Jack Straw Cultural Center

“Secret Festival: September Moon” is from singer/pianist/composer Carolyn Graye‘s album Poems by Denise Levertov, a collection of the poet’s works set to improvised music. The album was produced in part through the Jack Straw Artist Support Program.

Textured white background. The lower half is black with a diagonal jagged line as separation. A gray outline of a microphone is on the middle right side, with text reading “Jack Straw Artist Of The Week.” A gray sound wave runs across the top of the image. Dark grey text above the soundwave is “Carolyn Graye.” In the center is a basketball hoop outside with a man in front of it holding a basketball that’s been lit on fire. Yellow text under the image is “Secret Festival: September Moon.”

Listen to the latest episode of our Artist of the Week #podcast, featuring #JackStrawArtist Carolyn Graye, at jackstraw.org/podcasts/artist-of-the-week/ or subscribe via Apple Podcasts.

#JackStrawArtists

Intro to Digital Audio Editing: Thursday, September 11, 6-9pm
Fee: $50 (On Zoom)
Learn the basic skills of recording and editing sound with Audacity and GarageBand.

Microphone Workshop: Thursday, August 28, 6-10pm
Fee: $75 (In person at Jack Straw)
A detailed look at microphone types, pickup patterns, placement and use, both for live and studio applications.

Intro to Podcasting: Wednesday, August 27, 6-9pm
Fee: $50 (On Zoom)
Learn the basics of creating and maintaining a podcast, from concept to planning to production to distribution.

Field Recording Workshop: Saturday, August 23, 9am-4pm
Fee: $125 (In person at Jack Straw)
Learn techniques for high quality field recording of music, ambience, sound effects, and voice with portable equipment.

Gold microphone with a black circular screen behind it, against a beige wall. A black border is around the edge. Yellow text in the center and at the bottom of the image is “Jack Straw Summer Audio Workshops, To sign up or for more information, email workshops@jackstraw.org”.

Jack Straw's audio workshops with engineer Tom Stiles are the perfect opportunity to improve your studio skills or get that first introduction to the world of audio recording and editing.

To sign up or for more information, email workshops@jackstraw.org.

Greg Kramer- Heat Check: buff.ly/ScwTc9z
Mako Kikuchi and Omoide- In Shadows: buff.ly/yZeD6Vx
Foleada- Eu Vou Pra Lua: buff.ly/uAc1XD8
Star Gondola- Anthem: buff.ly/yr0cH0m

Black background. The upper part is a textured white background with a jagged diagonal edge. In the center is a composition of four album covers. Yellow text at the bottom of the image is “Jack Straw #BandcampFriday.”

It’s Bandcamp Friday– the day when Bandcamp waives their fees, so artists receive more of the funds from each purchase. Make sure to check out these #JackStrawArtist releases!

#BandcampFriday #Bandcamp

When I feel calm
it feels like I’m in a lavender house
with my family near the sea
with waves calming me down
and dolphins splashing in and out of the water
and laughing joyfully

Black text on a white background. Text is a poem from Genesee Hill Elementary School student, Nova. Text is “When I feel calm it feels like I’m in a lavender house."

Let Nova's imagery calm you down. Written with help from #poet and #TeachingArtist Vicky Edmonds.

#Poetry #AudioArts #ArtsIntegration #ArtInSchools #RecordingStudio #Seattle #GeneseeHillElementarySchool #SeattlePublicSchools

You can see and hear more of Richard’s work at www.sonicjourneys.com. He will be deeply missed by listeners and audio experimenters around the world.

By creating small, inexpensive piezoelectric microphones and placing them on leaves, cacti, soil and ice, Lerman brought delicate, hidden worlds of sound to the surface, creating works of remarkable evocativeness. His work includes performances, CDs, films, installations, and site-specific works.”

In the words of sound artist and Italian coordinator of Forum Klanglandschaft (FKL) Francesco Michi, “Richard Lerman was a leading figure in the field of international acoustic experimentation.

Black background. The upper part is a textured white background with a jagged diagonal edge. In the center is a headshot of Richard Lerman outdoors. Yellow text at the top and bottom of the image is “Jack Straw Artist Spotlight Richard Lerman 1944-2025.”

We were saddened to hear of the passing of sound artist Richard Lerman this June. Richard presented his installation Fences – Borders in the Jack Straw New Media Gallery in 2006, and we always hoped we’d work with him again.

Here's what #Friendship means to Danny. Written with help from #poet and #TeachingArtist Raúl Sánchez.

#InternationalFriendshipDay #ArtInSchools #RecordingStudio #Seattle #DennyInternationalMiddleSchool #SeattlePublicSchools

Every year we welcome blind and visually impaired students from across the state into our studios for a series of in-person music and radio theater workshops. Learn more about the program on our website.

