Our treasurer, Amy Fink, resigned. We are eternally grateful to her for so expertly resolving the issue with the Internal Revenue Service over our non-profit status. While our mistake was minor (a wrong box checked), the solution was a lengthy process with requests from the State of Washington for documents that we knew the IRS already had. But as Amy kindly pointed out, one does not argue with these guys….they hold the power. So we shall miss Amy and her expertise, but we have another talented person who has stepped forward: Janet Oliver, who was our Vice-President for the four years that the two Dianes were co-chairing the LCC. The V-P position has limited duties and with two Presidents, there wasn’t a change to cover for “the President” as there were TWO! Janet was definitely under-utilized in that position. We appreciate her willingness to step into this position as she returns fresh (and warm) from several months in Southern California and the Southwest. We told her all our rain had definitely fallen by now. In an effort to reduce some of the work that the Treasurer has to do each month, President Yuki Igarashi has created three chair positions to take on some of the responsibility: Ad Manager: Primary point of contact for advertisers and prospective advertisers, from initial interest through ad execution. Acts as a liaison between advertisers and printer, newsletter editor, and LCC as needed. Responsibilities include emailing artwork to layout for approval, emailing monthly invoices for published ads, and communicating incoming revenue to treasurer. Restricted Funds Coordinator: Primary point of contact for restricted funds; communicates annually with chair of each fund and coordinates invoices for payment with treasurer. Prepares report for monthly Executive Board meetings. Events Coordinator: Liaison between LCC board and each event-planning group. Handles necessary permits, accepts revenue, and requests checks from treasurer for documented expenses. Prepares monthly report for Executive Board meetings. There are four primary events per year: Flo Ware picnic in May or June, Art Walk in September, Halloween Spooktacular in October and the Holiday party in December. Any proposed event beyond these four must be presented to the Board and receive Board approval. This Chair could accept one or more of the events; it is not necessary to take on all four events. There could be a Chair for each of the events. The Board would prefer to consider candidates who are willing to stay in their role through the next standard Board elections in May 2018. If you are interested in volunteering for any of these roles, please contact Yuki at YEIgarashi@gmail.com or leschinews@comcast.net. ~Leschi Community Council Board

Last month we featured a plea from Leschi Elementary Reading Tutor Melissa Woodbridge and her fellow reading tutors. They knew that many students eat two meals a day at the school: breakfast and lunch, and they worried about the Midwinter break when students are off for an entire week (2/20-2/25). They compiled a list of food items requested by the families and made arrangements to put the donated items into bags or boxes for each family in need. Here’s Melissa’s report: “Our food drive was a huge success! With donations from six different grocery stores (Leschi Market, Central Coop, Grocery Outlet, Safeway, Target, and Trader Joe’s), we collected almost 500 food items for Leschi and White Center Heights Elementary. At Leschi alone, we were able to pack around 130 backpacks for kids to take home for the break next week. This included donations from Immaculate Conception Church. Families are coming in today and tomorrow to pick up food. We want to thank all of the grocery stores for their generous donations, and also the individuals who donated when we were tabling outside of Leschi Market” (and those who left food at the School.) Thanks to all who donated food items and a big Thank You to the reading tutors who recognized the need and worked to solve the problem. ~Diane Snell

When we first moved to Leschi, the previous homeowner passed on her copy of The Seattle Leschi Diary. We were delighted to find a photo and brief description of our house in the Diary and it was really our first introduction to Wade and the wonderful folks who made Leschi so special. I think of them as the Leschi pioneers, although it was long past the westward trek days. Wade and his contemporaries had a real commitment to this community; it wasn’t just another stop in the road; it was the place they loved and where they worked to make it a better place. Art Mink showed his love for the community in his commitment to the Leschi News; it was an honor when he asked me to take it on in his later years. Flora and Richard Cole worked with CORE to solve racial injustice and Flora worked hard to get the City to purchase the old nursing home on the ridge and make it a Senior Center for the community. Ed and Joan Singler were involved in creating a branch of CORE here in Seattle; they are at Horizon House now, but still subscribe to the Leschi News and we have frequent email exchanges. I feel privileged to have known these pioneers and met them when they were still active. Wade was my walking history of Leschi and I often called him for details on the events that preceded our arrival. I did have to laugh at Shirley’s reporting that no one stepped forward to help with the work on the history of Leschi. We on the Leschi CC Board can identify with that! It seems to be a different world now. ~Diane Snell

