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Thursday, November 29, 2007

The Belmont

posted by on November 29 at 13:01 PM

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The Belmont is a small old apartment building on Capitol Hill, redolent of a squat. Across the street is Press, a tall shiny condominium building, already redolent of the future. The two have been in a kind of staring match since 2002: the Belmont all squinty and weathered, the kind of building you would like to feed some soup; Press all unflinching, obnoxious pride.

As of November 30, the condos will have officially won. The low-rent residents of the Belmont, many of them artists, will be evicted to make way for a new condo development, as will the rest of the residents of the 500 block of Pine Street (a center of gravity for Seattle music, culture, and sleaze). But not before they have their final say. On the night of the eviction, the Belmont will become The Belmont, with murals on every wall (outside and inside), installations in every apartment, and a performance by Implied Violence on the roof.

Last Sunday night, the inside of the Belmont already looked like a Barcelona squat, with paintings and photo collages covering the walls and ceilings. Some were by local graffiti heroes like Specs (two green faces at the top of a flight of stairs), some by cartoonist Ellen Forney (hers wasn’t done yet), and dozens of others.

The unofficial leader of the Belmont, named Nko (“knee-ko”) was cooking squash and potato soup in one of the apartments while other people painted on the walls, drank beer, and smoked. Someone, somewhere was playing an accordion.

We’re dressing up this corpse for a second,” Nko said, leaning on a crutch. (He shattered his heel in a biking accident a few months ago.) “Then this space will be demolished. Our memories will be unanchored from architectural space.” Nko said The Belmont will feel more like a funeral than a party; all the music will be dour.

From the press release for The Belmont:

“We look at Press every day and cannot remember what saw there before; this is our fate.”

Nobody will be able to get into The Belmont without tickets, which can be procured on the day of the event at a downtown crepe stand. (See Theater Calendar for details.) Nko said The Belmont is trying to avoid some of the overcrowding that happened at Motel #1.

The artists only gave hints about what, exactly, they’ll be doing. Implied Violence’s rooftop performance involves local Balkan brass band Orkestar Zirkonium and samples from Triumph of the Will and The Chronic.

Nko said one of the apartments will have “some serious nature shit.” His installation involves sentences from Derrida’s The Truth in Painting and an old oil-painting manual that belonged to his dead grandmother. “The combination is sort of interesting,” he says, holding a hot bowl of soup. “The nostalgic and formal along with the deconstructionist. But nobody’ll notice. They’ll just be drunk and walking through.”

RSS icon Comments

1

Knok it down while those fuckwit hippies are on the rof.

Posted by paul | November 29, 2007 1:28 PM
2

@1: I couldn't agree more. It's selfish, pompous art-crap like this that give this town a bad name.

Nko: Buy a goddamn vowel.

Posted by frederick r | November 29, 2007 1:48 PM
3

Apologies for my typos in haste.

Posted by paul | November 29, 2007 1:57 PM
4

eh, what's wrong with some art before a building's demolished? i think it's grand.

Posted by infrequent | November 29, 2007 2:03 PM
5

Good riddance.. is this the building that's covered in graffiti? It looks like a f'ing crack den and needs to go.

Posted by w7ngman | November 29, 2007 2:20 PM
6

You can't put lipstick on a pit.

Posted by NapoleonXIV | November 29, 2007 2:36 PM
7

#4 - Art, I like. Waste-of-space, Burning Man rejects prancing around on a roof banging dustbin lids together is not art.

Posted by paul | November 29, 2007 2:44 PM
8

Nko sounds suspiciously like a certain shattered-heel Stranger staffer I know.

Posted by Eric F | November 29, 2007 3:22 PM
9

"the kind of building you would like to feed some soup"

Awesome line...

Posted by Clint | November 29, 2007 3:23 PM
10

@9
Yes, brilliant line. It brought a vivid image into my head.

Posted by Muggims | November 29, 2007 3:47 PM
11

It's sad how jaded the hipsters are around here... I've met NKO, he doesn't work at the Stranger and he's a brilliant artist and incredibly nice guy. If you think you can spearhead an art project better than he can... then get off the stranger slog and do it. Don't take chat rooms jabs at someone elses vision... You guys sound like a bunch of bitter 60 year olds.

