By Peggy Sturdivant

Months before the Nordic Heritage Museum ceded its Chief Curator Lizette Graden to the lure of Stockholm’s Royal Museums she asked me to moderate an event in distant October called “Ballard: Best Place Ever.” The special October 23rd evening will showcase what’s best of new and old in Ballard in conjunction with Tod Dangler’s The Color of Time: Ballard from Dusk to Dawn photography exhibit.

Flash forward to the week before the event and as is the way of Ballard, and life, there have been changes. For starters I’m trying to write a column about Ballard while in the foreign country of my family on the east coast. I always say that it’s almost impossible to think in “Ballard” while I am surrounded by Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, people togged year-round as part of ‘Red Sox Nation’ and my kinfolk.

I should be preparing for “Ballard: Best Place Ever” but I’m distracted by island cottage life. Last year’s drama included skunks, ticks and invasive vines but unseasonably warm weather has reaped beach weather, wild grapes and this week’s attraction: Brown Caterpillar. My mother cruises dirt roads sniffing for ripe grapes. Our Russian houseguest started harvesting the berries of the Russian olive for jam. With the beaches deserted but the ocean still warm for swimming it’s been hard to think about my Pacific Northwest home.

In my absence planning has continued for the event, with an occasional assist from me via email. Having helped to assemble an evening of Ballard’s bounty I will be drinking it up myself as I transition back to where I love to live, and so many of the things that I love.

Stina Cowan, Public Programs Coordinator at NHM and I brainstormed over the summer: what do we want to put under the roof of the old Webster School for a night, for those who live in the neighborhood and those who don’t? Answer: Food, artists, past, future, music, vendors and local beer. Starting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 23, 2014 the Nordic Heritage Museum will offer all that through a sampling of the Sunday Farmer’s Market, a chance to meet urban farmers, a preview of the future museum; music, artwork and photography made in, and featuring, Ballard. It reminds me of when I planned my wedding a few years ago and wanted all my guests to experience my favorite things about Ballard, which obliged by producing sunshine in June.

Although I’ll be slipping back into town before the event; a driving force behind the current photography exhibit and the event won’t be in attendance. In August Lizette Graden accepted the position of Director of Collections for three museums in Stockholm, Royal Armory, Skokloster Castle and Hallwyl Museum. Before her departure Graden thanked museum colleagues, board members, artists, architects, university colleagues, and volunteers, while promising, “I will continue to support the organization in every way I can. I wish nothing but success for the Nordic Heritage Museum and look forward to seeing the new facility open in the near future.”

Among parting gifts to Graden was a necklace crafted by Robin Kaufman, curatorial assistant. The necklace features an envelope containing miniatures of samples of American letters from the NHM collection. In addition she was sent off with the Ballard t-shirt and hat from Sip n’Ship and Seahawks paraphernalia for her sons. Her parting gifts to Ballard include her work on the Voices of Ballard and Beyond oral history project, exhibits such as Scissors for a Brush, Danish Modern and Color of Time. The seeds of her work will continue to be seen in current events, exhibits and through planning for the museum’s new facility.

Meanwhile I will return with Martha’s Vineyard wild grape jelly and sand in my iPhone. No parting gifts just the anticipation of bitter and sweet at “Ballard: Best Place Ever.” Ballard Landmark will be providing light fare.

Representing Ballard’s new claim as micro-brew central will be Adam Robbing, co-founder/head brewer at Reuben’s Brews. Speaking to Ballard’s award-winning Farmer’s Market will be Gilbert Youenes. There will be an update on the new museum from Mithun architects. Also talking about creating in Ballard will be artists Matt Bazemore, Tod Dangler, urban farmers Jeanene Miller, Abundant Greens and Joshua McNichols, Urban Farm Handbook, booksellers Secret Garden Books and Ballard Historical Society.

Especially close to my heart is having Jamil Scherif and Regnor Reinholdtsen participate in the community event, along with Carrie Gustafson’s daughter Holly Gold showing her late mother’s pottery. Reinholdtsen and Gustafson were longtime ceramic pottery neighbors on 32nd NW. Jamil Scherif will be displaying and selling his pottery as well as providing piano music. He always played for Carrie and Regnor’s Solstice Parties. His presence makes the homecoming complete.

Community event Ballard: Best Place Ever. October 23, 2014. www.nordicmuseum.org Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Program starts at 7 p.m. Event is free with a suggested donation of $5.00. The Color of Time exhibit will be open and Tod Dangler on hand to discuss his work.
206.789.5707 ext. 10.