Seattle Culture
Most Influential, Hospitality: Keiji Tsukasaki
Chef, restaurateur
Volume in music is like seasoning food. Raise the volume too high and it warps the sound. Overseason the perfect bowl of crispy, warm, golden french fries with too much salt and you might as well be choking down a full salt shaker. The right balance of rhythm and harmony is akin to the balance of salt, fat, and acid in food.
Photo by Jesse Rivera
Most Influential, Arts: Anthony White
Artist, curator
White helped in the development and creation of the Lillian Miller Foundation Fellowship for Trans* and Indigiqueer Artists — a $10,000 unrestricted cash award offered for Washington state artists of all disciplines who self-identify as trans. “There was a lack of grants focused on trans and Indigiqueer artists,” White notes. “Offering this grant welcomes in more people.”
Photo by James Harnois
Most Influential, Health Care: Joel Bervell
The medical mythbuster
“When (patients of color) go to the doctor’s office they are interacting with institutionalized issues, especially issues of race, ethnicity, and gender that impact their health care,” Bervell says. “A lot of the problems that are perpetuating bias are systems based. For me, empowering patients comes from education and awareness. That’s why I took to social media in the first place.”
Photo by Taylor Nicole
Turn up the Music
Totem Star's new home expands its footprint by tenfold
“The studio was usually full,” says Totem cofounder, star singer, songwriter, and producer Daniel Pak. “And then we’d have a duo playing guitar out on the stairs, folks rapping in the hallway or practicing in the dance studios. It was a beautiful thing, but we needed more room.”
Seattle’s Guide to Black History Month
Celebrate Black culture, history, and community through February and beyond
Our Black community is a vital part of the city, contributing year-round. It’s on us to champion Black-owned businesses, and make the most of our Black Black Friday cards — this month and every month. They’re good for seven years.
Sir Mix-a-Lot at 60: What’s Next?
Seattle artist looks for opportunities to spread his love of music
Seattle’s iconic MoPOP recently honored Sir Mix-a-Lot with its Hometown Hero award for his efforts to sustain the music industry during the pandemic through the initiative “Keep Music Live,” a Seattle-based music education nonprofit that encourages youth and adults to learn to play an instrument.
Most Influential, Equity: Vivian Phillips
Founder and Board President, Arte Noir
“It is very personal,” Phillips says of living and advocating for diversity in the Central District. “My parents migrated to Seattle from the South, like the story of so many Black people in Seattle. They came here in the early ‘50s. They lived in the Central District, which was the only place where they could live. Family and friends, we all lived within blocks of each other; 23rd and Union was my stomping ground. It is literally where I grew up.”
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