House number sign for the 619 Building in Seattle, hosting artists' studios and an art gallery, considered by many to be THE spot to create art in Seattle. It is located in the Pioneer Square neighborhood, surrounded by romantic brick-and morter buildings from the nineteeth-century which charactarize the neighborhood. The building houses both artist studios and gallery spaces. Sadly, due to new money and condiminums, this is one of the last buildings in Pioneer Square to house artists lofts and studios. It is five floors, served by a delightful art deco, old-fashioned, double gated "lift" elevator. Each floor houses roughly 10-20 individual spaces. 
<p>The building has a real community feel, and is somewhat of a loosely run collective of artists. In January 2007, a group show for artists in the building was held at the Alchemy Gallery on the second floor. The show was titled "619, A Retrospective", and was a fascinating mix of art disciplines and styles. The show was so succussful, a similar show will be held in August 2007, titled "619 Goes East", at the Old Train Depot in Issaquah, Washington (15 miles East of Seattle) during one of Issaquah's ArtWalks, which generally attract around 2000 people. 
</p><p>First Thursday is the traditional evening for gallery openings in the Pioneer Square neighborhood, and is the oldest "art walk" in Seattle. First Thursdays at the 619 building are crowded with some of Seattle's hippest residents. Music flows through each floor, and visitors are invited to explore the individual artist's studios as well as the gallery exhibitions. Both established and emerging artists work in the building, and many artists are brought in from around the country to exhibit at the various galleries. The building houses painters, sculptors, jewelers, clothing designers, and photographers, mixed media artists, musicians, dancers, filmmakers, and furniture artisans, and many others. 
</p><p>The building also houses two non-profit groups. The Tibetan Nuns Project, which is concerned with educating Buddhist nuns at Indian Monasteries that they may educate Buddhist's living in Tibet. Prayer flags hang on the third floor, adding a definite calm to the center stairwell. The other non-profit is ArtWorks, which empowers young artists. Both non-profits have websites. 
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A more recent sign for the same building: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:619sign_2.JPG" title="File:619sign 2.JPG">Image:619sign 2.JPG</a>.
Kate Wesselman
CC BY-SA 3.0
own work; katewesselman.com or zazzle.com/katewesselman*