LATEST

Arts & Culture

Cheap Week Seattle: April 6–12

Questlove spins records at Neumos and the Langston Hughes African American Film Festival showcases black filmmakers: the best ways to spend your week without spending much.

Seth Sommerfeld
Author: Seth Sommerfeld and Atoosa Moinzadeh
1 min.read

Questlove of the Roots heads to Neumos for his only DJ appearance in the Pacific Northwest.

Apr 8–May 17
Black Lives Matter: Humanity Not Negotiable
Columbia City Gallery’s latest installment allows local activists like Afam Ayika to comment on the impact of state violence on black lives through visual art. Curated by journalist Naomi Ishisaka, the exhibit powerfully responds to the legal system’s lack of action after the killings of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and Eric Garner. Columbia City Gallery, Free

Thru May 2
Ceramics Invitational: NW Clay
In the hands of regional artists, clay becomes floral arrangements, contemplative human busts, twisting gourdes, simple pipes, humorous figurines, pottery (of course), and more. Traver Gallery’s Ceramics Invitational: NW Clay brings together 15 artists for a diverse celebration of molded ingenuity. Traver Gallery, Free 

Fri, Apr 10
Led to Sea Record Release
With Led to Sea, Seattle violinist, violist, and singer L. Alex Guy crafts chamber pop sans the chamber players. She needs little more than her strings and a looping pedal to create inviting indie pop all on her own, and when she has accompaniment, the arrangements further soar. Get the full Led to Sea experience, as Guy marks the release of her third album at Columbia City Theater with opening support from Tomo Nakayama and Lori Goldston. Columbia City Theater, $10 

Apr 11–19
Langston Hughes African American Film Festival 2015
Since in 2003, the Langston Hughes African American Film Festival has brought African American independent film to Seattle via screenings, workshops, filmmaker events, and community celebrations. This year’s lineup includes documentaries on August Wilson, police brutality, and rock and roll pioneers, animated features exploring African myths, and plenty of provocative dramas. Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, $12–$25

Sun, Apr 12
Questlove: DJ Set
As the drummer and bandleader for the Roots, Questlove was already culturally relevant before the group became the house band for The Tonight Show (including a couple choice appearances on Chappelle’s Show). He’ll show off his fine musical taste at Neumos with a DJ set that’s sure to light up the dance floor. Neumos, $20




Previous article
Seattle Restaurants with Outdoor Fire Pits
Next article
9 Floral Beauty Products for Spring
Seth Sommerfeld
Seth Sommerfeld
Assistant Editor (Arts) Seth Sommerfeld runs the arts department at Seattle Met, crafting the magazine's On the Town section, editing the Culture Fiend blog, and contributing to reader service features such as “The Ultimate Seahawks Guide” and the front-of-the-book department, Mudroom. Seth has written about music and culture for Rolling Stone, Spin, Pacific Northwest Inlander, Charleston Post and Courier, Syracuse Post-Standard, and Billings Gazette. He also extensively covered the NBA Draft for years for Fox Sports and NBADraft.net, and was published as part of Myth, Media, and Culture in Star Wars: An Anthology. Originally from Billings, Montana, Seth first lived in Washington while earning an undergraduate degree in journalism and broadcasting at Gonzaga University. He followed up those studies at Syracuse University, where he earned a master’s degree in arts journalism.