Wade Vaughn, author of the Seattle Leschi Diary, passed away January 31, 2017. He and his wife (Shirley) purchased a lot and he built their home in the Leschi Community on Randolph Avenue in the early 1960’s. He never left the Community. If he was laid off or asked to transfer, he just stayed in his home in Leschi until he found another job. He became very involved in the Leschi Community Council. He was elected President for a couple of terms. He loved to help with all kinds of projects - the shoreline parks, stairways etc. At one time, he decided the Leschi Council would be able to make some money if they wrote a history about the Leschi Community. He asked all interested people to sign up that would like to help with the book. No one signed up. He started research and became so interested he ended up writing several books including “Seattle Leschi Diary.” All profits for books were given to the Community Council. Any new member in the Community can check out his books at the Douglas Truth Library. Wade truly loved the neighborhood not because of the location, but because of the wonderful people in it. A memorial/open house will be held in the spring at his former home to celebrate his beautiful life. When a date has been confirmed - we invite those that would like to remember Wade Vaughn. (Date & Memorial/Open House information will be forwarded to the Leschi news for publication). ~Shirley Vaughn

On January 21, Judkins Park was the staging grounds for one of the largest protest marches ever held in Seattle. Billed as a testament to the power of unity and the rallying cry that love trumps hate, the march attracted women, men, children and seniors from all over the state in response to the inauguration of the 45th president of the United States. The participants came by foot, Smart Car, buses and ferries. An estimated 100,000 to 120,000 gathered in the fields behind Washington Middle School most carrying signs and many sporting pink hats which have become a symbol of resistance to the country’s new leader and his widely criticized treatment of women. The pre-march scene and the march itself were marked by a festive spirit and laudable organization. The four or five speeches before the march, given by women representing the diversity of America, called on the crowd to respect and support the rights of Native Americans, African Americans, immigrants, and Muslims, and the right of all women to control their own reproductive health. The speakers were polished, on point and received with enthusiasm. Because of the large number of participants, getting out of Judkins Park was no small challenge and the first marchers were well past Westlake Center while thousands still waited to get through the gates and start down Jackson. The route, west on Jackson and north on Fourth Avenue to the Seattle Center, was over 3.5 miles long. Supporters lined rooftops along Jackson crying out “Tell us what democracy looks like” as the marchers shouted back, “This is what democracy looks like!” The occasional “Wave” rolled over the top of the crowd with arms and voices rising together. It was thrilling experience to be part of such a spirited and respectful mass. The ranks grew in size as the march wound its way through downtown. Some joined in the International District. Ferries brought in thousands and one participant reported that on at least one of the overcrowded Bainbridge boats, the crew announced that the men’s head was open to all. The weather, partly cloudy and in the 50s, was ideal for exercising First Amendment rights of free speech and assembly. According to police reports following the march, there were no “incidents” or arrests. (The only anti-protester we encountered was at the Seattle Center—a young man seeking attention by screaming profanities about Bill Clinton.) At the January 26th East PAC meeting, Lt. Ballingham said the women’s march was one of the best “protests” ever and the sign he liked best was carried by a woman “of a certain age” that read “Now you’ve pissed off Grandma!” Indeed, there was no limit to the creative signs. Some of our favorites included: I’m with Her (with image Mother Earth or, in some cases, the Statue of Liberty) NYET Blink Twice if you need rescuing, Melania Build Bridges not Walls Make America Good Again There Will Be Hell Toupee And many more which we won’t print in a family newsletter. Other highlights: the larger-than-life artistic representations of Putin, Trump, Che Guvera, Madame Curie, Rosa Parks and more. The enormous Earth. The female-occupied litter carried by a satanic society, the female brass band at the Seattle Center. And the free Metro shuttle buses at the end of the route that carried folks with tired feet back to where it all started. On a let’s-be-good-neighbors note, we want to acknowledge that the march took place on the weekend before the celebration of the Lunar New Year. Many merchants—grocery stores in particular--in the Chinatown International District reported a sharp drop in sales over previous years as potential customers could not get through the foot and car traffic. Viet-Wah reported a sales drop of 65%. If you joined the march, consider being a good neighbor and spending a little extra time and money in the CID in the coming weeks. ~Anne Depue Author’s note: this article has been fact checked.

