Issue link: https://www.wacmagazine.com/i/1544632
12 WAC Magazine | wac.net first take grand stairway gallery Icons envisioned Artist Steffon Moody brings local landmarks to life Steffon Moody's introduction to painting set the stage for the rest of his career. Moody started painting theater sets at the age of 16 in St. Louis. His father, Robert, was a set painter at the Muny Opera and trained his son in the art of illustrating the environments that serve as backdrops for summer musicals at- tended by an audience of over 10,000. "You have to know how to paint everything on a large scale and quickly," Moody says about his induction into the art world. Summers spent painting the scenery for one of the largest stages in the United States gave Moody an ar- tistic confidence that can be seen in his dynamic Seattle Icons series, on display at the WAC through July. Moody painted these bright and sometimes swirling city scenes from photos he took around town all in one day. New perspectives on old sights are brought to life by Moody's brush. While he may be a fast worker from his set painting days, the intention with which he captures a scene slows down time. Take his renderings of the WAC Clubhouse or of a tulip-packed stall in Pike Place Market, both Seattle scenes brought to life in dancing oil paint from a new perspective. Viewers see an unexpected angle of the club they call home—Moody took his reference photo from across Sixth Avenue, capturing the WAC in an unexpected way that feels both familiar and fresh. at's Moody's modus operandi, to tempt a viewer into a contempla- tive pause that reframes how we see our surroundings. And it works! His eye-catching palettes, unusual angles, and bold paint application draw the viewer into even the simplest of scenes. ere's an underlying current of energy in Moody's art that asks the passerby to stop, look, and linger longer. See and feel Seattle like never before when you visit the Grand Staircase Gallery through July. Moody painted the pieces on display specifically for the WAC and will host an artist reception on Monday, May 11, at 5 pm. Meet the man behind the magic! Moody is also a digital art teacher and musician and has performed at the WAC as a character actor and emcee for over 15 years. C O U R T E S Y S T E F F O N M O O D Y "Buy the Flowers" by Steffon Moody sheds new light on a familiar Seattle scene. Experience his work in the Grand Staircase Gallery this summer.