Friday, September 12, 2008

Souvenir: Portal to Thoughtful Worlds




Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

A tiny shop on old Ballard Ave. has intrigued me for years. The window displays are always unique, thoughtful, artfully pulled together, sometimes whimsical, sometimes bizarre, sometimes pure art. The shop has no sign, no advertising, it just draws you in. Or the small, cute pet in the window does. Within are more wonderful things to see like an array of the owner's handmade cards or amazing curios from many times and places. Your only clue to finding it walking by, besides the window displays, is an aging name from a long closed business, "Frank's," embedded in the tile and terrazzo entryway, and this pet gate. The shop is Souvenir, the artist who creates it is Curtis Steiner. You've got to see his amazing interactive sculpture, "1000 Blocks," on display at the Seattle Art Museum, which can be viewed slowly or quickly here. After those mesmerizing 100 variations, you'll want to play with your own Stiener 1000 Blocks set on line here.

14 comments:

Barbara Rahal said...

That is a gorgeous souvenir...will for sure visit this little store you talk about in my next visit to Seattle, looks very interesting.

Beautiful capture!

Barbara Rahal said...

hey looking carefully I can see your reflexion at the back, that is so cool...Kim in action!
Nice

Virginia said...

Nice shot of a most intriguing lady. I too would like a trip to this shop.

Pat said...

Will definitely check this place out on my next trip...I love shops like this. Though this shop is surely not in the same category, I am a thrift shop junkie, and am pulled into such places like a nail to a magnet...

Geologychick said...

Very nice shot!!! Looks like you have had some nice weather lately!

g+m said...

The way the reflection on the glass is, it looks very much like the figure has wings.

Fantastic shot.

Kim said...

Barbara, thanks, but my image isn't visible.
Virginia & Bibi, he finds the most fun objects!
Geologychick, its been just ideal! It's looking good this next week, too.
Tasha, you've got a way of seeing! Thanks for drawing our attention to that. I see those wings you mention! That's so cool!
-Kim

Maya said...

Those blocks are amazing! I will have to go see them at SAM. I kind of want my own set now too!

Diederick Wijmans said...

I really enjoy looking at your excellent photos and reading your comments. I'll be back often!!

Katie said...

Very cool photo -- and I would love hanging out in this shop! Of course I'd have to first gawk at the "tile and terrazzo entryway" as I love mosaics. I'll add this to my Seattle list, which is growing long thanks to your wonderful photography and descriptions of interesting places there.

Jerez Sherry said...

This conjures up some interesting thoughts!

Stefan Jansson said...

For a souvenir, that's not bad.

Marie Reed said...

whta a delightful window display! it's so whimsical!

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