We will be taking time off from our community meeting in March as our scheduled speaker is unable to attend, and we look forward to seeing you at the next meeting on Wednesday, April 5. March is a month of changes for the LCC. First, I and the rest of the board want to sincerely thank Amy Fink for her tremendous service as the LCC Treasurer over the past several months. She was given the not-so-small task of rectifying the council’s non-profit status with the IRS. Not only did she do all the required research, complete lots of paperwork, and make countless phone calls (not to mention the obligatory hold time and music), she also set up the council for a much cleaner path to maintain our status moving forward. Thank you, Amy! Gratefully, we are excited to welcome back a familiar face onto the board, who has graciously stepped forward to fill the role of Treasurer moving forward. Janet Oliver previously served as VP on the board the previous four years, and we are delighted to welcome her back. Welcome, Janet! Furthermore, following very helpful board discussion and input, I’ve decided to appoint a few new chairpersons in an effort to help alleviate and balance the workload for the Treasurer’s role moving forward: Ad Manager, Restricted Funds Coordinator, and Events Coordinators. Please see the Changes on the Leschi CC Board article by Diane, and consider volunteering with us. These positions are a great way to get involved with the LCC in a more specific capacity. Please send me an email if you are interested in any of these positions! I also encourage you to consider if you’d like to become even more involved with the LCC over the coming years by considering running for President of the LCC at this May’s election. I will be vacating my position as President this spring and welcome conversations with any interested persons in the coming months. Sincerely, Yuki Igarashi

January 11, 2017—Attending: Yousef Shulman, John Barber, Tracy Bier and Diane Snell Guests: Larry Levine, volunteer for Nickelsville and Kelly Lyons, resident at Tiny House Village Our guests Larry and Kelly, had a copy of the Leschi News from the Douglass-Truth library, and decided to visit and tell us more about the Village on 22nd. Ave. behind the Good Shepherd Church. The Village was mentioned in the article about Sharon Lee, director of LIHI. We were invited to visit and given a notice of their first anniversary dinner on January 31 at the church. Larry also suggested that we work with the Office of Economic Development to solve some of our issues. Website: Yousef said that Kirsten would be paid for her work on Friday when she trains Diane on the calendar additions and ad placement on the web. John Barber: The Pearls work party is Saturday, the 21st at the Dearborn streetend. He feels we need to tell our story as a Community Council as he feels that city ccs were dissed in the fall out around the Mayor’s action toward the District Councils. He mentioned all the things we have done towards parks enhancement, safety measures with cross walks, etc. Tracy Bier expressed an interest in meeting with the Leschi resident who wants to join with us in getting some resolution about traffic issues on Lake Washington Blvd. Diane: Newsletter deadline is 1/16/17. Renewal letters were sent to all whose dues lapsed in 2013-2015. February program will feature Africa Town (the specific neighborhood around 23rd and Union) and Shelf Life, the oral history project about 23rd/Jackson area. ~Respectfully submitted by Diane Snell

I have started to call this place the Madrona/Leschi answer to Denny’s for neighborhood seniors. I found myself feeling offended at a radio commentator urging those who want to know how Seniors feel about their Social Security to go to Denny’s during the early dinner hour. I can’t remember ever having dinner there before, but it could be a mental block. I see visions of mashed potatoes swimming in gravy; this is not a personal favorite. We have found that the Madrona Arms is a great place for a “senior dinner” during Happy Hour. We have smaller appetites than during our “salad” days and the Madrona Arms Taco Tuesday special is just perfect. One gets a small street size taco for $2 or if you want grilled fish, it’s $3. Two of these little guys are filling and you get your protein and raw veggies in one package. Available at all Happy Hours: $5 offerings: Mozzarella Sticks, Baked Potato and a Hummus Plate. $6 will get you Coconut Shrimp, a Caprese Salad, Quesadilla or Irish Nachos (potato chips instead of tortilla chips). Or if you’re a big spender, go for the $7 Kobe Sliders with Frites, Steak Tips with Frites, Hot Wings or Shrimp Cocktail. Draft beers are $1 off during the Happy Hour and the House wine is a respectable Wilridge Winery red or white for $5. It was much quieter than I remember its predecessor (Madrona Alehouse) and comfortably warm despite the cold outside. We had a reasonable dinner and we got happy! Madrona Arms 1138 34th Ave. (corner of Union) 98122 206-739-5104, www.madronaarms.com Hours: Monday through Friday 11am-12am; Sat/Sun 9am-2am ~Diane Snell