Posted by starhead | November 30, 2007 12:27 PM
12

NKO's an amazing artist. He's produced more quality and thought-out bodies of work than anyone I've met in this city...
...Burning Man rejects? Do you have any idea what you're talking about or are you throwing random insults to pass the time?
I know you couldn't have actually 'spoken' with anyone there let alone taken the time to consider what this project is for otherwise you'd have seen a group of really interesting and talented artists occupy the building, this art show being a farewell to the temporary house they shared.
If those are the kind of people and ideas you loathe then I question your claimed fondness of art, or Seattle, or people in general.
I don't doubt Paul wouldn't know art if it fucked him up the ass...

Posted by red | November 30, 2007 1:17 PM
13

Wow! I think the people leaving the ignorant comments, aka "Haters," have no respect for history, artistic freedom, nor see the value of how this building, its former inhabitants, and the spectators will all experience its last hoorah before a stale cheaply fabricated, no individuality, blocked cubical wonder bread overpriced development will stand in its place. Wake up!!! The city is being molded to suit people as yourselves. You are being dictated and conditioned towards being so oblivious. What do you care? You don't, hence the statements. Also you simply don't get it.
I hope for as long as condos keep going up that there will be more art installations and art buildings. Throughout history it is art and nature that prevails!

Posted by Iunx | November 30, 2007 1:37 PM
14

sounds like a good idea, i think turning something like a building demolishment into an arty party is pretty awesome, why all the hate? if you don't like hipsters, don't go. plus its sold out, isn't it?

Posted by marianne | November 30, 2007 1:42 PM
15

The irony of all this is if you go to the Press Condo's website and view "The Neighborhood," most of those places are no longer in business, due to what? Another condo! Wow how fun!! Sound like an interesting neighborhood.

Posted by Iunx | November 30, 2007 2:07 PM
16

Seattle is evidently now a city of condo-dwelling trolls. If you can't wait to demolish the old buildings here and fill the place with condos, move to Los Angeles. I'd love to fight the good fight and try to keep some of the interesting shit here, but I'd rather just go to SF.

Posted by Xeno | November 30, 2007 2:09 PM
17

Get used to it people - Capitol Hill will be entirely infested with thousands of shiny happy fuckwits wearing their "new" smelling black leather week-ender jackets disgruntled that everyone else in the world isn't another clone like they are. Yeah, Capitol Hill should just lay down and surrender to ignorant suburban monsters hell bent on homogeny. Culture Wars: it's not that bad of an idea, I mean, anyone who is driving a new Infinity SUV can probably get another one on credit if you light it on fire...Go back to Kirkland where you feel "more at home" if you don't like city culture.

Posted by RazrApl | November 30, 2007 2:26 PM
18

I will tell you whats wrong with someone who wants to do a little art before it gets torn down. Those idiots couldnt keep the destruction focused on The Belmont. They ended up destroying other people's property. Take a look at the flickr site with all the proof that they had no consideration for the buildings around them that were not being effected by the new condo construction. They took all the advertising signs from the press to use in their installations, they graffitied the buildings next door to them, that will continue to have occupants, and that would prefer to not live in a place that looks like a crack house. They broke into the brick building next door, so they could get onto the roof; like the access to their own roof wasnt good enough. They made a damn mess out of the place with no regard for anyone around them. That is why this is a problem. I couldnt agree more that the building should have been torn down with those assholes in it.

Posted by SeaKay | December 4, 2007 1:56 PM
19

nko is simply rad. He's insanely creative, endlessely giving, and one of the sweetest guys you could ever meet. If you don't understand him, or his compassion, you don't know him. If he and his art make you mad, you need to figure out your angst and hopefully work on being a little happier with your shot at this short life. If art upsets you or pisses you off.......sorry but.........-you're doomed. The Belmont is dead. the wake was beautifully chaotic. Most people don't get the fairwell that the Belmont received. That whole block...this whole city and the whole world is changing. It would be nice if every part of forgotten culture got this kind of attention and praise, or even just a party! ntg and nko did a fantastic job and the response pretty much backs it up. Critics, you are loved for your ignorance. It's motivating. Leave your info so we can all contact you. I'm leaving mine. Thanks!

