ARTcade -- Takin' to the Streets

Public art is a good way to energize a neighborhood and to draw people out on the street to interact with the community that they live and work in. That is the belief of Dominick A. Lucia, principal organizer of ARTcade – a multidisciplinary South Lake Union art walk, held the third Thursday of each month from 5PM to 8PM.

Lucia, along with co-curator Allegra Searle LeBel, envisions the SLU neighborhood as the canvas onto which the art can be made. The venues are various storefronts, lobbies, loading docks and parking garages that highlight a business and cultural district within one of the SLU neighborhoods. Lucia is also planning future unexpected, surprise locations including open rooftops, open houses and open businesses."I want to breathe life into other places, beyond art in galleries and in coffee shops," he said.

ARTcade made its debut on October 20, with offerings including visual art, dance, spoken word, live music, video projection and a giant interactive Jenga game. The goal of the future

community art events is to engage business owners, workers, community organizations, residents, artists and performers, in order to promote SLU as a more inviting, culturally active and engaged community.

"I love South Lake Union," said Lucia. "I like places that are emerging, that are changing and evolving." His goal with ARTcade is to celebrate life and get people out on the street.

The next monthly art walk is December 15.  Refer to www.sluARTcade.com for more information.