Lucky to Have Met You, 2025

Lucky to Have Met You is a miniature diorama art piece that shows a single Seattle dwelling across two time periods. The two halves—an apartment from the 1990s and a condo from the 2020s—contrast with each other to highlight the ways Seattle has changed culturally and socioeconomically over the past thirty years. The title is borrowed from the Nirvana song “Drain You” (Cobain, 1991), a nostalgic nod to an earlier Seattle.

Artist Statement:

As a kid who grew up in the city during the 80s and 90s, research for this diorama was an emotional process. I watched footage of old music shows at some of my favorite bygone spots like the OK Hotel, I connected with friends and local musicians for mementos and posters from back in the day, and spent a lot of time remembering events, protests, people, and places from a culturally significant time period in our history. I grew up mostly in the Wedgwood neighborhood, went to school at Garfield High School in the CD and Northwest School on Capitol Hill, and spent a lot of my life living in the CD & Capitol Hill surrounded by arts venues, cafés, restaurants, and so many of the people who helped shape the city in that era.

It was nostalgic to think about all the ways the city has changed since that time and all the places we can never return to (a few included in this scene are the B&O Espresso, Café Paradiso, Bailey/Coy Books in addition to several show venues) and all the publications that have either ceased to exist or have changed significantly in their influence and purpose. It felt important to include the cultural contributions of musicians and writers, both past and present, who have made their mark on Seattle. The bands and authors/books I included in this scene were carefully chosen to reflect the rich cultural landscape and beautiful art that emerges from our area. Even with the sociocultural & economic changes over the last few decades, the arts continue to thrive in Seattle.

Lucky to Have Met You (2025) was created to be part of the “My City’s Filthy” group exhibition at A/NT Gallery, curated by Vanishing Seattle at Bumbershoot 2025. The show included works by local Seattle artists in tribute to Seattle’s cultural landmarks, iconic storefronts, and street scenes — both vanished and still here. (There is a beautiful art book of the exhibition by Vanishing Seattle and Tome Press available here.)

Special thanks to friends Cait Willis, Adam Michelson, Madigan Shive, Toni Preston, Aixa Heller, Greta Lagodmos, and Melanie Biehle for their generous contributions of memorabilia for this piece. Much gratitude to the Museum of History and Industry and PNW Music Archive group on Facebook for their archival and collection work of period materials. Special recognition for the artists, grunge kids, gutter punks, Ave rats, weirdos, queers, and non-conforming free people who made & continue to make this place so special.

Miniature room with brick walls, decorated with posters, plants, and furniture, resembling a cozy apartment or studio.
Miniature room model with brick walls, decorated with posters and plants, containing furniture, clutter, and a glass chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
A miniature model of a brick building with a sign that reads "Never Married" painted on the side and a window with a small figurine standing outside.
Miniature room with brick walls, decorated with posters, featuring a sitting area with a rug, coffee table, sofa, and chair, along with plants, bookshelf, and various objects and decorations.
A cozy living room corner with a red brick wall decorated with colorful posters, a small bookshelf, and plants. An orange tufted armchair and a woven side table hold drink cups and decorative items. There's a large window on the right.
A cozy living room with a brick wall decorated with various colorful posters. There is a worn sofa with a patchwork blanket, a cluttered coffee table, a bookshelf, and large green potted plants. The room has eclectic decor and an inviting atmosphere.
Two side-by-side photos of a brick wall with a black-framed window displaying a collection of items inside. The left window has a pigeon standing on the ledge, and the right window contains various objects, including a sign with handwritten text that
A person's hand holding a brown shoe with various brand and logo stickers on the sole, with a green cutting mat with grid lines in the background.
A small table with various items including a white cup, a small round mirror, and a lighter, placed on a red plastic crate. In the background, a collage of protest posters and flyers covers a brick wall. To the left, part of a window with a white fra
Close-up of a cluttered bookshelf with vintage magazines, a black radio, cassette tapes, and a sign on a brick wall that reads 'SEPT. 25 VOGUE.'
A cluttered wooden table with books, a white paper bag, and a small boombox against a brick wall decorated with posters.
Miniature diorama of a cozy living room with a brick wall background, featuring a brown leather armchair, a small glass coffee table with coffee and donuts, a bookshelf, a large window showing trees and a landmark, and a chandelier overhead.
A cozy room with brick walls decorated with posters and pictures, including one of Nirvana. The room has a wooden floor covering a rug, and furniture such as a small table, a wicker chair, a wooden bench with cushions, and a large potted plant. On th
Miniature living room scene with a tiny sofa, a small round table, a woven cabinet with gold handles, and a tall houseplant, set on a patterned rug against a brick wall with posters and a framed picture.
Close-up of two hands holding miniature handbags and a small bouquet, in front of a brick wall and shelves. The handbags are designed like miniature designer bags, one with the Louis Vuitton monogram pattern and the other a Louis Vuitton charm bag. T
A woman with glasses smiling and holding her hand over a miniature dollhouse on display at an art gallery.
Two women smiling and looking at a model of a brick building with a sign that says 'Xavier Hotel' and 'Beer'. One woman has blonde hair, glasses, and a patterned navy shirt, while the other has red hair and a floral navy dress. In the background, ano
Miniature room model with brick walls, decorated with punk band posters, a small bookshelf, a potted plant, a hanging blue glass sculpture, and tiny furniture including a sofa and a coffee table, all enclosed in a wooden frame.
Poster for 'Bumbershoot Arts & Music Fest' scheduled for August 30th and 31st at Seattle Center, curated by Vanishing Seattle, featuring performances by Grynch & Wizdom, Fantasy A, Dewa Dorje, Goddess Kring, Marcus Wilson, and Shannon Koyano, with ar