Fan proudly displays his Bruce Lee tattoo at the opening
This issue of NWAW should probably be titled the “Bruce Lee” issue. There was mayhem and celebration in Chinatown for the opening of the “Do You Know Bruce?” exhibition at the Wing Luke Museum this past Saturday, Oct. 4. There were crowds gathering before the public opening, (it was officially opening at 11a.m.–before lunchtime!). There was a small dragon parade with “Louie, Louie” blasting as a soundtrack, and Bruce Lee fans, young and old, everywhere, eagerly awaiting entrance. And the adoration continues with a top-priority article in this small International District newspaper. You can read about it on our front page (and probably pages in every other newspaper published in Seattle).
There is no doubt that Seattle’s crush has developed into a real love for Bruce Lee, and gauging by the photographs and artifacts in the exhibition, he truly loved this city as well. He reciprocated—he loved us. He attended UW! He fell in love and married in Seattle! He lived in the ID!
He established his education and his family here, and even now, after all these years after his early death at 32, devoted fans from the city (and all over the world,) can’t get seem to get enough, or forget him.
Seattle misses him. This is evident by those who consistently visit his memorial where he is buried with his son Brandon (who also tragically died young, at 28, by a gunshot wound on a movie set).
And, now, the turnout for the new retrospective here in the International District attests to that. It is clearly obvious that residents and tourists and all fans wish we could have had more time with him.
Based on this opening, he will always remain one of Seattle’s most popular icons.
We were lucky to have him as a part of our city’s history in his short amount of time.
[You can contact NWAW staff by flagging down anyone sporting a “We heart Bruce Lee” tattoo or t-shirt.] (end)