PCC COMMUNITY MARKETS: WHERE GROCERY MEETS ART GALLERY

Co-op’s Downtown and Kirkland Stores to open in 2022 with new local art to welcome shoppers

(SEATTLE, December 14, 2021) – PCC Community Markets (PCC), one of Seattle’s original grocers and the largest community-owned food market in the U.S., today unveiled the artists whose work will be showcased in its new Downtown store and relocated Kirkland location when they open in early 2022. The Downtown store will feature carvings by Andrea M. Wilbur-Sigo of the Squaxin Island Tribe and the Kirkland store will have an installation from Mary Iverson. The co-op aims to spotlight local creators and elevate the shopping experience.

Downtown PCC: Andrea M. Wilbur-Sigo | A Way of Life

Shoppers at the Downtown PCC will be immersed in the story of Andrea M. Wilbur-Sigo’s work titled “A Way of Life” in the form of two house post wooden carvings mounted on the interior dining area wall. Wilbur-Sigo is a member of the Squaxin Island Tribe and is the first known woman carver of many generations of carvers in the Coast Salish style. The house posts depict two individuals and convey the connection between people and the environment. In Wilbur-Sigo’s words: “Together is the only way things work. Without one another we would not be whole. We need each other, together we are a strong community and apart we stand alone to. Together we tell a story, a written story, that will change and adapt as life changes. They will always hold the strong roots of the cedar tree and the survival of our waterways.”

“My works explores the balance between the environment and industrial activities, inspiring conversations about our complicated relationship with nature,” shared Andrea M. Wilbur-Sigo. “I chose to collaborate with PCC because of their focus on sustainability in their products and even in-store design. I am pleased to have this opportunity to share these carvings with the PCC community – bringing nature into an industrial space.”

Kirkland PCC: Mary Iverson | World Tablecloths

Five columns with hand-glazed ceramic tiles representing “World Tablecloths” will welcome shoppers in the new Kirkland PCC seating area. Each column features a tablecloth design inspired by the textile patterns of a unique culture that is part of the community makeup of Kirkland: Coast Salish, Nordic, India, Japan and England. “As a group, the columns support this gathering space and celebrate the communities that have come together to create the City of Kirkland,” commented Iverson.

“A tablecloth is the underlying fabric that makes a meal special, weaving colors and symbols with family traditions,” said Mary Iverson. “PCC is such a special part of the community: as a space for neighbors to gather in or the source of the food they bring home to their tables to serve friends and family. I appreciate the opportunity to bring this work to the Kirkland community and hope to inspire their table conversations.”

PCC and Local Art Commitment

PCC first introduced local art in its Ballard store as part of the co-op’s efforts to be recognized by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) as Living Building Challenge (LBC) Petal-Certified, the world’s most rigorous green building standard. Ballard PCC became the first LBC Petal-Certified grocery store in the world in 2020 and the co-op’s locations in West Seattle and Bellevue were also Petal-Certified earlier this year.

To obtain the certification for its stores, PCC met LBC’s stringent requirements for the Materials, Place and Beauty Petals. Working with local artists to design art installations that represent each location, elevate shopper spirits and provoke thought and conversation was an important component of meeting the Beauty Petal requirements.

The co-op is actively working toward LBC Petal Certification for its new Downtown and relocated Kirkland location following their openings in early 2022, building on the achievements in the previous locations.

About PCC Community Markets

Founded in Seattle in 1953, PCC Community Markets (PCC) is a certified organic retailer and the nation’s largest community-owned food market. With an unmatched enthusiasm for making food from scratch, PCC is a haven for those who share a dedication to fresh, organic, seasonal food that is sustainably sourced from over 800 local producers, farmers, ranchers and fishers.

The co-op’s mission is to ensure that good food nourishes the communities it serves, while cultivating vibrant, local, organic food systems. With an active membership of more than 95,000 households, PCC operates 15 stores in the Puget Sound area, including the cities of Bellevue, Bothell, Burien, Edmonds, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond and Seattle. Seattle stores are in the neighborhoods of Ballard, Central District, Columbia City, Fremont, Green Lake, View Ridge and West Seattle. The co-op also plans to open new stores in Downtown Seattle and Madison Valley and relocate its Kirkland location.

In 2020, PCC gave more than 60% of pretax earnings to members and the communities it serves. This includes the co-op’s first-ever member dividend and support of nonprofits around the Puget Sound area such as Ventures, Washington Farmland Trust and FareStart.