15th Ave NE & NE 41st St, 543-2280.
M:XICO AHORA
The complement to the current Seattle Art Museum Mexican modernism exhibit, the Henry exhibits more contemporary works (from 1992-2000) from the collection of Jacques and Natasha Gelman. Through Jan 5.
SEATTLE ART MUSEUM
100 University St, 654-3100.
FRIDA KAHLO, DIEGO RIVERA, AND MEXICAN MODERNISM
From the revered collection of Jacques and Natasha Gelman comes a celebration of over 20 preeminent early- to mid-century Mexican modernists; the exhibition includes several seldom-seen works by Kahlo. Through Jan 5.
* 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 and the Seattle Art Museum. Through Dec 1.
OPENING EXHIBITIONS
THE CLAYTON BROTHERS
A bewildering amalgam of layered absurdity, blending folk art with confused surrealist imagery. Opening reception Fri Nov 1, 7-11 pm. Roq la Rue, 2316 Second Avenue, 374-8977. Through Dec 1.
FREAKS!!!
A "concept show" (?) that is, in some unexplained capacity, united under the umbrella of human anomalies. Aftermath Gallery, 928 12th Ave, 709-9797. Through Nov 23.
FUGITIVE TESTIMONY
A convoluted mixed-media examination of memory and time, as composed by Colleen Choquette-Raphael, Dan Powell, and Samantha Stengel-Goetz. Also featuring the livestock-rich oils of Brendan Killian. Solomon Fine Art, 1215 First Ave, 297-1400. Through Nov 29.
WILLIAM IVEY, MARY RANDLETT
A selective retrospective of late Seattle painter Ivey, along with Randlett's Portrait, a baiting collection of 88 photographs capturing members of the local arts community. Wright Exhibition Space, 407 Dexter Ave N, 264-8200. Open run.
REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE RE-SEW
Seattle Central Community College's apparel design program explores sustainability as inspiration, combining salvaged materials and used clothing in a showcase echoing Seattle's supposed interest in the "hip yet ecologically responsible lifestyle." M. Rosetta Hunter Art Gallery, Seattle Central Community College, 1701 Broadway Ave, 344-4379. Through Nov 21.
MATTHEW PORTER, SUZANNE TRUMAN
Truman's textural abstractions capturing reflections of age and wear, along with Matthew "Pow Kid" Porter's paintings of circus performers. Opening reception Sat Nov 2, 6-10 pm. Pound Gallery, 1216 10th Ave, 323-0557. Through Nov 24.
CONTINUING EXHIBITIONS
* BIG TIME
Final week. The final Vital 5 show before an open-ended hiatus, with Randy McCoy, Robert Hardgrave, Robert Adams, Greg Lukens, and Zach Corum converging for one last Pop Art blowout. Vital 5 Productions, 2200 Westlake Ave, 254-0475. Through Oct 31.
* DAVID BELISLE
Community anti-icon Wilum Pugmire serves as muse for a series of larger-than-life portraits documenting the many life stages of the drag-queen-turned-practicing-Mormon. Cyclops, 2421 First Ave, 441-1677. Through Nov 30.
JOE BRUBAKER
Final week. Brubaker and his creepy wooden figurines stumble into Caligari country with The Somnambulists, in carved wood and acrylic. Grover/Thurston Gallery, 309 Occidental Ave S, 223-0816. Through Nov 2.
DE M:XICO: OAXACA/SEATTLE
As with everything of Mexican origin, the print art of Oaxaca is naturally described as "rich with tradition." In correlation with SAM's Mexican Modernism exhibit, De México combines the art of this singular Mexican community with that of Seattle artists of Mexican descent. Seattle Art Museum Rental/Sales Gallery, 1334 First Ave, 748-9282. Through Nov 9.
* LANNY DeVUONO, GEORGE CHACONA
Final week. Landscapes that refuse to give in to any attempt to nostalgize, eulogize, or metaphorize. Esther Claypool Gallery, 617 Western Ave, 264-1586. Through Nov 2.
FRIENDLY SURROUNDINGS
Prominently featured are the works of Blake Haygood, whose drypoint monotypes are most clearly read as images of impossible machines that are also broken--imagined objects made common, and therefore artistically revelatory. Also featuring works by Shawn Beesley, Larry Bemm, Jaq Chartier, and many more. University House at Wallingford, 4400 Stone Way N, 545-8400. Through Feb 6.
* VICTORIA HAVEN, SUSAN DORY
Haven restricts her ambit to repeating shapes made out of office supplies (tape, white-out, carbon paper); Dory's deep, interesting paintings are almost patterned, but deflect from regularity in ways that suggest a system gone awry, or bugged to begin with. The thrill is quiet, but thrilling nonetheless. Howard House, 2017 Second Ave, 256-6399. Through Nov 30.
NORMAN LUNDIN
Final week. New works demonstrating Lundin's cold, largely monochromatic palette--evoking skillfully the singularly Northwestern light of winter. Francine Seders Gallery, 6701 Greenwood Ave N, 782-0355. Through Nov 3.
