510 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, 425-519-0770.

IN RESPONSE TO PLACE

Twelve big-name photographers get all Ansel on our ass in this exhibit celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Nature Conservancy. Featuring new works by the likes of Annie Leibovitz, Sally Mann, William Wegman, Mary Ellen Mark, and Lee Friedlander, among others. Through Sept 1.

* TRESPASSING: HOUSES X ARTISTS

See Stranger Suggests. Through Jan 5.

CENTER ON CONTEMPORARY ART

(CoCA)

1420 11th Ave, 728-1980.

* BLURRED

Architects, game designers, graphic designers, and other nontraditional practitioners in a series of site-specific installations. Featuring ABBP, Iole Alessandrini, Michelle Arab, Make Barrette, Michael Culpepper, Marc Dombrosky, James Harris, John Jenkins III, Mark Johnson, lead pencil studio, r-b-f architecture, Alex Schweder, SHED, Philip Thiel. Lecture with Jim Olson Tues Sept 3 at 6:30 pm. Through Sept 13.

FRYE ART MUSEUM

704 Terry Ave, 622-9250.

WILLIAM BECKMAN

Gutted of sentimentality, Beckman's personal portraits seek to reflect a stark inspection of their subjects, in both presence and tone. Through Oct 27.

GABRIELLE BAKKER, GLORIA DeARCANGELIS

Artifice and Representation combines modern mythology with classical constructs to create warm, saturated portraits. Through Sept 8.

THE PERCEPTION OF APPEARANCE

A whole mess of figure drawings composed in the America of the 1990s. Warning: Brief Nudity. Featuring the work of Steven Assael, William Beckman, Jane Fisher, Kent Bellows, Sydney Goodman, and more. Through Sept 22.

HENRY ART GALLERY

15th Ave NE & NE 41st St, 543-2280.

* SHORT STORIES

In splendorform, Seattle artist Elizabeth Jameson contrasts exaggerative fashion elements of the past (corsets, bustle cages, etc.) with her own absurdist works. The Photographic Impulse utilizes works from the collection of Joseph and Elaine Monsen to categorize some of the driving forces that have motivated photographers since the birth of the medium. Meditation on a Painting by Diebenkorn contrasts the 1958 painting Untitled (View of the Ocean with Palm Tree) with contemporary works by five other artists. Through Nov 10.

SEATTLE ART MUSEUM

100 University St, 654-3100.

* DO-HO SUH

Korean artist Suh understands the power of "a lot," understands how repetition gives a kind of dignity to modest things. He imbues his projects--a suit of armor made from thousands of dog tags, a floor held up by thousands of tiny figures, wallpaper made of thousands of faces cut out from his high-school yearbook--with political feeling as well. (Emily Hall) Split between the Seattle Asian Art Museum (Volunteer Park) and Seattle Art Museum, the first American survey of Suh's work arrives in our city. Through Dec 1.

OPENING EXHIBITIONS

AN-MAGRITH ERLANDSEN

Tarot writ large. Mr. Spot's Chai House, 5463 Leary Way NW, 297-2424. Through Sept 30.

* ANDREW MIKSYS

Local Guggenheim recipient Miksys presents Paper Heart, a two-pronged solo exhibition of documentary photographs culled from his heartrending Bingo series along with his more recent Lithuania works. Photographic Center Northwest, 900 12th Ave, 720-7222. Through Sept 29.

JULIA RICKETTS, MARGARET BOOZER

Earth Drawings and Water Colors, a collaborative multimedia exhibit between local painter Ricketts and Washington, D.C. ceramist Boozer, represents an exhaustive exploration of the geological make-up of Whidbey Island. Despite what would typically be rather bland subject matter, the meticulous results of their exploration appear to have yielded some potentially intriguing results. Opening reception Wed Sept 4, 5-8 pm. Baas Gallery, 2703 E Madison, 324-4742. Through Sept 30.

AMY STEVENS

In Food and Lodging Next 5 Miles, her premiere solo exhibition, Stevens combines road photographs and acrylics in an exploration of the American West by dashboard. Opening reception Sun Sept 1, 6-9 pm. Rosebud Restaurant, 719 E Pike St, 323-6636. Through Sept 22.

MAGGIE TAYLOR, DOMINIC ROUSE, JERRY UELSMANN

Uelsmann is the kind of photographer whose images get mass-produced as shrink-wrapped, cardboard-backed posters and pimped alongside Anne Geddes prints. His work, along with the works of the other artists in this show, focuses on gimmicky composites: archaic darkroom trickery whose product asks the tough artistic questions--like, "Dude! What the fuck are those lips doing in the middle of the road?!?!" Benham Gallery, 1216 First Ave, 622-2480. Through Oct 19.

