VAIN Blog

Nice hair: Deuce 7 art on VAIN’s back door.

Graffiti artist + train spotter Deuce 7 was in town last week for the opening of his show at BLVD Gallery in Belltown and did an amazing mural on the back wall of VAIN. Check out the full set of photos on BLVD’s Flickr site and a recent Village Voice article on how Deuce 7’s graffiti has taken NYC by storm for more.

Deuce 7’s “Pneumonia, Isolation, and Disorder” show runs at BLVD through Aug 2- 2316 2nd Ave, Seattle. Big pieces going fast, small pieces still available. Mural up at VAIN dowtown until it it’s gone- 2018 1st Ave, out back.

A sneak peek at some of the vintage pieces at VAIN downtown’s art gallery. Open house from 4 to 9pm today, with a bake sale to support MoveOn.org all day long.

And her hair is rad, too.

Juliana “Superstar” Bradley, one of VAIN’s most beloved art studio tenants (we have two floors of studios above the salon, as if you didn’t know) is leaving Seattle for greener, San Franciscan pastures. Her departure is to our dismay but not without a bang: as part of VAIN’s art festivities this weekend, Juliana will be hosting a weekend-long studio open house Saturday and Sunday with libations and new + favorite art on display. She’s threatening to keep her studio open from noon till 10pm on Saturday and all day Sunday (with rumors of mimosas!), so don’t miss your chance to check out the artist and her art before they’re gone. Both are great, and VAIN’s walls will be a little less bright without them around.

Juliana Bradley’s studio is located on the top floor of VAIN, studio #16. Photos by the indispensable My Vu.

Art at VAIN: now with a party and cooler stuff than ever.

On Saturday, June 21st, the VAIN art gallery (adjacent to our downtown salon) will re-open as an art boutique with new + vintage art, photography, centerpiece-style jewelry, found items and high thrift for your art and collectables lovin pleasure. Open house reception from 4 to 9pm Saturday, June 21st with snacks, drinks of the fizzy variety and hair product giveaways.

We’ll also have artists in the studios above VAIN opening their doors to the public that evening and on Sunday, including a weekend-long open studio event on the third floor of VAIN hosted by outgoing local artist Juliana Bradley.

Check back here for more details on Saturday’s party and participating artists. We’re excited to unveil our new VAIN art boutique style!

It hasn’t snowed anytime recently, and we feel safe in saying that Spring truly has arrived. Given that we’re knee deep in the month of May, let’s just say… it’s about time. To celebrate, we’ll be doing Spring up-do’s [and more!] this Saturday, May 10th, at our Ballard location.

Festivities should begin around 6 pm and last until at least 9 pm. Items in our boutique will be 15% off throughout the celebrations, and we’ll have free goodies to give out as well. Best of all, one lucky visitor will receive the ‘gold ticket’ worth $100 in hair services at VAIN Ballard! Stylists will be on hand for “Guerilla Hair” up-do’s - a quick 5 minute style transformation. We’ll be exploring the neighborhood, too, for Ballard’s Artwalk - be sure to stop by OKOK, 20twenty, or Miro Tea, just to name a few!

Bring your Spring-fevered self out of the house for a night of hair + art - and free treats + discounts!

xo,

VAIN Ballard

Photo: Art Opening & Fashion Shoot at VAIN, 2006, by Angela Dawn

VAIN downtown’s north-facing exterior wall (affectionately known as “The VAIN Graffiti Wall”) is featured in a new book, Graffiti Planet: The Best Graffiti from Around the World by Alan Ket.

VAIN owner + styledriver Victoria Thomas Gentry, who has a long relationship with graffiti starting with her years growing up in New York, had this to say about the VAIN wall’s illustrious past:

“I believe it was hit up starting in the late 80’s. The people who are on it now hit it back then. It was known as The Wall of Fame and writers from all over who came through Seattle got on it.”

“At the height of the live music era at The Vogue (now the VAIN downtown building), there were also bands’ names on it. Most memorably Mother Love Bone on the south wall before they built the condo tower now on the corner.”

“The DVS crew is who has been up there for the past few years. Sneke, Hews, Soul and Myth. The DVS crew has been working in Seattle since ‘92.”

“I appreciate graf on many levels. When I walk down a bombed out alley I see people, not vandalism, and view graffiti as vital form of communication and personal expression. A city neighborhood devoid of graffiti feels dead to me. Esthetically the old-school flavor that DVS brings to their work makes Seattle feel more like home. DVS has a great history with that wall in particular. They are a huge inspiration to many Seattle writers and have consistently put out strong pieces that have big presence, so of course I am honored to host their work!”

Graffiti Planet: The Best Graffiti from Around the World is available at Bailey/Coy Books on Capitol Hill: 414 Broadway Avenue E, Seattle | 206.323.8842.

The VAIN Graffiti Wall is available to check out 24/7 at VAIN downtown: 2018 1st Ave, where great art and great hair happen for your viewing + style pleasure.