* JAMES MARTIN
Paintings that are funny and colorful with a distinctly unsafe feel. Foster/White Gallery, 126 Central Way, Kirkland, 425-622-2833. Through Nov 10.
* MATT McCARTHY
Final week. A bed of matted text--dissected, entangled, and reconfigured beyond recognition--becomes merely another visual component of the arresting, simplistic line drawings that make up McCarthy's Lexicon. King County Art Gallery, 506 Second Ave, Suite 200, 296-7580. Through Nov 1.
MATTHEW R. McCARTHY
Final week. Not to be confused with the Matt McCarthy listed above (which we of course did some weeks ago), whose show is also ending this week. Alibi Room, 85 Pike St, 623-3180. Through Nov 6.
GENE McVARISH
Final week. Guns and bunnies, guns and calligraphy, guns and more guns. Zeitgeist, 171 S Jackson, 583-0497. Through Nov 6.
LAMONT MUDD
Final week. Pop culture and other fleeting sensations, captured in painting. Kuhlman, 2419 First Ave, 441-1999. Through Nov 3. Also, Fallout Records, 1506 E Olive Way, 323-2662.
* ANTJUAN ODEN, BOOTSY HOLLER
Final week. Pink and Brown (the show, not the band) represents the work of Seattle's most dangerous or misunderstood artist (depending on who you ask), Antjuan Oden; a series of "Tar Baby doll" sculptures (brown) contrasts with Holler's rose prints and paintings (pink). 619 Western Ave, fourth floor. Through Nov 3.
RESPONSIVE ENVIRONMENTS
Final week. A handful of lofty concepts that seem to relate to the popular question of technology and modern living space. Fisher Gallery, Cornish College of the Arts, 710 E Roy St, 726-5142. Through Nov 2.
RICHARD REZAC
Final week. Straining visual perception and physics, Rezac's mathematical sculptures are a practice of tension--in material, in form, and in stability. James Harris Gallery, 309A Third Ave S, 903-6220. Through Nov 2.
* SCATTERED, SMOTHERED & COVERED
An IHOP-inspired collection of works by 25 American artists from all stretches of the country. Garde Rail Gallery, 4860 Rainier Ave S, 721-0107. Through Nov 30.
* MICHAEL SCHULTHEIS
Arithmetic never looked so damn pretty. Ballard Fetherston Gallery, 818 E Pike St, 322-9440. Through Nov 9.
SEATTLE COLLECTS 2002
This year's inductees into the city's portable works collection include Leo Saul Berk, Phillip Roach, Charlotte Meyer, Cathy Fields, Catherine Grisez, and Jason Morgan. City Space, 701 Fifth Ave, third floor, 749-9525. Through Dec 31.
* GREG STUMP
Urban Hipster illustrator and Stranger cartoonist Stump presents a collection of his clean-lined, comedic illustrations. Glo's, 1621 E Olive Way, 783-3426. Through Dec 8.
* JOHN SUTTON, BEN BERES, ZAC CULLER
Sutton, Beres, and Culler have built four plywood structures that invoke a small, pre-fab house in negative space. Like previous installations, they are not instinctively easy to penetrate: The insides can only be broached through rather narrow openings on each side. The show suggests questions not only about claustrophobia and movement, but also free will and knowingly participating in being manipulated. (Emily Hall) Suyama Space, 2324 Second Ave, 256-0809. Through Dec 6.
THAT'S LIFE
Teens challenging social perceptions, or something. As curated by the altogether dependable Cathy McClure. Triangle Gallery, Downtown YMCA, 909 Fourth Ave, 382-5044. Through Nov 12.
UNBUCKLED
Featuring the works of Jana Brevik, Lauren Holloway, Susanne Pugh, and Leslie Teich (among others), the independent design collective known as Damsel exploits Seattle's waistline fetish with an exhibition of the clasps and hooks that keep our pants up. Damsel Collective, 2222 Second Ave S, Suite 100, 374-8669. Through Nov 30.
NEIL VANDERVLOED
A giant cartoonish composite made up of 1,000 individual square paintings, composed over the last two years. 1415 Gallery, 1415 10th Ave, second floor, 353-2556. Through Nov 25.
EVENTS
BURNINGHEARTS
One night only. Another edition of the rambunctious BurningHearts artists' markets, complete with a little T&A. Featuring works by Sam Trout, Steve Norman, and Erin Norlin, a fashion show by Cherry Bomb Designs, and a burlesque performance. Rendezvous, 2320 Second Ave, 898-9067. Sat Nov 2, 6-10 pm, with burlesque performances at 9:30 pm and 10:30 pm. Free, $7 for burlesque performance.
* RUMMAGE
The value of this highbrow flea market of local artists and designers is twofold: On top of providing an immediate support system for talented locals, it allows us lazy laymen more artistic bang for our proverbial buck. Also: Christmas is coming! Nation Gallery, 1921 Fifth Ave, 374-9492. Sun Nov 3, noon-4 pm.