With our aging demographics and the increase in dementia diagnoses, it seems as though this documentary should be required viewing for all adults. We may have someone in our own family or we may have visited a nursing home and seen a resident slumped in their wheelchair, eyes closed or unfocused, and not interacting with any other residents. Often these folks are nonverbal. And you silently offer a prayer that you do not end up this way. This film follows social worker, Daniel Cohen, as he visits nursing homes and tries to “waken” these folks with music. He attempts to find out something about the patient and use music from the era of their young adult years to rouse them. One example from this film has been viewed thousands of times on YouTube: this elderly man has his eyes closed as he slumps in his wheelchair and many staff members have never heard him speak. Cohen puts earphones on him and plays some New Orleans jazz, having noted from his file that he lived in the New Orleans area in his youth. The reaction is amazing! The man’s eyes fly open, he sits up in his chair and begins speaking rapid-fire. He’s been reached! A short segment of the film shows Oliver Sacks talking about the relationship between the brain and music. “The past which is not recoverable in any other way is embedded, as if in amber, in the music, and people can regain a sense of identity.” — Oliver Sacks. This link is something I noticed years ago in an adult day care setting. One of the patients had severe impairments following a massive stroke. He had been a very successful surgeon who now did not speak, could not feed himself and seemed to get little from the program. Music was a part of the program, often the oldies but goodies that we associate with our parents’ heyday. But one day, someone played music from an opera and this patient broke into song, singing the words in Italian! If I hadn’t been there that day to see this, I am not sure I would have fully believed a report from a staff member. There are other scenarios including two women who are cared for at home by their spouses. In one case, the woman is nonverbal and seems worried and agitated. She is a little younger than Cohen’s nursing home patients are. He first tries some Beatles music on her, but she becomes more irritated and pushes him away. He switches to the Beach Boys and the woman looks alert and begins snapping her fingers. She even begins dancing, leaving the comfort of her sofa where one imagines she has spent her day in agitated silence. My husband seldom wants to watch any film that features a social worker as he fears he will be depressed. I was a social worker for much of my working years and he feels he has heard enough horror stories to last a lifetime. But he was very impressed with this film, impressed to the point that he asked family to donate to Music and Memories (Cohen’s foundation) as birthday gifts. This film was shown at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival where it won the Audience Award. You can see it on the Sundance Channel, Hulu and YouTube if you don’t have Netflix. Interacting with dementia patients lessens the need for psychotropic drugs with their side effects. The Music and Memories Foundation provides earphones and I-pads to patients. There are 5.2 million Alzheimer’s patients in this country and probably more that are not counted. I keep remembering the speaker at a conference who said we are all living longer and the chance of Alzheimer’s increases with age. It is reassuring to learn that we are making progress in breaking through the fog of dementia. ~Diane Snell

Love is in the air all month long. Let us celebrate with Wine We Love! Following are twelve of the wine department staff’s favorite bottles currently being offered at Leschi Market. All have received the attached heralding accolades and praise, but most importantly, the all-important Leschi Market stamp of approval. Prices listed are shelf price, and everyone receives 10% off any 6-bottle purchase, all the time. RED 2013 Foradori Vigneti delle Dolomiti Red Granato ($54.99) “Foradori’s 2013 Granato is superb. Like all of these 2013s, the Granato is a bit laid back in this vintage. Still, there is plenty of depth and intensity in the dark black cherry, plum, spice, new leather and menthol flavors. That said, it is the wine’s textural depth and creaminess that separate it stylistically from the other wines in the range. Drinking window 2018-2028.” - Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 93-points. 