Arts Participation Initiative - White Center Community Development Association

Going to White Center is like taking a stroll back in time and around the world with a twist of urban hip. The buildings of the downtown core are single story storefronts that evoke an earlier time. Visions of the soda shop, corner barber and the sheriff's office come to mind. Today some version of the former is still there but with an international twist. The barber shop has a hand painted signs “La Fashion,” the coffee shop is Vietnamese and the sheriff's office occupies one of the small storefronts. New sidewalks paid for by King County have bronze art cast into the concrete. The artwork by Judith and Dan Caldwell is based on coins from around the world and say “Welcome” in a variety of languages. White Center banners with bubbly graphics define the retail corridor. The area is in the midst of many transitions.

White Center Community Development Association's storefront.

 

Transitions between old and new property owners, decisions about incorporating into the City of Burien or the City of Seattle and gentrification are all affecting the area. White Center is in unincorporated King County located between West Seattle and Burien. King County is encouraging unincorporated urban areas to incorporate or become part of an already incorporated city. This decision hasn't been made and will take some time.

 

The White Center Community Development Association (WCCDA) occupies a storefront a few doors down from the Sheriff's office. Sara Wysocki, Economic Development Manager met with me to let me know more about WCCDA. They have two and one-half paid staff and interns who work with them as well. Being right in the core of businesses gives them visibility in the community. It's a welcoming spot with good signs, should any of the businesses want to meet with the staff. According to the WCCDA website 1 in 5 residents are Asian American and 1 in 10 are Latino. The mix of people enriches the area and makes development with the challenge of language and cultural barriers.

The mission of WCCDA is threefold:
1. Promoting the economic development of White Center, particularly the downtown business core,
2. Preserving and creating quality affordable housing, and
3. Building a strong community through advocacy and community engagement.
The bridge for Community Economic Development and Community Building is the arts. In their planning art has been identified as a major component for bringing their community together.

 

They are steps away from the location they have sited for a public art piece. The Caldwells, creators of the sidewalk coins, are working on a commission of bronze baskets called Blue Sky Baskets. The columns supporting the baskets will have bronze “luggage tags” that represent the many cultures of White Center. The work was selected after receiving the most votes in a community sculpture competition. There have been several hundred volunteer hours from community leaders and residents to provide ethnic artifacts and symbols to adorn the sculpture. The Arts Participation Initiative money is supporting this project as a way to bring art into the community that reflects the community.

WCCDA has been around since 2002. The creation came from a 10 year investment by the Annie E. Casey Foundation called Making Connections which began in 1999.

Making Connections is working with the simple premise: Children succeed when their families are strong, and families are stronger when they live in neighborhoods connected to the community, economic opportunity and necessary services - from the WCCDA website.

That investment began by making a resident leadership council. That council identified the need for a community development authority to oversee the goals after the 10 years that the Making Connections will be involved with White Center. WCCDA came about from the Making Connections process but is separate from the Foundation and will continue after their 10 years are up.

WCCDA has a board of 11 people – 2 are non-residents. The board is active and WCCDA works in collaboration and partnership with many groups including the Office of Economic Development (OED).

Some of the projects WCCDA is working on are:
1. A facade improvement program. They do a one to one match for retail businesses of $1000. Many of the businesses are renters and are not willing to front $1000 to improve rental property.
2. Cultural Center, a piece of property has been offered as a donation and the details are proceeding.
3. Business Assistance provides free technical assistance to local businesses. They realize that by helping to retain the unique mix of small businesses is what helps make White Center interesting.

There are a lot of challenges that White Center as a community faces. WCCDA is there for the long haul to advocate for the community's needs and positive changes.

 

The Caldwell's Studio

After visiting with Sara, I went to nearby art studio of Judith and Dan Caldwell. At their studio they are able to do small bronze pours. They have many prominent public artworks around the State. The most visible being the “Flying Fish” at Concourse B of the SeaTac Airport.

The work for White Center will incorporate the idea of the luggage tags that used to stick on luggage that advertise where a traveler has been. The tags will show the many places that White Center residents have ties to. Judith pioneered the method to do the detailed work they are known for in bronze. The intricate detail and bold larger pieces will both be featured in the basket pieces.

They have worked with the community to deepen involvement in the artwork i.e. the luggage tag. The work will add a focal point to the downtown core.

 

Site visit and photo Saya Moriyasu, September 2006.

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