In Seattle’s rapidly gentrifying Central District, Wa Na Wari transformed a family’s fight to save their home into a powerful movement for Black cultural preservation, proving that art and community can not only reclaim space but secure it for future generations.
In a neighborhood being slowly swallowed by gentrification, one house refuses to be erased. Wa Na Wari, a house-turned-gallery, is a “container for Black joy,” where walls not only showcase art but also hold the struggles of a community that has fought hard to hold on to its roots.
Wa Na Wari, a phrase that means “Our Home” in Kalabari, is a physical haven for a much bigger mission. The home is open for drop-in visits throughout the week and hosts events like art installations, special guest speakers, a food pantry and more. Their signature event “Walk the Block” is an annual outdoor visual and performing arts festival that transforms the Central District into a gathering space…