2014 Buty Conner Lee Vineyard Merlot & Cabernet Franc Columbia Valley ($41.99) “Supple, broad and expressive, layering rose petal—accented cherry and plum flavors against powdery tannins, finishing with sleekness and harmony. Drink now through 2024. 325 cases made.” –Wine Spectator, 92-points. 2013 Domaine des Miquettes St. Joseph Rouge Côteaux de L’Ardeche ($29.99) Syrah as it ought to be. The vineyard rows are worked throughout the year with horse drawn plough. Fermentations occur with natural yeasts. This is unmanipulated wine—a simple but powerful expression of the place from which it came. An organic gem from an independent winery at a very attractive price. 2012 La Chenade de Pomerol Bordeaux ($25.99) A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc (50% new oak) it has a ripe, quite generous bouquet with dark cherries, a touch of cassis and iodine with fine definition. The palate is medium-bodied with fine definition. I really appreciate the nervosite in the wine – great freshness with fine tannins and beautifully interwoven new oak on the finish.” –Wine Advocate, 90-92 points. 2013 Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico ($21.99) “Rich and sumptuous, boasting pure flavors of cherry and raspberry, matched to a juicy texture. There are plenty of tannins neatly folded into the overall structure, with hints of mineral and tea on the long, expansive finish. Best from 2017 through 2024. Smart Buy. Top 100 # 40.” -Wine Spectator, 92-points. 2013 Colutto Refosco Friuli Rosso Italy ($20.39) Refosco wines have particularly high acidity and are mostly dark and densely colored with violet and grassy aromas. Flavors of dark peppery spices and plums abound on the palate, and the wine often displays a slightly astringent, almond-skin finish on the palate. This wine has impressive fruit intensity laced with minerality. 2013 Maison Bleue Metis Red Columbia Valley ($19.99) “This wine is a blend of 45% Grenache, 37% Syrah and 18% Mourvèdre, coming from Boushey, Pepper Bridge, Olsen and Minnick vineyards. The aromas pop with notes of clove, orange peel, black pepper, funk and red and blue berries. The palate is lithe, pure and focused, with a pleasing mouthfeel and sense of balance to the citrus and blue-fruit flavors.” -Sean Sullivan, 90-points. 2014 Château Bizard Montagne de Raucoule ($13.99) “Aromatic and rich, expresses scents of black fruits –blackberry, sloe, cherry- underscored by notes of licorice. Retro-olfaction of ripe fruits and spices. Well-structured, fine and coated tannins. A very pleasant wine, cajoling and mellow.” –Winemaker notes. WHITE 2014 Domaine Paul Cherrier Sancerre ($18.69) Stéphane Cherrier decided to get back to old-fashioned winemaking in a region where wines were becoming a bit too homogenized, mechanized and over-treated with chemicals. Classic Sancerre aromas of citrus and flint. Lime and passion fruit come through on the palate. Such a fresh finish with racy acidity, mineral and structure. Given the small harvest of 2014 Sancerre this is an amazing value. 2015 Jubilee Pinot Bianco Alto Adige Italy ($13.99) “Classic aromatics of pears and green apples. Great density, tied into a long backbone of minerality that finishes with brilliant acidity.” -Wine Spectator, 92+ points. 2016 Château Bizard Blanc d’Amour Grignan Les Adhémar ($12.19) “Aromatic, complex, fruity. Exhales fragrances of grapefruit, white peach, lychee and acacia flower. Beautiful balance on the palate, ample and suave, with a fresh finish. A blend of Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne and Roussanne.” -Winemaker notes. Thomas Loosen Edition Riesling Mosel Austria NV ($8.39) “Under close to perfect conditions, we were able to harvest grapes with optimal must weights and acidity levels, producing wines in all quality levels. The vintage also gave us excellent yields, with a beautiful balance of ripeness and acidity. The wines are dense and concentrated, but with the delicate and graceful style of the Mosel.” –Winemaker notes Cheers! Kenneth Benner, a Seattle area native, is a trained chef and has worked in such restaurants as Barbacoa, B.O.K.A. Kitchen + Bar, and Dahlia Lounge. Ken is the wine buyer at Leschi Market. He has a passion for learning, a meticulous palate, and a tenacity for searching out the best for his customers while offering some of the most highly coveted wines in the area. His wine column is intended to inspire and explore new choices in wine, learn about wine with his readers, and share his knowledge and experiences in the wine world. Check out the latest at www.LeschiMarket.com or request to be added to email updates or send questions, comments, or suggestions to ken@leschimarket.com and follow the wine department directly on twitter at twitter.com/leschimarket.