Posted by Static Invasion | December 12, 2007 10:47 AM
20

Paul and Freddy R are art critics. They know a lot about art. They know what is, and isn't art. If you have any questions for them, ask them through the Slog. They'll be happy to send you their "typo riddled" opinions all day long. They know that all of us who couldn't make the cut for "Burning Man" were pissed and had to respond via the Belmont. They knew it! Those guys are so smart. Paul and Freddy R, you rule and I just wanted to personally tell you that. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

Static Invasion

Posted by Static Invasion | December 12, 2007 11:07 AM
21

Paul and Freddy R are art critics. They know a lot about art. They know what is, and isn't art. If you have any questions for them, ask them through the Slog. They'll be happy to send you their "typo riddled" opinions all day long. They know that all of us who couldn't make the cut for "Burning Man" were pissed and had to respond via the Belmont. They knew it! Those guys are so smart. Paul and Freddy R, you rule and I just wanted to personally tell you that. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

-Oh and I tried clicking on your name to find out more about you guys, but you decided to play it safe and leave that info out. No favorite website? Or your very own "art critic" blog to plug? Well, it's not too late to start a nice blog about art and we'd all love to read about what's good and what sucks. It could save us all a lot of energy. Thanks guys.

Static Invasion

Posted by Static Invasion | December 12, 2007 11:10 AM
22

Paul and Freddy R are art critics. They know a lot about art. They know what is, and isn't art. If you have any questions for them, ask them through the Slog. They'll be happy to send you their "typo riddled" opinions all day long. They know that all of us who couldn't make the cut for "Burning Man" were pissed and had to respond via the Belmont. They knew it! Those guys are so smart. Paul and Freddy R, you rule and I just wanted to personally tell you that. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

-Oh and I tried clicking on your name to find out more about you guys, but you decided to play it safe and leave that info out. No favorite website? Or your very own "art critic" blog to plug? Well, it's not too late to start a nice blog about art and we'd all love to read about what's good and what sucks. It could save us all a lot of energy. Thanks guys.

Static Invasion

Posted by Lover of Paul and Freddy | December 12, 2007 11:11 AM
23

Interview with Fredrick R and Paul by "me."

Me: Do you guys have anything to say about the way you started this thread off?

Paul: I can't spell, paint, or fuck.
Frederick R: I can draw rad cars and trucks and I can fuck.

Me: What are your backgrounds:

Paul: I'm currently self employed. I sell stuff that cancer patients can benifit from. I used to work in fast foods, but it was too crazy and the pay sucked.

Frederick: I'm working on putting together my photography portfolio. I have a dream of working for National Geographic. I don't smoke weed, but I'll eat it. Drinking is more my thing. Only good beer though.

Me: Any last words.....

Paul: Is this interview really getting printed in High Times? Hahaha! Kidding man, my famous last word is "Peace!" Oh, cause I'm a man of few words, but really man, later bro. If you ever start....uhhh...you know, give me a call.

Frederick R: I really like drawing Chevelle's and for some reason I dig the way my shoes smell. I keep them close to my bed and it helps me sleep.

Me: Thanks guys!

Posted by Fredrick R and Paul | December 12, 2007 3:15 PM
24

Interview with Fredrick R and Paul by "me."

Me: Do you guys have anything to say about the way you started this thread off?

Paul: I can't spell, paint, or fuck.
Frederick R: I can draw rad cars and trucks and I can fuck.

Me: What are your backgrounds:

Paul: I'm currently self employed. I sell stuff that cancer patients can benifit from. I used to work in fast foods, but it was too crazy and the pay sucked.

Frederick: I'm working on putting together my photography portfolio. I have a dream of working for National Geographic. I don't smoke weed, but I'll eat it. Drinking is more my thing. Only good beer though.

Me: Any last words.....

Paul: Is this interview really getting printed in High Times? Hahaha! Kidding man, my famous last word is "Peace!" Oh, cause I'm a man of few words, but really man, later bro. If you ever start....uhhh...you know, give me a call.

Frederick R: I really like drawing Chevelle's and for some reason I dig the way my shoes smell. I keep them close to my bed and it helps me sleep.

Me: Thanks guys!

Posted by Fredrick R and Paul | December 12, 2007 3:15 PM
25

The more I read Pauls posts, the more I realize he's an idiot. I sound pretty lame too. Sorry about what I said, I was really drunk and pissed at my lame ass girlfriend (who I found out, has a crush on nko) when I typed that stuff. I actually really like the Belmont thing. Hope you understand my state of mind and poor decision to write that stuff.

frederick r

P.S. Paul, you should step up as well. You sound like an idiot man. I was drunk!

Posted by frederick r | December 12, 2007 6:36 PM
26

I was a residence at the belmont and any of you negative art critic fucks that hate on all the work me nko ntg or any othr artist did on it quite being a bitch that types shit on the stranger slog and give me a all 360 556 595 and i will personally beat your ass any day of the week! paul or fredrick itd be greatly apreciated if you called.

Posted by chad | December 13, 2007 8:58 AM

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