Seattle celebrates its rich art community
The Stranger’s 13th Annual Genius Awards ceremony rocked the house at Downtown’s Moore Theatre on September 12, where a bevy of musical performances and speeches were all capped off by an impromptu dance party.
The Genius Awards celebrates fifteen artists in five categories: music, art, performance, literature, and film. Winners in each category are granted $5,000 to use in the further pursuit of their craft, and all nominations come from The Stranger’s editorial staff and past Genius winners.
This year’s winners included The Scarecrow Project for its efforts to turn a long-struggling video store into a nonprofit foundation for the preservation and celebration of film, and Yussef El Guindi, a local author and playwright who has earned praise for his frank discussion of Arab-American life and politics.
Presentations by Performance category winner Cherdonna and music nominees Steve Fisk, Chastity Belt, and OCnotes were event high points, as were the energetic speeches given by this year’s winners. Contributions to the event included flyer printing and banner printing from local print shops, and even a specialty wine called “genius juice”, which was lovingly crafted by long-time supporter Billy O’Niell.
The Stranger’s editorial staff reports that they are already scoping out next year’s nominees, and they hope that the fun, party atmosphere of the Genius Awards will encourage Seattle citizens to take a closer look at the artists and visionaries working in their city.
The Genius Awards celebrates fifteen artists in five categories: music, art, performance, literature, and film. Winners in each category are granted $5,000 to use in the further pursuit of their craft, and all nominations come from The Stranger’s editorial staff and past Genius winners.
This year’s winners included The Scarecrow Project for its efforts to turn a long-struggling video store into a nonprofit foundation for the preservation and celebration of film, and Yussef El Guindi, a local author and playwright who has earned praise for his frank discussion of Arab-American life and politics.
Presentations by Performance category winner Cherdonna and music nominees Steve Fisk, Chastity Belt, and OCnotes were event high points, as were the energetic speeches given by this year’s winners. Contributions to the event included flyer printing and banner printing from local print shops, and even a specialty wine called “genius juice”, which was lovingly crafted by long-time supporter Billy O’Niell.
The Stranger’s editorial staff reports that they are already scoping out next year’s nominees, and they hope that the fun, party atmosphere of the Genius Awards will encourage Seattle citizens to take a closer look at the artists and visionaries working in their city.