Seattle Art Blog - News, Discussion, and Events

Budding ceramic artists from high schools throughout Whatcom County will have their creations on display at Good Earth Pottery  through the month of March.  A reception for the students and their teachers will be held on March 20^th from 2-5pm at the gallery, located at 1000 Harris Avenue in Bellingham.

The Ouch My Eye Gallery, located at 1022 1st Avenue S., opens from 7-12pm on February 27 for their Annual International Invitational. According to the gallery, “The artists participating this year were carefully selected from a large field of international, national, and local talent who exemplify the passion to create regardless of popularity, esteem, or financial marketability.” The show runs through March 24. Piece shown by Tracy Boyd.

Eric Elliott dissects the work of student artists of all levels and reads the auguries of the next generation of artists to come out of the University of Washington in an exhibit at the Jacob Lawrence Gallery, in the art building on the University of Washington campus, on view from February 24- March 20. This dissection is also a moment for Elliott to reflect back on his own relationship with the University of Washington, having received his MFA in painting from the program 3 years ago.

C Art Gallery,  855 Hiawatha Place South in Seattle, is featuring the exhibit "A Room Full of Sisters" through March 28 with an artists’ reception Thursday March 4 from 5:30-7:30pm. The show recognizes the diversity of women and celebrating Women's History Month.  Presenting the work of 17 artists in various mediums, the exhibit is inspired by Washington State Poet Laureate Mona Lake Jones poem "A Room Full of Sisters."

Since we can all use some good news from the art world, I’m printing the entire press release I just received from Artist Trust:

“Artist Trust’s 2010 Benefit Art Auction on February 20 was extraordinary for two reasons: During a night of palpable appreciation for the creative vitality of individual artists, the annual Benefit Art Auction raised over $315,000—the highest amount in Artist Trust’s 23-year history. All net proceeds from the Auction support Artist Trust’s grants, resources and career training for artists of all disciplines throughout Washington.

Works by renowned artists like Northwest master painters Mark Tobey and William Cumming, and iconic photographers Mary Randlett and Imogen Cunningham were the hot favorites amongst the audience of nearly 500 art aficionados and artists. The highest bid of the night was for Freedom Space (2008) donated by Seattle abstract artist, Alan Fulle, represented by the Traver Gallery. The large, vibrant painting sold for $5,000 in a flurry of bidding conducted by auctioneer Laura Michalek. The evening was magically infused with performances by Artist Trust Fellowship recipient Lucia Neare and her Theatrical Wonders.

The climax of the night came when Artist Trust Board Chair William Rava and Executive Director Fidelma McGinn announced that, with a gift from The Dale and Leslie Chihuly Foundation, Artist Trust will administer a major new individual artist award. This $150,000 three-year commitment will allow two generative artists to be selected per year, each receiving a $25,000 Arts Innovator award to support their work. Artists of all creative disciplines will be eligible for consideration. A panel of adjudicators will determine the final recipients through a state-wide nomination process. Details of the nomination process and timeline will be announced in March and available online at www.artisttrust.org.”

Carol Mallett Adelman exhibits a selection of works that combine self-portraits, art historical references and societal roles in “Little Women: Self Portraits.” The exhibit is on view from February 22 through March 20 in the Steele Gallery at the Gage Academy of Art, located at 1501 10th. Avenue E. in Seattle. An artist reception is scheduled for February 26 from 6-8pm.

February 26

SAM (Seattle Art Museum) Remix Downtown at First and Union on Friday from 8pm to midnight. The first 100 guests get in for free at the  door; otherwise, tickets are $5 for SAM members and $10 for nonmembers. Featuring kinetic sculpture installations by Lingo Dance Company, music by DJ Freddy King of Pants and SunTzu Sound, readings by poets Daemond Arrindell and Storme Webber, tours led by members of Seattle's arts community, performances by Evoke Productions and Mike Pham, a Bearded Lady Competition, drawing studios, a space curated by Decibel Festival and more.

February 28

Islanders4Arts, a new arts organization, hosts an Arts & Culture Fair at the Bainbridge Commons from 11am-3p. Food, beer, wine and live music by Ranger and the ReArrangers will be the backdrop for an exhibit featuring Bainbridge Island as an Arts & Cultural destination.  Proceeds from this event will benefit Islanders4Arts - a new organization on Bainbridge Island, with a mission statement of
"Advancing Arts & Culture on Bainbridge Island."

The 4th Annual showcase of figurative art created by  members of the Lowell Art Works Life Drawing Group and Lowell Art Works resident artists opens at the gallery, 5205 South 2nd. Avenue from 4-9pm. The show runs through March 13.

