Broadway light rail construction gets animated

Public art is nothing new to Seattle. In fact, most Seattleites probably encounter it on a daily basis, what with the Sculpture Garden downtown, various murals dotting walls on sidestreets and the Jimi Hendrix statue that sits outside of Blick on Broadway Avenue. Most public art is permanent but as construction continues on the light rail, Sound Transit and community members are continuing to bring temporary art pieces to the area.

One group in particular, the Seattle Experimental Animation Team (SEAT) has taken up the cause and hopes to utilize the canvas provided by the red wall surrounding the construction site to practice their own craft and expose their often remote and individualistic animation culture to an eager community.

SEAT is a loose collection of animators formed by Stefan Gruber as a way for local animators to share their creations with one another and bond outside of their often solitary world.

They took up the project of painting the wall, a project they term "Wallrus" in an effort to further expand their growing circle. Eight animators were chosen from SEAT to take control of the wall one at a time for a six-month period. Each animator, in that six-month time frame, will animate and film a short piece created upon the wall in full view of passers-by and park visitors. The first animator, Clyde Petersen, to take control of the wall has already had his tenure and shot his film, with plans to screen the film in the park sometime in the near future, according to Web Crowell, a member of SEAT and future Wallrus animator.

Petersen's film was part of a music video for Portland indie-punk band The Thermals.

This Thursday, a new artist, Amanda Moore, will begin her creative reign over the construction barrier, hosting a kick-off event at 6 p.m. during Blitz Capitol Hill Art Walk. A press release for the event explains that it will include "a vaudeville showman, old time music and a Seattle artist at work."

In the five to seven minute film, Moore will animate over the next few months and film in August, when her tenure of Wallrus ends, is titled "The Open Town." Moore describes it as "a story set in 1901 Seattle, where the former police chief and a vaudeville tycoon fight, with a contortionist caught in the middle... it's based on a true story."

Moore began her animation career years ago. She explains that the film school she attended in Boulder that placed a heavy emphasis on experimental filmmaking.

"I began to like the slower process of doing filmmaking, and I like animation because I get complete control over it, everything you see is me," said Moore.

Moore is excited about the project and its kick-off event, explaining that throughout the evening she will be installing several large plywood panels on the wall.

When her art has been filmed, the next artist will take his or her turn with Wallrus, replacing Moore's artwork with his or her own, and creating a new film.

Moore is excited to begin the project, and while doing the interview she was in the midst of varnishing a puppet for the piece. She is also enthusastic about the consequences Wallrus could have for her craft as a whole.

"I think it brings awareness to animation, its a chance for people to see what the process is actually about, and they are exposed to different artwork," Moore said.

Moore is also excited about other projects she has in the works, namely a music video for the Case Studies.

SEAT also has its own collective plans for the future.

Crowell explains that the group is currently working on a new project that would utilize kites flown in local parks to project images, though this effort is still in its experimental stage. More information about Wallrus and the ongoing activities of SEAT can be found at experimentalanimation.org.

Dallas may be reached at dgoschie@su-spectator.com