Sep 24 Wednesday
In this course wildlife artist, Natasha Terry, will guide participants on how to paint illustrations of local animals (no drawing skills needed). Beginners are absolutely welcome! Natasha will go over the fundamentals of watercolor painting and make sure you have the basics you need to paint within your own style and skill level. The lessons include a range of animals (birds, amphibians, bugs, and mammals), rather than landscapes or environments. We will work on up to 5 different watercolor illustrations over the course of 6 weeks. Weather permitting, we may spend a small portion of our class time in the park area surrounding the community center. This class is meant to be fun and enriching—a beautiful way to connect with the gorgeous urban ecosystems of Seattle.
A product of a one night stand, abused in foster home after foster home, and raised sleeping in parks were just a few of the daunting obstacles in Monti’s journey from the streets to the stage.
Monti’s passion for helping students stems from the adversity he faced early on in life. Forced to live in poverty due to his mother’s drug addiction, Monti grew up sleeping on cardboard boxes, living in parks, and being abused by foster parent after foster parent. Until 8th grade Monti was in special Ed. classes and was held back on two separate occasions. Despite this adversity, Monti went on to obtain two college degrees, become a state basketball champion, award winning poet, Mcdonalds All- American nominee, nationally recognized actor, and co-founder of Truality.org, a non-profit organization aimed at inspiring youth to be TRU The Real U.
It’s almost like being in love! Dance your way back in time to one of the most romantic musicals ever written, Lerner and Loewe’s Brigadoon. Americans Tommy and Jeff are hiking the Scottish Highlands, when out of the mists they stumble upon the enchanting village of Brigadoon, which appears for only one day every 100 years. But this dreamlike place is far more than it seems—and those who fall in love there might never be the same.
From the writers of My Fair Lady and Camelot comes this soaring love story, full of glorious ballet and favorite tunes like “Come to Me, Bend to Me,” “The Heather on the Hill” and “Almost Like Being in Love.” This production features an exquisite new adaptation, which enhances all the romance and magic that makes Brigadoon a truly timeless masterpiece.
Welcomed by KNKX. Frank Vignola is one of the most extraordinary guitarists performing before the public today. His stunning virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, John Lewis, Tommy Emmanuel, Lionel Hampton, the Boston Pops, the New York Pops, and guitar legend Les Paul, who named Vignola to his “Five Most Admired Guitarists List:” for the Wall Street Journal.
His dynamic genre-spanning music has brought him to 21 countries on three continents – and still growing – performing in some of the world’s most illustrious venues, including the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, New York’s Lincoln Center, The Blue Note, and the world’s oldest indoor concert hall, Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Italy.
Pasquale Grasso - It was the kind of endorsement most rising guitarists can only dream of, and then some. In his interview for Vintage Guitar magazine’s February 2016 cover story, Pat Metheny was asked to name some younger musicians who’d impressed him. “The best guitar player I’ve heard in maybe my entire life is floating around now, Pasquale Grasso,” said the jazz-guitar icon and NEA Jazz Master. “This guy is doing something so amazingly musical and so difficult. “Mostly what I hear now are guitar players who sound a little bit like me mixed with a little bit of [John Scofield] and a little bit of [Bill Frisell],” he continued. “What’s interesting about Pasquale is that he doesn’t sound anything like that at all. In a way, it is a little bit of a throwback, because his model—which is an incredible model to have—is Bud Powell. He has somehow captured the essence of that language from piano onto guitar in a way that almost nobody has ever addressed. He’s the most significant new guy I’ve heard in many, many years.”
Supported by KNKX. The two-time JUNO Award-winning singer-songwriter from Montreal places the history of African-American musical culture at the heart of her work, reflecting on the social realities that have influenced the genres of blues, jazz and soul. Her trilogy highlights the history of African-American music, inspired by soul icons such as Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Etta James.
2018's Nameless, was about confronting historical silences and sorrows. This blues-tinged album has become an audiophile's reference recording across the globe and led to two sold out shows at the Montreal International Jazz Festival in 2018. Her second album, Stay Tuned! was a call for revolution. This album won the 2020 JUNO Award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year as well as the Félix prize for Best Jazz Album at the 2019 ADISQ Gala, was shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize and featured among the 19 best Canadian albums of 2019 by CBC. Dominique Fils-Aimé [FEES-em-AY] was also nominated that same year as Radio-Canada's 2019-2020 "Revelation in Jazz". In 2021, Dominique closed the final chapter the trilogy with Three Little Words, a call for reconciliation. The record received rave reviews in prestigious publications all around the world. It made the Polaris Short List, and claimed the #1 spot for best-selling album in Quebec and #2 in Canada. On stage, whether in Canada (double-bill with Allison Russell at Toronto's Koerner Hall) or in Europe (opening for Melody Gardot, Diana Krall, and Ibrahim Maalouf), Dominique Fils-Aimé's magnetic presence captivates the audience, leading them on a transcendent journey.