See folk art items pulled out of the Washington Historical Society's collection, and get a sneak peek at the kind of art that will be seen during the Washington State History Museum’s “World Folk Art Festival,” April 17-18. On  view: jewelry made out of hair, a picture frame crafted from matchsticks, a handmade Norwegian violin inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and more. Shown: Detail from a painting of Ruston, Wash., by Orlin Coughlan. (Washington State Historical Society)

Opening on February 19 from 6-9pm at Lawrimore Project, 831 South Airport Way, is Tivon Rice’s second solo exhibition at the gallery, “A MACROCOSMIC ZERO.”  Rice, a multimedia artist and doctoral candidate at the University of Washington’s Center for Digital Art and Experimental Medial (DXARTS), has  exhibited with solo shows at the Portland Art Academy; 911 Media Arts Center, Seattle; Lawrimore Project, Seattle; Gallery 4Culture; Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle; and a collaborative exhibition with Jeffry Mitchell at The Henry Art Gallery, Seattle.

In an opening reception on February 18 from 6-8pm, Greg Kucera Gallery, 212 3rd. Avenue S.,  introduces Dan Webb in his first one-person exhibit at the gallery, “Stones and Flowers.” The Seattle artist works in a variety of materials including wood, limestone and bronze. Also on view is Roger Shimomura’s “Small Paintings,” where the artist explores the racial conflicts of the 1940s war years and the unjust imprisonment of approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans, 60% of whom were U.S. citizens. Shimomura has a one-person exhibition, Yellow Terror: The Collections and Paintings of Roger Shimomura, at Wing Luke Museum, in Seattle through April 18. Wing Luke Asian Museum has scheduled a lecture by the artist on March 18 at 7pm. Tickets and details are available at www.winglukemuseum.org. Shown: Dan Webb, Sucked In.

Bellevue Arts Museum  brings to light the work and life of one of the greatest shoe designers of the 20th century: Beth Levine. Featuring ephemera and over 100 shoes and boots, Beth Levine: First Lady of Shoes will open its doors February 18, 2010 and run through June 6, 2010. Originally organized by The Dutch Leather and Shoe Museum, BAM is the only U.S. venue to showcase this fascinating exhibition.

Karen Fox’s paintings, “My Favorite Things,” opens February 18 for the Edmonds Art Walk from 5-8pm at the Cole Gallery, 107 5th. Avenue South in Edmonds. Gallery owner Denise Cole says, “ Come on by to meet the artist and enjoy champagne and desserts.” Shown: Party on the James T.Quigg.

Long-time Snohomish resident and Cornish graduate, Jeanne Whitney, opens “Pastoral,” at Autumn’s Framing & Gallery, 537 Main Street in Edmonds, from 5-8pm on February 18 during the Edmonds art walk. Whitney is also a children’s book illustrator. Shown: Kittens Every Which Way.

Third Thursday

Edmonds Art Walk, 5pm-8pm.  Visit www.manyaveeselects.com/artwalk/artwalk.htm

Tacoma Art Walk.  Tacoma's galleries, Museum of Glass, Tacoma Art Museum, and the Washington State History Museum are open from 5pm-8pm.  All three museums are free.  Call 253.272.4258.

Upper Queen Anne Art Walk, 6pm-8pm.  E-mail info@bouncingwall.com.

Third Saturday

Everett Art Walk, 4pm-7pm.  Visit www.everettartwalk.org.

LaConner Art Walk, 4pm-8pm.

Last Thursday

Microsoft Art Collection Tours.  Open to the public, free.  RSVP two weeks in advance to artevent@microsoft.com.  Maximum of 40 can register.

February 19

“BrüTübe” at the Kirkland Arts Center, 620 Market Streeet at 7pm. Featuring guest curators, each presenting a 15 minute set of videos revolving around the evening's theme, "All's Fair in Love & War." 

February 20

Artist Trust Benefit Gala Auction, “Dream,” held at the Fisher Pavilion at the Seattle Center. Curator’s Tour at 5pm. Festivities begin at 6pm. Gala Auction with work by emerging and esteemed Washington artists, including SuttonBeresCuller and Sherry Markovitz; Northwest Masters William Cumming and Mark Tobey; glass artists Dante Marioni and Richard Royal; and rare photographs from iconic photographers Imogen Cunningham, Mary Randlett and Jini Dellaccio.

February 21

Artist talk with Fay Jones at the Frye Art Museum at 5:30-7pm for the Path With Art exhibit. Only 50 seats available for Fay Jones speaking engagement, please contact Jessie.Irwin@bullivant.com to reserve your seat. Path with Art, a non-profit organization that works with formerly homeless adults will feature a new exhibit, “Public Belongings,” including the work of 10 adults who worked together in the Frye Art Studio over a period of twelve weeks.