The Art Dept.

moving pictures

  • video // Cult Tacoma : space works for Goldfinch

    Spaceworks Tacoma is a project to activate empty storefronts in downtown Tacoma with art and creative enterprise.

    Spaceworks recently awarded Goldfinch—one of Tacoma’s finest local bands—a three-month artists’ residency in a Hill Top practice space next to Fulcrum Gallery.

    Goldfinch plans to nest down and begin recording their new album during this time as well as open up their space to live shows and Art Walk events.

    We will be shooting a series of short videos for Cult Tacoma documenting Goldfinch’s Spaceworks residency.

    In this most recent episode (above), we have a christening of the space—headlined by one of our favorite 2011 Doe Bay Fest bands OK Sweetheart and also including live painting by Tacoma artist Briton Sukys, a hilarious bit of storytelling from his wife Megan Sukys (of KUOW) and some lovely pickin’ and whistlin’ by Grrr Animals‘ Mike Weller.

    Click through, take a peep at the photos and previous video:

  • photos // First Night Tacoma : 2011

    Check out these photos of New Year’s Eve in Tacoma—First Night—which we shot for Cult Tacoma.

    Happy New Year!

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  • video // Cult Tacoma : First Night 2011/12

    Fire-breathing dragons were on parade, kids were break-dancing and spray-painting, the tough girls where on roller skates and rabbits and tigers soared overhead. It was New Year’s Eve in Tacoma.

    And shortly before the last night of 2011 suddenly became the First Night of 2012, Portland natives and Tacoma favorites Drew Grow & the Pastors’ Wives took to the stage to unleash the passion of a hundred fireworks shows. Or, at least, unleash the sound—as evidenced by Mr. Grow’s blown off hat and our blown out camera mic.

    Check out these photos of the Dragon Parade and a live set by Portland locals (and Tacoma favorites) Drew Grow & The Pastors’ Wives.

    Happy New Year!

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  • wedding // Ryan + Rachel

    On a breezy day in June not so long ago, in that golden vale called Sonoma, two lovely people got hitched. Here is a small tribute to them—be sure to check out the photos, too.Here’s to a long, happy marriage!Oh Marie by

    Indian Valley Line

  • video // White Moustache Urban Adventure Co. : Musical Plates

    When thinking to ourselves of a few of our favorite things, we often find “food” and “music” sitting at the top of the list.  The mad genius Bryce Lathrop has invented a new way one may experience both at the same time—his one-of-a-kind gastro tour company White Moustache (“Seattle’s only eating tour on wheels”) now offers a Musical Plates tour which pairs lucky eaters/listeners with a local, independent band and their epicurean tastes.  Bryce hand-picks courses from his favorite Seattle eateries inspired by the favorite foods of each band member.

    Cruising through the twinkling lights of Seattle’s skyline and diverse hoods with some of our newest friends, an incredible band—Tacoma’s Goldfinch—and some mind-blowing food was about as serendipitous as we’d like a moment to get!

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  • video // Cult Tacoma : Big Sur

    The Warehouse approached us and asked if we’d like to shoot a studio session with their upcoming house show headliners Big Sur.

    Of course we jumped at the opportunity—we thought it would be a great video to add to Cult Tacoma and we loved the idea of being in the studio with the musicians as they created their sublime folk pop.

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  • video // Cult Tacoma : Frank Fairfield

    Here’s another video we created for Cult Tacoma. Nearly all this footage was shot by Sarah who wrote for the Cult Tacoma posting:

    Before you hear him, you’re not sure you really believe Frank Fairfield. And it’s not his fault.With the momentum of a Dakota stampede, a slew of indie musicians has recently waded into the sweet river of folk salvation by the seat of their patchwork pants, ready to pledge themselves to a life of dirty long johns and homemade butter churning if only for a shot at a the cover of Spin. Why, throw in a washboard, some boxcar harmonies and a canteen of moonshine. Crickets and tarnation! You’ve got authenticity.

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  • video // Cult Tacoma : Doe Bay Festival : 2011

    Doe Bay Festival is becoming one of our favorite weekends of the year.  We spent most of it behind the camera and created this short video and collection of photos for Cult Tacoma.  See below for the photos . . .

  • event // Tacoma’s Fall Free For All : 2011

    In October, Tacoma’s Broadway Center hosted a weekend-long arts and cultural festival in the heart of downtown Tacoma—the 2011 Fall Free for All. They asked us to shoot some photos of  excellent music program curated by local Tacoma musician Aaron Stevens of Goldfinch.

    Above is the first video—Seattle/Tacoma locals Concours d’Elegance blowing away the crowd with their tight new wave jams and captivating stage show.

    Below is a look at Portland’s soulful and face-melting Drew Grow & The Pastors’ Wives:

    And here’s some dreamy otherworldliness from Portland’s Laura Gibson:

    Be sure to also peruse our gallery of photos from the entire weekend…

  • Belle Creative is now The Art Dept.

    If you came here looking for Belle Creative, you’re at the correct corner of the internet—Belle Creative is now The Art Dept.!

    The Art Dept. is a boutique creative firm comprised of an extended family of artists—designers, filmmakers, writers, photographers, typographers, musicians—pooling their creative talents to tell original stories.  Since its inception in 2005 (as Belle Creative) by Sarah and Peter Berkley in Sonoma, CA, The Art Dept. has developed custom creative content for clients from the Brooklyn fashion industry to California’s artisan food and wine culture to the Northwest music scene.

    Mary Berkley Shadley, Peter’s sister and an accomplished graphic designer, is a recent addition to the firm as Design Director.  We also often tap our talented network of close friends and family—such as product designer (and brother-in-law) Karson Shadley and musician brothers Max and Ryan Lynch—to broaden our scope of work.

    Now based both in the Seattle area—Tacoma, WA—and the Bay Area—Oakland, CA—The Art Dept. continues to develop a wide range of creative products with a focus on short videos, creative writing and print design.

    Please browse the site to see work completed and please don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like to work together!