Nathan Vass
Nathan Vass is an artist, filmmaker, photographer, and author by day, and a Metro bus driver by night, where his community-building work has been showcased on TED, NPR, The Seattle Times, KING 5 and landed him a spot on Seattle Magazine’s 2018 list of the 35 Most Influential People in Seattle. He has shown in over forty photography shows is also the director of nine films, six of which have shown at festivals, and one of which premiered at Henry Art Gallery. His book, The Lines That Make Us, is a Seattle bestseller and 2019 WA State Book Awards finalist.
I like the ten P.M. crowd.
If you drive buses through downtown at the top of this hour, you'll notice it contains what I call a "rush hour echo” -- a spike in activity entirely benign in nature. These folks have just finished their swing shift jobs and they're ready...
1. The Scene
I’ve just taken over my E Line in Pioneer Square from the previous operator and am preparing it to my liking. Setting the mirrors, taping up my bright green smiley face to the shield– If they can’t see my real smile, they’ll at least see this one!
I...
I don't consider myself a political creature. The transformation of my perspectives into political views is always a transformation of reduction. I find people too rich and nuanced, the world and its problems too complex, for the American obsession of turning everything into a competition to have any value....
Felt this way before.
These are sensations I have before today appreciated. But distance away can clarify things, bring into sharp relief what you've forgotten was never ordinary.
I've been away from the 7 for over a year now for a collection of boring reasons, mostly pandemic and schedule-related (where did...
On the 75.
Recently a woman yelled up toward me, "there's a guy smoking crack in the back of the bus! Tell him to get off!"
To which I immediately replied, into the microphone and at the young twentysomething man furtively kneeling over in the back bench, "okay my buddy in...
This is a big one, but bear with me: the fight described below conveniently happened to touch on so many of our city's most pressing issues. Refill your coffee. You love procrastinating...
He stepped aboard the bus and paused, baldly surveying the interior. I admire people who can stare down...
You have a name for the voice inside of you.
Why do we live at a speed that prevents us from hearing it? Why does it speak only at its own pace? O, pride. What arrogance for us to assume the turning wisdom of the earth will adjust to our...
I love that they have an actual day for this. There's something endearingly old-school about it, and yet who can argue the value of its intent? With COVID upon us, there's ever more reason to be thankful. Let's hope the powers that be are working at creating Grocer Appreciation...