JULIA WHITE

The surreal surroundings of White's effortless oil scenes juxtapose the fantastic with the mundane in vibrant, clean color. Victrola Coffee, 411 15th Ave E, 325-6520. Through Sept 30.

CONTINUING EXHIBITIONS

* LEO SAUL BERK, DONNABELLE CASIS

Surveying explores Berk's fascination with the timber industry in the form of his 100-foot veneer ribbon sculpture, which promises to literally envelop its viewers. Vague, flirtatious oil forms compose Casis' hanker. Howard House, 2017 Second Ave, 256-6399. Through Sept 7.

DALE CHIHULY

It's Seafair month, and that can only mean one thing: Seattle's favorite pirate son (and only artist that truly matters) returns. Foster/White Gallery, 123 S Jackson St, 622-2833. Through Sept 1.

KRISTINE EVANS, CARLOS WALKER

Happiness combines Evans' Japanese-informed acrylics on Masonite with Walker's graffiti mixed-media pieces. LGBT Community Center, 1115 E Pike St, 323-2227. Through Sept 16.

FICTIONS

Contextual snapshots inspired by narrative whimsy, featuring a mix of media by the likes of Gloria Gonzales Garcia, Tyson Grumm, and Rob Jones, among others. SAM Rental/Sales Gallery, 1334 First Ave, 654-3240. Through Sept 21.

* CLAUDIA FITCH, KATY STONE

Fitch's Attic Moderne comments on the commercialization of precious artistic icons, recasting them in the image of plastics and imitation wares. Coupled with Stone's Mylar-and-paint botanicals. Greg Kucera Gallery, 212 Third Ave S, 624-0770. Through Aug 31.

PETER GROSS

Gross surveys prevailing visions of nautical landforms in Modern Seascapes. Zeitgeist, 171 S Jackson, 583-0497. Through Sept 4.

* ELIZABETH JAMESON

The pieces of attire in Jameson's works are laced, bound, padded, and insulated enough to protect the most fashionable member of the bomb squad. The work asks a question about where necessity ends and frivolousness begins, but refuses to answer it; the answer is too easy, and not quite truthful, anyway. Like Nicola Vruwink, another local lady-artist, Jameson transforms the political problem partly by identifying with it, partly by wresting the terms of the argument away from cliché. (Emily Hall) Ballard Fetherston Gallery, 818 E Pike St, 322-9440. Through Aug 31.

* CHRIS McMULLEN

Composed of over 2,500 cubic feet of steel and stone, Process Physics expands McMullen's absurdist mechanical obsessions into yet another "interactive kinetic installation." Vital 5 Productions, 2200 Westlake Ave, 254-0475. Through Sept 2.

* SARAH MORRIS

The goals of commerce, as illustrated through an accumulation of shopping bags. Seattle Art Museum Rental/Sales Gallery, 1334 First Ave, Suite 140, 654-3240. Through Sept 29.

* MUSTANG SUMMER

"Mustang Summer is built around the idea of contrivance (what's more contrived than the isolation of objects inside white walls?); but the hook is that it isn't the usual kind of smartyboots use and abuse of deliberate artifice. Here, "contrived" loses its negative associations, and becomes a high form of praise: artists in control of their world, and at the same time open to its accidents." (Emily Hall) SOIL Gallery, 1317 E Pine St, 264-8061. Through Sept 1.

NEW... IDEA, MATERIAL, PROCESS

Artists exploring avenues in their work that are, um, new. Featuring Gail Grinnell, Elaine Housman, Pat De Caro, Philip Govedare, and Lynda K. Rockwood. Francine Seders Gallery, 6701 Greenwood Ave N, 782-0355. Through Sept 1.

* THE NEW POVERTY

The rich are rich and the poor are poor and here's the rub: Art supplies are expensive. Lots of artists get around this problem creatively by using discarded materials--garbage, you might say--to make their work, and here is an exhibition of eight Seattle and Victoria, BC, artists who elevate other peoples' castoffs into very good art. Jointly curated by Jeffrey Miller, of Seattle, and Althea Thauberger, of Victoria--take that, Peace Arch! The Pound Gallery, 1216 10th Ave, 323-0557. Through Sept 1.

