GRETTA SEABIRD LIVE AT THE SOU’WETER

3/1/2025 | FREE AND OPEN TO ALL | 8PM

Live Music: Gretta Seabird

 Gretta Seabird is the new moniker from frontwomen, Lee McDonnell (from Lee and the bees, Bevelers) that is packed with soul and pop. Lee and the band are set to release their first single ‘Cycling’ off their upcoming EP February of 2025. 

Lee has played locally in Portland for 13 years and has performed her songwriting across the US and Canada. 

Over the years she has shared bills at large and intimate settings with notable bands including Kaleo, Waxahatchee, Taylor John Williams, Nicki Bluhm, Shook Twins, Moorea Masa, Jesca Hoop, Mutual Benefit, among others. 

Her new project began with a simple songwriting challenge. Every two weeks, Jeremiah Brunnhoelzl would email guitar tracks from his flat in Brooklyn, NY to Lee McDonnell in Portland, OR, who would then give herself a mere day to pen down lyrics and melody. As the songs formed at a rapid, yet natural pace, the pair began to believe in the poetry they were creating, in the little moments caught in time. Thus, Gretta Seabird was formed, and with it the debut EP “Cycling.”

Lee McDonnell and Jeremiah Brunnhoelzl first met in 2011 near the beginning of their music careers, which found them each playing in various projects across Portland’s independent music scene. McDonnell formed projects ‘Bevelers’ and ‘Lee and the Bees’ and Brunnhoelzl began performing under the moniker ‘Arlo Indigo,’ allowing each artist to develop their own voice as they maintained a friendship over the years. The pandemic years brought about a transitional period for both artists: Brunnhoelzl relocated to Brooklyn, NY, while McDonnell battled vocal challenges that led to the loss of her singing voice for over a year.

“Losing my singing voice was absolutely frightening and I felt like I was losing my identity.” McDonnell said. “I felt like this EP was a revisit to getting back into music and falling in love with the processes and production.”

The EP is fresh, buoyant, each of its tracks a tiny love letter to the human condition. McDonnell’s voice floats above Brunnhoelzl’s playful guitar work, her rich harmonies and backing vocal flourishes adding a warmth to the spacious mix which explores an indie-pop sound that brings to mind The Blow, or Lucius. The sonic experimentation was a conscious decision on the part of McDonnell, who was eager to break free from the bounds of her guitar and embrace a new and unrestrained territory of exploration. It speaks to her philosophy as an artist, which renders her songwriting urgent and off the cuff.

$25.00

This class will prepare you to be self-directed in the ceramics studio, making it ideal for anyone considering a studio membership or punch card! We encourage participants to have taken at least one ceramics class in the past to establish a foundation for this course. You’ll build on your existing knowledge and learn the essentials of studio work, including prepping your clay and workspace, using basic tools, handbuilding techniques, different clay body types, and reclaiming clay. The course also covers moisture content, wrapping and storing, glazing, firing cycles, and finishing your work.

$330.00

Whether you’re new to the wheel or have years of experience, this class is designed to elevate your pottery throwing skills. Each session begins with a brief demonstration, followed by hands-on instruction tailored to naturally advance your abilities toward your personal goals. For advanced students, the projects are open-ended, allowing for creative exploration, while beginners will receive one-on-one guidance to successfully craft chosen objects like cups, bowls, planters, and more. We’ll examine wedging, throwing, trimming, altering, and surface treatment in depth to ensure you develop a well-rounded skill set.

$220.00

Whether you’re new to the wheel or have years of experience, this class is designed to elevate your pottery throwing skills. Each session begins with a brief demonstration, followed by hands-on instruction tailored to naturally advance your abilities toward your personal goals. For advanced students, the projects are open-ended, allowing for creative exploration, while beginners will receive one-on-one guidance to successfully craft chosen objects like cups, bowls, planters, and more. We’ll examine wedging, throwing, trimming, altering, and surface treatment in depth to ensure you develop a well-rounded skill set.

$55.00

Our special projects classes are intended to complement and add to your throwing skill set by focusing on a single advanced technique. To get the most out of this class we ask that you feel comfortable centering and pulling up cylinders before enrolling. 

In this plate project class we will demonstrate, troubleshoot and guide you through throwing and trimming dinner plates, saucers and platters.

SOU’WESTER ARTS WEEK 2025

EMBERS – DARKNESS TO FIRE

PUBLIC PORTION

MARCH 14TH – 16TH

Every March, the Sou’wester hosts over 30 artists and collectives for a weeklong residency, culminating in a weekend of performances, installations, and studio tours — free and open to the public. This annual celebration invites the community to engage with the creative process and connect with artists who bring a new light to the evergreen coast. 

We hope to explore the power of a slow burn—soft yet potent—to illuminate unseen paths and spark transformation in the darkest heart of winter. Art, as a radiant warmth, will draw us closer and inspire renewal as we tend the flames and push forward together.

$55.00

Our special projects classes are intended to complement and add to your throwing skill set by focusing on a single advanced technique. To get the most out of this class we ask that you feel comfortable centering and pulling up cylinders before enrolling. 

In this special project class we will review, discuss and demonstrate a handful of lidded vessel forms. We will spend time on lid fit, lid handles, design, technique and finishing methods.

FREE FAMILY CLAY PLAYS

Learn about an aspect of local ecology through hands-on clay arts projects!

In collaboration with the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge.

at Ilwaco Artworks Community Clay Studio – 109 1st Ave N Ilwaco, WA.

For children Pre-K through 3rd grade & their accompanying adults/siblings.

Thanks to a generous grant from ArtsWA, our Family Clay Plays are offered at no tuition cost! We have a sliding scale registration fee of $0-$25 per person, which includes all materials, glazing, and firing for 1-2 pieces.

$55.00

In this class, you will explore all things glaze-related, including underglaze techniques, mineral washes, kiln processes, glaze chemistry, and various application methods.