"We're swathed like a Christo project," says Melissa Hines, managing director of the Empty Space, observing the cocoon of scaffolding and plastic sheeting around the triangular building in Fremont that houses the theater, the restaurant the Longshoreman's Daughter, and several other businesses. On May 24, not long after the earthquake, an ornamental cornice cracked off of one side of the building. A substantial chunk of brick fell away, destroying a couple of cars and knocking down a canopy, but no one was injured. After stripping away the brick facing, workers discovered that the wall surfacing suffered more from age than the earthquake; the building is structurally sound, but its "skin" will need to be substantially refurbished. As a result, the Empty Space will need to be moved for the undetermined future, possibly until the end of the calendar year. Whether the refurbishing will be far enough along that the lobby and theater will be usable for productions is as yet unknown. BRET FETZER

You...Yes, You

The Puget Sound Cinema Society, a monthly short film screening series, is calling for submissions: "Just send us a copy of your work in a viewable format: VHS, DV, Super-8, regular-8, or 16-mm, simple.... If your work isn't completely and utterly without merit, we'll schedule it." Films can be sent to Puget Sound Cinema Society (Attn: Omar or Anthony), P.O. Box 14458, Seattle, WA 98114. E-mail bc557@scn.org for more info.

Show Us Your Stuff!

Hey, talented people: On Saturday and Sunday, August 11 and 12, our very own David Schmader will be holding auditions for PIZZAZZ!--The Stranger's second annual, citywide talent show, taking place this year on August 31 at Bumbershoot. Auditions are open to anyone and everyone, pro or amateur, child or adult. We're looking for a variety of talented folks, from needle-eating contortionists to six-year-old blues singers. All acts must be under five minutes in length, with minimal setup time. (Each act will be given one minute to set up and one minute to strike, so rock bands should keep it unplugged.) Auditions will be held at Re-bar (1114 Howell Street), and we'll provide a piano, two microphones, and an absolutely staggering array of prizes. You provide everything else. To schedule your PIZZAZZ! audition, phone 323-7101, ext. 3099. STRANGER STAFF

Assorted Doings

Cirque de Flambé, a nonprofit community theater and fire-art troupe, was lavished with critical praise and front-page coverage for its performance at the Utah Arts Festival. Unfortunately, all this attention has a side effect: The fire ensemble is now the subject of a trademark suit by Cirque du Soleil, which apparently thinks it can copyright the word "Cirque...." Local glass artist Dale Chihuly has opened a boutique in the Bellagio, the opulent Las Vegas hotel/casino. This is not Chihuly's first encounter with the hotel; for the Bellagio's lobby, Chihuly had previously created a gigantic ceiling sculpture called Fiori di Como, which looks kind of like a bag of Halloween candy spilled out by an eager child. The match between artist and venue seems made in heaven.... Mayor Paul Schell has appointed three new commissioners to the Seattle Arts Commission: Susan M. Coliton, Sergei P. Tschernisch, and Joel Youngerman. Coliton and Tschernisch will serve two-year terms; Youngerman is filling an open position for the duration of 2001. Coliton is the director of Paul G. Allen Foundations and oversees six family foundations; Tschernisch is the president of Cornish College of the Arts; and Youngerman is the business manager of IATSE Local 488, which represents freelance movie and television technicians.... Eddy Davis & His New Orleans Jazz Band sold out Dimitriou's Jazz Alley in four and a half minutes, the fastest sell-out the venue has ever known. The band's popularity owes much to its clarinetist, Woody Allen; the people just love to hear old white movie directors play jazz. STRANGER STAFF

artsnews@thestranger.com