A movie to see for Women’s History month (March) is Iron Jawed Angels, which documents the activities of Alice Paul, a Quaker, Swarthmore graduate and passionate supporter of the movement for women’s right to vote. Similar protests for the vote were occurring in London and Paul studied and lived there for a while, joining in the protests where she was jailed three times. On her return to the states, she formed a group of young suffragettes who were impatient with the slow progress of the conservative leaders of the National American Women’s Suffragette Association. This new group, the National Women’s Party, used the more radical tactics Alice had learned in London with marches, protests and a daily presence with signs and banners in front of the White House during Wilson’s era. Often attacked by men during their protests, the police looked the other way and eventually Massachusetts and Pennsylvania sent members of their National Guard to form a barrier between the women and the angry men. This support was left out of the movie for dramatic reasons, I am sure! Jailed on the charge of “impeding traffic,” a ludicrous charge when the women were backed up against the fence around the White House and the traffic was in the street, they began a hunger strike. There are horrendous scenes of force-feeding raw egg to the women, scenes that made me feel nauseous. Reports of this made it into the papers, embarrassing Wilson who eventually came out publicly in support of a women’s right to vote in 1917. Many know of the dramatic scene in the Tennessee assembly when the vote was taken and it looked as though it would go down to defeat when a telegram was delivered to a young Harry Burn. The telegram was from his mother, urging him to vote to pass the bill. He did, ensuring victory by delivering Tennessee as the 35th state with his one vote. A 2014 movie, The Suffragettes, documents the fight for the vote in England. If the movie is true to circumstances, the movement there seemed to involve many more working women rather than the more privileged women here in the States. The working women in the English mills were poorly paid, working conditions were abominable and in this movie, the women were subject to the whims of the boss. But then privilege is relative; you may have a nice home, plenty of food and a fashionable wardrobe, but if you are considered a man’s property, with no legal rights to your own children, then you are not free. Once the vote was won, Alice went on to work for the Equal Rights Amendment, drafting the first version. The ERA needed the vote of 38 states by then, but only 35 states favored its passage; it’s still waiting out there, women…perhaps we should take it on. Alice lived to be 92; one can imagine her now taking on the lawmakers who decide on women’s’ health and access to care as though we were still their property. A quote from Alice that we can strive to change: There will never be a new world order until women are a part of it. ~Diane Snell

We just travelled across the entire country on the train. On the second night, we passed through Minot, North Dakota. It was minus forty degrees. Minot is about two hundred miles north of Standing Rock and the ongoing resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) continuing in sub zero weather and blizzards. Robert “Running Fisher” Upham aka “Harlem Indian” water is life/Mni Wiconi, poster, Sacred Hoop Gallery The spirit of Standing Rock is encouraging a surge in contemporary native art and exhibitions. A fundraiser at the new Sacred Hoop Cooperative Gallery at 55 Bell Street included ceramics, posters, beadwork, paintings, masks, drums, jewelry and graphic art. One whole table was filled with writings about Standing Rock and graphic books that dramatically told the story of the conflicts of whites and natives over several centuries. But the event focused on the stories of those who had been to Standing Rock. It continued for eight hours! While I was there, the story was both personal and mythic. The storyteller, a large man who compared himself to a bear, had just returned from Standing Rock. He told of the spirit of shared purpose there, of shared resources and shared possessions. In spite of the freezing temperatures, he gave away his warm coat and then nearly froze himself. Then he told a mythic tale from the time when “humans had stopped listening” to nature and the animals stopped listening to each other. He punctuated it with powerful drumbeats that were part of the story. They also ensured we were wide-awake. At Sacred Hoop, Robert “Running Fisher” Upham aka “Harlem Indian” honored the theme of the DAPL resistance “water is life/ Mní Wičoní” with a large collage that