A Letter from Colman Commons: The Art of Gathering Well
By Ashleigh McCurdy, Colman Commons Executive Director
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes a space feel special.
Not just beautiful, not just well-designed, but the kind of place that makes you want to stay a little longer.
I think it has something to do with how we gather.
When we opened Colman Commons, I knew I didn't want it to simply be another event venue. Yes, we host dinners, celebrations, meetings, workshops, receptions, and community gatherings, but the vision has always been bigger than that.
I wanted to help create a place where art, culture, conversation, creativity, and community could meet.
And I think we're just beginning to discover what that can look like.
Colman Commons sits inside Seattle's historic Colman Building, between the energy of Pioneer Square and the waterfront. Inside, you'll find original artwork on the walls, people gathering around tables, conversations happening in corners, and a space that seems to become something slightly different depending on who walks through the doors.
That's one of my favorite things about it. On one evening, it might be a gallery. On another, a dinner party. Another night, there may be an artist talking about their work, an open mic, a panel conversation, a workshop, or a room full of people celebrating something important.
And sometimes, it's simply a quiet gallery where someone can stand before a piece of art and have a moment with it.
All of those things belong here.
I want the gallery to feel alive. I've always believed that beautiful spaces can change how we experience one another.
Art makes us curious. Design can make us feel cared for. A thoughtfully set table can encourage people to sit a little longer. And the right conversation, in the right room, can introduce us to an idea or a person we may never have encountered otherwise.
That's what I want Colman Commons to become. Not simply somewhere you visit when you're invited, but somewhere you return to.
I want you to come for an exhibition and stay for a conversation. Come for First Thursday Art Walk and discover an artist you've never heard of. Come to an event and find yourself standing in front of a painting you can't stop thinking about. Maybe you even decide to buy it.
And if you've never purchased original art before, I want this to be a place where you feel comfortable asking, How does this work? Because galleries shouldn't feel like spaces reserved for people who already know the rules.
Art belongs to all of us.
And there is so much more coming. As we continue building Colman Commons, I'm excited about the programming that will begin filling these rooms.
Artist conversations, exhibition openings, collector education, intimate dinners, Art Walk experiences, creative workshops, open mics, wellness gatherings, cultural conversations, music, storytelling, design, and probably a few things we haven't imagined yet.
I want Colman Commons to be a place where artists are celebrated, where new collectors are created, where interesting people meet one another, and where Seattle's creative community has another place to call home.
But I also want to document what happens along the way. Which brings me here.
Consider this my first letter. Every couple of weeks, I'm going to write to you from inside the world we're building at Colman Commons. Sometimes I'll introduce you to an artist whose work is hanging on our walls. Sometimes we'll talk about a particular piece and the story behind it.
We'll talk about collecting art, especially for those who have always loved art but never considered themselves collectors. We'll talk about design, culture, hospitality, and the art of creating spaces where people feel something.
I'll introduce you to interesting people who pass through our doors. I'll share what we're planning, what we're learning, and some of what happens behind the scenes as we build a cultural space in Seattle. And sometimes, I may simply write about something I've been thinking about.
I want these letters to become a conversation. A place for us to talk about art and the spaces we inhabit. About the people shaping culture around us, gathering intentionally, preserving stories, and discovering beauty in unexpected places. And, hopefully, about what it means to build something meaningful in community.
There will be plenty happening at Colman Commons that I'll invite you to experience in person. But even if you aren't in the room every time, I want these letters to give you a seat at the table.
So, welcome to the gallery, to the conversation, and to whatever this becomes.
Come for the art. Come for the gathering. Stay for the conversation.
Until next time,
Ashleigh McCurdy
From Colman Commons, Seattle
Looking to book a space for your upcoming event? Check out Colman Commons for all your event space needs at colmancommons.com
