Looks like Santa might arrive after all... It was a long slow summer with not much going on here at PBF other than the usual day to day paperwork shuffle.

The Summer Art Events in Georgetown and here in South Park seemed to go well...Live music echoing from Caesar Chavez Park rang throughout the neighborhood on a nice bright summer's day. But we were still itching to start on the PBF Art Garden. Things don't always happen as fast as you would like them too...

But now the moment has arrived, the Art Garden is UNDERWAY!

The lot has been graded and sculpted into a beautiful landscape. Of course right now, in the middle of our first winter storm of the year, it's a muddy mess. But still it's fun to envision its potential. We are anxiously awaiting our spectacular 30 year old Japanese Maple tree that will be the center piece of the front yard, like children anticipating Santa's arrival on Christmas morning. Next we'll install a cedar fence with a trellis top all around the yard, great for displaying artworks and growing lovely flowering vines. Then we'll seed a lush green lawn. In a month or so, if all goes well, we'll have a brand new, clean and fresh canvas to work on. We can hardly wait...

Things are moving slow as usual, but now it's really happening, progress, it's a wonderful thing...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

From the PBF Board Members

From the heady days of an idealistic hippie dream on Seattle's Capitol Hill in a three story abandoned building in 1969, an active artists' community blossomed which lead to the foundation's creation in 1975. Next came the cold reality of an attempted eviction in 2001; by accepting a monetary settlement, the Foundation concluded its 26 year residency.

Landing on our feet in Georgetown in JEM Arts Studio, we joined other survivors in the new millennium including the evicted Shoe Building artists from Pioneer Square. While sponsoring the Tenants' Union and Edward Reed Arts and championing for the Tashiro Kaplan building to become an artists' building, the search continued for a permanent home.

And now on May 31, 2005, after years of hard work and mind numbing searching for an affordable dwelling, the Foundation has moved to South Park to reside within the house newly purchased by the president of PBF, Anne Hagen.

We are very happy here in South Park and welcome the wide ranging possibilities that surround us. It is a fresh beginning for the Foundation and we feel welcomed by our neighbors. The civic involvement in South Park is apparent with, amongst other things, Marra Farm, the musical sculptures of the Cesar Chavez Park, the new City of Seattle Library, the murals under Highway 99, and the upcoming skateboard park.

We hope to be an asset for South Park and we look forward to future endeavors...

Sincerely,

The Board Members of the Pelican Bay Foundation