2011: an exciting landmark as we celebrate our 20th Anniversary.

Sev Shoon Arts Center was founded in 1991 by Swiss artist, Dionne Haroutunian, and is managed by Zoe Bartosh. Inspired by the Impressionists and the Dadaists, Dionne had a dream of a community of artists who would meet in cafes and reinvent the world! Sev Shoon is as close as she could get to that dream. Drawing on her Armenian heritage, she named the center “Sev Shoon,” which translates as "Black Dog," the nickname of her favorite uncle. She figured it would be good luck, and it has been.

Sev Shoon resides in the 14,000 sq. ft. building known as BallardWorks. Located just down the street from the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (Ballard Locks), BallardWorks was developed by Dionne Haroutunian, Jay Lazerwitz, Joan Stuart Ross and John Gleason. It is home to nineteen individual artists, and two art businesses: Sev Shoon and Art & Soul. Historically an industrial neighborhood, Ballard is unique in its successful integration of businesses, cafes, quaint shops, and great people.

Collaborations

Over the years, the Sev Shoon Arts Center has collaborated with several other organizations and individuals to create interesting special events. Among others, we partnered with Seniors Making Art and Arts Ballard to produce “The Ultimate Press,” an idea for which we received 4Culture (then King County Arts Commission) funding. The seniors created large masonite hand-cut plates that were inked, then covered with canvas and rolled over by a 2-ton steamroller.

We have united forces with Daniel Smith, Inc. to produce the “This Mug’s On Us” project where we painted 5 ft. high coffee mugs during Ballard’s Seafoodfest.

More recently we have worked with Seattle Print Arts and Davidson Galleries for the “Visiting Artists Program.” Together, we bring out-of-town artists who give demonstrations and lectures to our combined memberships. It has been a wonderful way to expand our concept of printmaking and make new friends.

Kevin Haas, Associate Professor of Fine Arts at the Washington State University, with his students. accumulated.org.

Karen Kunc, Professor of Art at the University of Nebraska, doing a demonstration for Seattle Print Arts’ members. davidsongalleries.com/artists/kunc/kunc.php.

Ken Parker has been visiting us for the past few years from Ireland, and sharing his passion for all print-related techniques. kenparkersart.com.

Richard Steiner traveled from Japan to lead a Japanese Woodblock Moku Hanga workshop. richard-steiner.net.

Sean Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in Printmaking and Professor in the Department of Art and Design at the University of Alberta, along with and Akiko Taniguchi, shared their chine-colle approach. davidsongalleries.com/artists/caulfield/caulfield.php

Links:
4Culture: seattle.gov/tour/locks.htm
Art & Soul: colorcarbonprint.com
Drachen Foundation: drachen.org
Seattle Print Arts: seattleprintarts.org
BallardWorks: ballardworks.org
Pottery Northwest: potterynorthwest.org

LEARNING AT SEV SHOON

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