System (KCLS) and the South Seattle Emerald are teaming up to bring you the “South End Scoop.” Dig into this community-centered column each month for great book, music, movie, and event recommendations from your local librarians.

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Arts & Culture

Shin Yu Pai’s Podcast ‘Ten Thousand Things’ Reflects Diversity of Asian American Voices

by Amanda Ong

On May 1, KUOW premiered its second season of Seattle Civic Poet Shin Yu Pai’s podcast, Ten Thousand Things. The podcast first aired in 2021 and was previously named The Blue Suit after the blue suit Rep. Andy Kim wore during the Capitol riots. A photo of Kim in the suit, cleaning up after the riots, went viral as a symbol of his quiet service. Each Blue Suit episode follows the story around a different object, invites guests to elaborate on their stories, and speaks to Asian American experiences. This season, the title has changed to reflect not just one object and one particular moment in history, but a more expansive collection of objects and stories. 

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Arts & Culture

Arts in the South End: A May 2023 Roundup

by Amanda Ong

Art, film, break dancing, and stories — the weather has turned around in the South End, and the arts scene is turning out too! Enjoy getting out and exploring some of these fantastic events happening around the South End this month.

Below, the Emerald has compiled a list of arts, music, theatre events, and more throughout the South End and beyond, so keep reading to find what May has to offer. 

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Arts & Culture

2023 TRANSlations: Seattle Trans Film Festival Is About Creating Kinship Through Time 

Seattle’s 18th Trans Film Fest Is Coming to Columbia City

by Neve Mazique-Bianco

The 2023 TRANSlations: Seattle Trans Film Festival, produced by Three Dollar Bill Cinema, turns 18 this year! To celebrate the fest’s young adulthood, the producers, programmers, jury, and artists have cooked up a wondrous weekend of in-person and online screenings, events, and parties, including two brand-new elements — a new location and a new award! One, TRANSlations is coming to Columbia City! In-person screenings and events will take place at Ark Lodge Cinemas and Beacon Cinema on May 5 and 6, with an after-screening opening night party on May 5 at The Royal Room. Two, earlier that evening, Three Dollar Bill Cinema will present the inaugural TRANSlations Trailblazer Award to filmmaker, actor, and director, Isabel Sandoval.

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Arts & Culture

Koo Park: A Seattle-Based Korean Actor Who Is Just Like You

by Jasmine M. Pulido

As he nervously runs his fingers through his hair, Korean actor Koo Park pauses as the jarring sound of coffee grinding fills the spaces between his thoughts in fitful bursts. Sitting atop the stool within the white planked walls of a noisy coffee shop, Park contemplates how he felt when he first started acting in Korea to how he feels today, 15 years later.

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