NORTHWEST MASTERS

Culled from the City of Seattle's portable arts collection, this mixed medley of works combines the good, the bad, and the eye-patched of Seattle's "illustrious" arts history. Includes efforts by Chuck Close, John Cage, Lee Friedlander, Dale Chihuly, Sonja Blomdahl, and many, many more. City Space, 701 Fifth Ave, 749-9525. Through Sept 20.

* ANTJUAN ODEN

Oden's coffee drawings--coffee-powder paste applied with twisted tissue paper--were done during a 28-day stay in solitary confinement. They are something. With acrylic color paintings. Garde Rail Gallery, 4860 Rainier Ave S, 721-0107. Through Sept 28.

NANCY PEACOCK

Jazz-inspired acrylics displayed in concurrence with September's West Seattle Jazz Festival. Runnings Family Gallery, ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0963, ext. 107. Through Sept 15.

PRINTWORKS 2002

Works by 26 national printmakers, including Weldon Butler, Squeak Carnwarth, Kara Walker, and Darren Waterston. Key Tower Gallery, 700 Fifth Ave, third floor, 684-7312. Through Oct 25.

* PROJECT 18

New sculpture built in and around Sand Point's Building 18 by Romson Bustillo, Eddie Hill, Angelena McQuarter, Hahn Rossman, and Katy Stone. Stone's impromptu riffs on signs, windows, and gaps in the brick building are especially winning. Sand Point Magnuson Park, Building 18, 522-9529. Through Sept 28.

CHRISTOPHE ROBERTS, BEN HANAWALT

Recent urban paintings. Nation Gallery, 1921 Fifth Ave, 374-9492. Through Sept 8.

SAMUELLA SAMANIEGO

New landscape and architectural works in photography. Sacred Circle Gallery of American Indian Art, Daybreak Star, Discovery Park, 285-4425. Through Sept 29.

* SICK SHOW

What looks to be a truly charming collection of works by the likes of Amanda Kindregan, Sam Trout, Betsy Deboer, and Isaac Novak--all tracing the many familiar facets (pharmacy, healthcare professionals, digestive and respiratory systems) of being under the weather. Black Lab Gallery, 5208 Ballard Ave, 706-7017. Through Aug 31.

R. J. STOCKWELL

"Freedom is a salute to America for the wonderful freedom we have. R. J.'s Oils are filled with imagery that symbolize those great national gifts and help us to appreciate those liberties." Artists' Gallery of Seattle, 902 First Ave S, 340-0830. Through Sept 30.

CONSTANCE TROWBRIDGE

A mixed-media reflection on her recent trip to Palestine. Art/Not Terminal Gallery, 2045 Westlake Ave, 233-0680. Through Sept 5.

MARINA E. WIESENBACH

Wiesenbach documents in a series of colorful photographs a reflection of fashion and image in the gay community, recorded predominately in the context of Gay Pride celebrations. Lesbian Resource Center, 2214 S Jackson, 322-3953. Through Sept 30.

EVENTS

* BUMBERSHOOT VISUAL ART GALA

With Living, a Martha Stewart-inspired installation by Nicola Vruwink; Multiplex, excellent work by excellent artists curated by the excellent Michael Van Horn; and other end-of-summer treats. For god's sake, it's all the art Bumbershoot offers; show up. Opening reception Tues Aug 27, 6-8 pm. Northwest Courtrooms, Seattle Center. Through Mon Sept 2, free admission Tues-Thurs Aug 27-29; Bumbershoot ticket required from Fri Aug 30.

FAMILY

One night only. Silent auction to benefit Open Arms Campaign, a Seattle-based adoption-assistance agency. Artemis Gallery, 3107 S Day St, 323-0562. Sat Aug 31, 3-7 pm.

FASHION SHOW

One night only. Fashion students from Japan's Bunka University rub their nation's infinitely superior fashion sense in the faces of Seattle's frumpy populous as they explore the contrasting themes of "elegance" and "sports"(?). Broadway Performance Hall, Seattle Central Community College, 1625 Broadway, 325-3113. Sat Aug 31, 1 pm and 3 pm.

* RUMMAGE

Featuring the wares of such artists as Sam Trout, Tom Dewar, and Matthew Parker, the value of this highbrow flea market of local artists and designers is two-fold: On top of providing an immediate support system for talented locals, it allows us lazy laymen more artistic bang for our proverbial buck. Nation Gallery, 1921 Fifth Ave, 374-949 2. Sun Sept 1, noon-4 pm.