included the early and recent history of the Sioux Indians as text in the background. This artist has also revived the practice of Indian Ledger drawings, the first descriptive images made by Indians in captivity in the 19th century in the margin of ledger books. The Sacred Hoop Cooperative is the latest addition to native-run gallery/stores in Seattle. Contemporary artist Louis Gong’s 8th Generation in Pike Place Market has received a lot of attention. Sacred Hoop is more low profile. Keep a look out for future events on their Facebook page. Seattle Theater Group with John Feoderov and Tracy Rector, both Seattle-based Native artists, organized a one-night benefit at the Paramount Theater to support the Water Protector Legal Collective, the legal support team for the Standing Rock resistance. Natives and non-Natives exhibited artworks during a concert that spoke of the “connections between land, culture and identity.” If you want to support Standing Rock you can go to Tacoma until February 16 to visit “Protect the Sacred: Native Artists for Standing Rock” an exhibition curated by Asia Tail at the Spaceworks Gallery in Tacoma (950 Pacific Ave. Entrance on 11th St. Mon – Fri / 1pm – 5pm, Third Thursday open until 9pm.) Tail, formerly on the staff of the Tacoma Art Museum, selected a cross section of 26 well-known and young Native artists. She told me that all 452 tribal affiliations recognized in the United States are represented in the Seattle to Portland corridor! She herself is from an Oklahoma tribe. A large banner by Kaila Farrell-Smith hangs at the entrance to the gallery. A contrast to Harlem Indian’s more realistic and text-based homage, Farrell- Smith Mní Wičoní Banner, combines abstract basket patterns, and a political call to action. As the artist explains: “I explore the space that exists in-between the Indigenous and western worlds, examining cultural interpretations of aesthetics, symbols, and place. It is in this space I search for my visual language: violent, beautiful, and complicated marks that express my contemporary Indigenous identity.” Be sure to look for this negotiation between the native and the “Western” (meaning colonial) in every work in the exhibition. For example, the photographs of Matika Wilbur, just back from Standing Rock, resonate with Indigenous significance as well as the conventions of photographic modernism, in the close up of the hands of “Miss Helen, Last Carrier of the Lovelock Paiute Language.” Facing Wilbur’s photographs are two realistic watercolors by Yatika Starr-Fields. The artist usually paints intensely colored abstraction, but the impact of joining the protest at Standing Rock led him to record what he was actually seeing and provide an evocative description: “At the time this was painted, these two tipis were the northernmost structures in the whole Oceti Sakowin encampment. That day the air was alive with anticipation, and the scent of campfire smoke and sounds of all kinds echoed throughout the camp. With the setting sun casting its radiance on the changing colors of the distant fall trees and surrounding plains, the Missouri river seemingly created its own dominant horizon between past and present. This sacred hill – where burial grounds are present, and where many actions, prayers, and ceremonies take place – has been reclaimed as our own.” Sara Stiestreem’s layered conceptual images represent a matrix of female and indigenous power in the red circles, as well as an emphasis on non-violence (in photographs of hand gestures). Fox Spears bases her abstract color patterns directly on ancient basket patterns that suggest the “pioneering” work of white males in the 1960s. The elegant prints of Martin Oliver and Shaun Peterson as well as Alano Edzerza celebrate traditional styles as well, while also subtly intersecting with the contemporary world. Some of the artists clearly address the DAPL and its implications. Erin Genia’s striking ceramic sculptures such as Facing/Not Facing: Toxic Devastation from Oil combine red clay and black glazes that become literal spills on the earth. Next to Genia is the bold graphic image by her fifteen-year-old son, Samuel Genia, opposing the DAPL. Perhaps most to the point, as we shake Ryan! Feddersen’s oversized “snow globe” Micro Spill, nasty black particles swirl everywhere. The outpouring of creativity by these Native artists and curators, as they respond to and support the unique spiritual energies emerging among the protestors at Standing Rock, provides an anchor for resistance for everyone. As the story teller at the Sacred Hoop gallery put it. “Stories Heal. Find your Standing Rock and pull yourself together.” ~Susan Noyes Platt, www.artandpoliticsnow.com