Esther Maria Swaty (Uncommon Cartography) and Virginia Wyman (owner of The RUINS)

This past weekend Uncommon Cartography produced the Curiosity Cabinet Evening on behalf of The RUINS. The RUINS is a private dining club, as well as an event space with catering facilities (both are available to the public). The Curiosity Cabinet Evening saw a creative convergence which highlighted the synthesis which is happening between the art and tech communities in Seattle. Guests included everyone from engineers to boutique owners to film producers and makeup artists. Everyone arrived in spectacular fashion which ranged from Steampunk costumes to masks, to dashing suits and feathered headpieces.

Tasty bites including a house-made quince jam, charcuterie, petit fours and more were created by The RUINS in-house catering team. Delicious cocktails were crafted by Jesse Cutler, The RUINS wine steward, with vodka was from Glass Distillery and we served a red and white wine from Robert Ramsay Cellars.

Delicious snacks created by The RUINS in house catering team.

The Curiosity Cabinet Evening was not your average networking event, rather it was developed in partnership with The RUINS to showcase an all too hidden and mostly unknown magical venue, as well as connect individuals who might not have normally had the chance to meet each other. The RUINS is entering a new chapter and this event was a preview of how a new generation, bridging with a legacy membership can infuse fresh energy into the storied venue.

Highlights of the evening included a surprise performance by Phi VoBa and his group of dancers, live painting by Jake Grahn, jewelry by Silver & Salt Co. and perfumery by Incensory. Here is a little information about each of our event partners:

Choreographer/Dancer Phi VoBa and dance crew

EVENT DJ

Connie Hu aka DJ U.NO.HU (you know Hu) lives and works in Seattle. You can find her providing the tunes at boutique stores such as Zebra Club and Likelihood, as well as local bars. When she is not DJing, she works for a marketing and event production company in Queen Anne and writes for LA based blog, Modern Vintage Life.

LIVE PAINTER

Jacob Grahn was born and raised in the pacific northwest and has spent his time focusing on busy hands and helping hands. As a community taught artist from painting, wood-working, and music, he has gathered and paired educations based on personal time learning from local artists as well as teaching anyone who asks. Never afraid of a challenge, he chose to start a career with large scale projects to tell bigger than life stories.

PERFUMERY BY INCENSORY

Incensory is a new venture that deepens your connection with one of our most primordial senses; the sense of smell. A purist at heart, self-taught scent specialist and owner of Incensory, Eliam Puente, will introduce you to two of the most ancient and revered historical scents in their purest, natural form; frankincense and agarwood. Get a chance to see these natural gems in person, have a sniff, and learn a little about their history, how they are produced, and how they are used.

Jewelry by Silver & Salt, Photo By: Bobby Arispe Photography

METAL ARTISTRY BY SILVER + SALT

At Silver + Salt, we draw inspiration from nature. Our creative ethos is based on the idea that there is exceptional beauty in things that are unique and even imperfect. Our minimalist designs are handcrafted and feature recycled metals and raw gemstones.

Blogger Conversations, Photo By: Bobby Arispe Photography

If you are interested in learning more about the Curiosity Cabinet Evening, how to participate in future events at The RUINS or opportunities to partner with Uncommon Cartography, please email info@uncommoncartography.com

As you all know I have been passionately exploring the realm of art and technology as of late. I recently applied for a grant to develop an Artist In Residence program for technology companies, and now I am excited to announce that I am collaborating with 9e2 Seattle to do a social media push for the upcoming event! If you have not heard about it, here is a little bit of information:

9e2 is an art exhibition and performance series commemorating “9 Evenings: Theatre & Engineering,” an iconic exhibition 50 years ago in New York that sparked a new era of collaboration between artists, scientists, and engineers.

The original 9 Evenings was organized in 1966 by Robert Rauschenberg and Billy Klüver, and featured artists creating performances in collaboration with engineers from Bell Labs. Fifty years later, 9e2 embraces that same spirit of experimentation and collaboration with a new series of projects. Installations, nightly performances, and other events will explore the intersection of art, science, and technology.

"The year 1966 saw a legendary and pivotal event in the history of technology-driven art. Called “9 Evenings: Theatre & Engineering,” the project brought together 10 artists and 30 scientists and engineers from Bell Telephone Laboratories.

Flash forward to 2016, the fiftieth anniversary of this iconic event: 9e2 teams artists with scientists and engineers, in a festival of performances, installations, exhibits, and discussions. By examining contemporary themes that are poised to change the way we experience life on this planet, 9e2 will shine a spotlight on the next 50 years.

9e2 draws together artists, engineers, and scientists from across the United States, as well as from Seattle’s art community, technology companies, and schools. We highlight and celebrate Seattle’s place as a center for creativity and exploration of new technologies, build connections between artists, scientists, and the community, and commemorate a half-century of the artistic traditions engendered by the original 9 Evenings. At the same time, we expect 9e2 to leave a forward-looking legacy: new work, new bonds between artists and technologists, new ways of looking at and using technology, and a new awareness of the interconnections between science, technology, and art." - About 9 Evenings and 9e2

Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.