Her fourth album entitled Our Roots Run Deep, was released on Ensoul Records in September 2023 and is the start of a new trilogy. It has won the 2024 JUNO Award for "Vocal Jazz Album of the Year" and the music video for the track 'My Mind At Ease' was nominated for Best International R&B/Soul Video and Best Choreography in a Video at the UK Music Video Awards. Dominique Fils-Aimé released her first single in French, "Moi je t'aime" on June 6th and is currently writing new songs for her upcoming album slated for release in 2026.
Sep 25 Thursday
Art + Culture Week brings together the incredible makers of art and culture across Seattle into one calendar week of non-stop events. You’re invited into a new dimension. Encounter groundbreaking works and engage with profound cultural expressions across the urban landscape. Art + Culture Week is proud to feature an extraordinary lineup of Seattle's most influential and innovative cultural organizations, galleries, and artistic minds. These events take place on the traditional and unceded land of the Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Duwamish Tribe.
Presented by Seattle’s Northwest Film Forum, the 28th Annual Local Sightings Film Festival is an in-person showcase of creative communities from throughout the Pacific Northwest. The 2025 program, which runs from September 19-28, features a competitive selection of curated short film programs and feature films, inviting regional artists to experiment, break, and remake popular conceptions around filmmaking and film exhibition.
Local Sightings champions emerging and established talent, supports the regional film industry, and promotes diverse media as a critical tool for public engagement.
Supported by KNKX. Al Di Meola is currently touring worldwide with his program “Land of the Midnight Sun," featuring the iconic Philippe Saisse on keys, master percussionist Gumbi Ortiz, Tom Brechtlein on drums, and Elias Tona on bass.
Guitar legend Al Di Meola, a living icon inducted into the Gallery of Greats, mesmerizes audiences worldwide with his unparalleled musical talent. With a career spanning over five decades, Di Meola has solidified his place among the top guitarists, earning critical acclaim, numerous awards, and millions of record sales. Renowned for his intricate rhythms, provocative melodies, and sophisticated harmonies, Di Meola's music transcends genres, blending world music and jazz influences.
His most recent studio project Twentyfour, is a testament to creativity. Conceived during the tumultuous times of the pandemic, what started as a simple acoustic project evolved into something much grander. Al's initial intention to craft a reflective acoustic album on the challenges of the time expanded exponentially as he found himself unable to resist the allure of boundless musical exploration. Over the span of four years, Twentyfour blossomed into a masterpiece, brimming with intricately woven melodies, diverse instrumentation, and captivating highlights. It's a journey through Al's musical evolution, showcasing his virtuosity and vision in those special times. Each track is a moment within these four years and a contemporary witness to the events. Twentyfour is set to be released on July 19, 2024.
As a recipient of 12 prestigious Guitar Player Magazine awards, Al Di Meola's contribution to the world of music is unparalleled. His latest creations continue to showcase his exceptional talent and boundless creativity, solidifying his status as a true guitar virtuoso and musical visionary.
How far can an apron, a bowl, or a book take one small Chinese girl with a passion to cook?
The Downtown Issaquah Association (DIA), in partnership with the Issaquah Library, returns the interactive Story Stroll™ to the windows of Olde Town businesses with the light-hearted dreams of a young Chinese chef. This year’s stroll features the inspiring and light-hearted tale of a young Chinese chef whose dreams would change America’s culinary landscape. All ages will delight in reading the historic tale while engaging with local businesses from Sept. 5 through Oct. 5, 2025.
Carrie Clickard’s delectable rhymes tell the story of how Joyce Chen, a girl born in Communist China, immigrated to the United States and popularized Chinese cooking. Illustrator Katy Wu brings this inspiring story beautifully and deliciously to life.
“This uplifting story will delight young children and their parents and grandparents,” said DIA President Christina Bruning. “We are taken on a journey that delights both palate and soul.”
The Story Stroll™ complements the city of Issaquah’s annual Culture Fest event on September 5, 2025, at the Issaquah Community Center. The celebration honors the area’s rich cultures from around the world. The free, family-friendly event spotlights the community’s cultural diversity. Festivities include music, world dances, interactive art, Henna art, resource booths, and food trucks.
Visitors are encouraged to experience both Culture Fest and the self-directed Story Stroll™, two engaging opportunities to celebrate our community’s diverse cultural heritage, discover ways to get involved locally, and support Issaquah’s unique small businesses.
Echoes of the Floating World features a striking collection of 18th, 19th and early 20th-century Japanese woodblock prints from the Tacoma Art Museum and others, displayed alongside works by contemporary Northwest artists. This exhibition honors the rich legacy of ukiyo-e while exploring its cultural impact on today’s artistic expressions.
Hours-
Monday CLOSEDTuesday CLOSEDWednesday 10 am – 5 pmThursday 10 am – 8 pmFriday 10 am – 5 pmSaturday 10 am – 5 pmSunday 10 am – 5 pm
