JET CITY was a Belltown second-hand emporium specializing in vintage toys, pinball machines, and bikes. ASHLEIGH TALBOT painted the panels and doors outside to entice passers-by. Ashleigh is one of the most talented artists to have their works appear on the streets. Many of her designs feature wriggling shapes, biomorphic squiggles and zigzags in brilliant color, reminiscent of such modern art masters as Miro and Kandinsky (see her RETRO VIVA sign). She also designs and "does" tattoos.

Ashleigh has published 3 books of her art work under King County and Seattle Arts Commission grants. Her most recent triumph is the book Beat Speak, a full-size edition of her drawings illustrating terms from the beatnik lingo of the 1950s. Our Gallery of the Silly and Sublime this month features a sampling of drawings from Beat Speak. This handsomely produced hard-bound volume, featuring excellent black-and-white reproduction on fine paper, is available from Water Row Press, Sudbury, Mass., and may be special ordered through Barnes & Noble.