Blind Youth 2024: Light the Future - Jack Straw Cultural Center Here you’ll find past podcasts from our Soundpages, Artist of the Week and Writers Programs.

#DisabilityPrideMonth is the perfect time to listen to this song. "Light the Future" was created as part of the 2024 Blind Youth Audio Project.

buff.ly/BnQOmzp

#RecordingStudio #Seattle #BlindAndVisuallyImpaired

Black text on a white background. Text is an excerpt from #JackStrawWriter Greg November Text is “Just before impact, he glimpsed the driver: a mess of dark hair, one hand on the wheel."

Let's take a break and read this excerpt from #JackStrawWriter Greg November's work.

Four-Way Stop (Excerpt)

#JackStrawWriters #JackStrawWriters2021 #RecordingStudio #SeattleRecordingStudio #Seattle

A black bar with white text is at the top of the image. Text is “Laura Luna Castillo.” A gray outline of a microphone is centered above the white text. Gray text on either side of the microphone is “Jack Straw New Media Gallery Podcast.” A yellow bar with a jagged edge and black text is on the bottom of the image. Text is “Onix Y Marmol.” In the middle of the two bars is a dimly lit room with projections on two walls. An adult and a child stand in the middle of the room.

Check out the latest installment of our New Media Gallery #podcast! #JackStrawArtist ‪@laulunacas.bsky.social‬ talks with Jack Straw producer Carlos Nieto about her New Media Gallery installation Onix Y Marmol.

Listen at jackstraw.org/podcasts/new-media-gallery/ or subscribe via Apple Podcasts

Black text on a white background. Text is a poem from Concord Elementary School student, Norman. Text is “Deep inside I am like a soccer game making everyone happy by scoring a goal. Then we all celebrate together."

Norman's got a great poem for us. Written with help from #poet and #TeachingArtist Vicky Edmonds.

#Poetry #AudioArts #ArtsIntegration #ArtInSchools #RecordingStudio #Seattle #ConcordInternationalElementarySchool

It's #WorldOrcaDay! Listen to #JackStrawWriter Catherine DeNardo's writing about orcas.

#JackStrawWriters2024 #RecordingStudio #SeattleRecordingStudio #Seattle

Black text on a white background. Text is an excerpt from #JackStrawWriter Catherine DeNardo. Text is "Some calls sound like squeaky shoes or a clown bending balloons."

Ahead of #WorldOrcaDay, here's a little bit about how they communicate, courtesy of #JackStrawWriter Catherine DeNardo

A Killer Whale Calls (Excerpt)

#JackStrawWriters2024 #RecordingStudio #SeattleRecordingStudio #Seattle

Greg's music is a blend of hip-hop, soul, jazz and pop, featuring layered trombones and tight arrangements. Greg's album was mixed at Jack Straw Cultural Center by Daniel Guenther through the Jack Straw Artist Support Program.

"Heat Check" is the title track from Greg Kramer's upcoming full length album. The song features members of the Seattle based bands True Loves, Polyrhythmics, and High Pulp.

Textured white background. The lower half is black with a diagonal jagged line as separation. A gray outline of a microphone is on the middle right side, with text reading “Jack Straw Artist Of The Week.” A gray sound wave runs across the top of the image. Dark grey text above the soundwave is “Greg Kramer.” In the center is a basketball hoop outside with a man in front of it holding a basketball that’s been lit on fire. Yellow text under the image is “Heat Check.”

Check out the latest episode of our Artist of the Week #podcast featuring #JackStrawArtist Greg Kramer. Listen at buff.ly/aX2aq59 or #WhereEverYouGetYourPodcasts.

#JackStrawArtists

In a conversation between four speakers, various fragments of linguistic detritus form a love language for when you have nothing left to say because you understand one other so well that you complete each other’s sentences before you even begin to speak.

Blurry view of the inside of a dimly lit room.

Maya Nguyen | huh ugh uh hm mhm

July 11 – September 12, 2025

Call 206-634-0919 or email jsp@jackstraw.org to schedule a visit
All events are FREE

Opening reception: Friday, July 11, 7pm
In person at Jack Straw Cultural Center

Black text on a white background. Text is a poem from Denny Middle School student, Natalie. Text is “Nada la detendrá porque Ella parecerá chiquita y frágil, Pero en realidad es una mariposa muy fuerte."

Take a moment to read this excerpt from a beautiful poem by Natalie. Written with help from #poet and #TeachingArtist Raúl Sánchez.

#Poetry #AudioArts #ArtsIntegration #ArtInSchools #RecordingStudio #Seattle #DennyInternationalMiddleSchool

We have an array of vintage analog electronics and audio interfaces, DAT and cassette tape machines, and much more you that you'll have to see for yourself!