1420 11th Ave, 728-1980.
* CROSSROADS: NEW ART FROM THE NORTHWEST
Despite the obligatory hollow title, Crossroads, as culled by Microsoft Collection curator Michel Klein, represents the works of some pretty able creators--namely, the likes of Claire Cowie, Casey Keeler, Gaylen Hansen, and more. Through April 30.
CONSOLIDATED WORKS
500 Boren Ave N, 860-5245.
* SORTA
Featuring work by Carl Fudge, Pat Boas, Jeremy Boyle, Larry Cwik, Jesse Paul Miller, Phil Roach, and the wonderful, undershown Sarah Morris. "This is a show about artists' tendencies, about how they apply the filter of the mind to the chaos of the world. This is a show about systems as perfect as they are absurd. This is a show that shows how like is not always like. This is a show that bowls so perfectly up my alley that I want to put it in a blender and make a milkshake." (Emily Hall) Through March 23.
FIFTH ANNUAL ALTOIDScolor="#FF0000">* CURIOUSLY STRONG COLLECTION
Don't write this off as yet another corporate attempt to build cred in the art world--it's really quite good. The murderous kitty video is particularly addictive (like a certain boxed mint). Through March 23.
HENRY ART GALLERY
15th Ave NE & NE 41st St, 543-2280.
* BRIAN JUNGEN
Vancouver artist Jungen takes the dreary model of consumerism--from lawn furniture to tennis shoes--and reconfigures it into the exotic in his first stateside solo exhibition. Through May 25.
OPENING EXHIBITIONS
ANATOMICALLY CORRECT
Members of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators exhibit works meant primarily as meticulously crafted representations of the biological world, but what are at root revelations of classic beauty. Opening reception Thurs March 13, 6-9 pm. Kirkland Arts Center, 620 Market St, 425-822-7161. Through April 4.
JOHN DUGDALE
A visually impaired photographer (and no, that isn't a punch line), Dugdale uses large-format cameras and archaic processes to craft eerily timeless, otherworldly images. Opening reception Sat March 15, 4-6 pm. G. Gibson Gallery, 514 E Pike St, 587-4033. Through April 26.
INTRODUCTIONS 2003
Awkward first impressions and stiff handshakes: Meet nine artists new to the gallery, including Katy Stone, Brian Murphy, Shane Carpenter, Julia Haack, Pam Keeley, Margie Livingston, Lance Morrison, Stephen O'Donnell, and Cathy Woo. Opening reception Thurs March 13, 5-7 pm. Seattle Art Museum Rental/Sales Gallery, 1334 First Ave, 654-3240. Through April 12.
GEO LASTOMIRSKY
Subtle sculpture in small-scale, with forms of flesh and nature. Gulassa & Co, Inc., 10 Dravus St, 283-1810. Through April 7.
* WOMEN WHO ROCK PHOTOGRAPHY
Rock photography at its worst is a predictable way of garnering oneself some parasitic prestige at rock shows, elbowing your way to the front of the audience with a camera bag as social license to take the same static snapshots of some dumbass with a guitar that we've all seen thousands of times. At its best, as with the works of this show, it serves to define the aesthetic and energy of its subject with the gravity of the moment. With works by Alice Wheeler, Bootsy Holler, Robin Laananen, and Victoria Renard, among many others. Vera Project, 1916 Fourth Ave, 956-VERA. Through March 31.
CONTINUING EXHIBITIONS
PAUL BUTZI, DAVID CLARRIDGE
Shootin' buddies Butzi and Clarridge present coastal photographs in two divergent styles, often while photographing the same subject. Artemis Gallery, 3107 S Day St, 323-0562. Through March 29.
COUPLING
Ten strangers--five students, five Seattle artists--are paired, allotted 50 dollars and 28 days, and instructed to collaborate on a series of pieces. These are those pieces. University of Washington, CMA Gallery, 4205 Mary Gates Memorial Dr, 543-0178. Through March 16.
* MORRIS GRAVES, ALICE WHEELER
The specter of Northwest Mystics (or "The Family," as I like to call them) continues its ironfisted reign of terror over Seattle well after their deaths, with another major exhibition of Graves' paintings and drawings. Also featuring three documentary suites by longtime Stranger photographer Wheeler on her most famous subject, Kurt Cobain. Greg Kucera Gallery, 212 Third Ave S, 624-0770. Through March 29.
* JON HADDOCK
The strangely omniscient images of Haddock, with their reality reduced to screen-resolution stop-action, this time with a special interest in the political as well as the comical. Howard House, 2017 Second Ave, 256-6399. Through April 5.
JENNIFER HARRISON
In the first in its Blame Canada series, Garde Rail presents the paintings of self-taught (and apparently sane) "outsider" Canuck Harrison. Garde Rail Gallery, 4860 Rainier Ave S, 721-0107. Through March 29.
* ILLUSTRIOUS
Okay, so you sold out. You sell your soul to publications that sandwich your painstaking, blood-soaked art between detergent ads and editorial content about J.Lo's ass. But there is just some art that they can't take away. Thankfully Roq la Rue offers you the intellectual gallery setting you so clearly deserve. Featuring commercial artists Tim Silbaugh, Chuck Demorat, Tony Kieme, and The Stranger's own Joe Newton getting their personal expression on. Roq la Rue Gallery, 2316 Second Ave, 374-8977. Through March 29.
ISMS
A doctrine of... something. The Isms show--in correlation with Ladyfest Seattle--explores the motivating passions of women. Featuring such artists as Amy Stevens, Dhrista Donner, and Tomiko Jones. Pound Gallery, 1216 10th Ave, 323-0557. Through March 31.
HEIDI L. KIRKPATRICK
Armed with a simple, plastic Holga camera, Kirkpatrick records her travels from plane windows--replacing the routine view with something somehow mystic. Photographic Center Northwest, 900 12th Ave, 720-7222. Through March 30.
MUSIC SEEN
Winston Wächter opens its walls to a whole mess of rock photos from EMP's collection, offering a welcome dose of the 20th century. Winston Wächter Fine Art, 403 Dexter Ave N, 652-5855. Through May 6.
* KLAVIER NONETTE
An installation of nine antique toy pianos souped up with electromechanics and programmed with compositions commissioned specifically for the exhibition. Bring a quarter for their jukebox-coaxed mechanisms, and immerse yourself in clang. Jack Straw Productions, 4261 Roosevelt Way NE, 634-0919. Through April 27.
KAZUO KADONAGA
Installations of material--wood, paper, bamboo, and glass--that embrace natural process as an intrinsic element of structure. Suyama Space, 2324 Second Ave, 256-0809. Through April 11.
NAME THAT PRONOUN!
Um, "it"? Joon Miette's take on gender identity, with the help of such notables as Nikki McClure (swoon), Storme Webber, Bootsy Holler, Irit Reinheimer, and JT Bunnell. Aftermath Gallery, 928 12th Ave, 709-9797. Through March 31.
NEW MEMBER SHOW
The recent inductees have been through their hazing ceremonies, and are now welcomed with open walls. With works by Stefano Catalani, Jana Brevick, Helen Curtis, Claire Johnson, and Jodi Rockwell. Soil Gallery, 1317 E Pine St, 264-8061. Through March 30.
* LAURIE REID
"Laurie Reid's work reveals how much can happen in a single dot of paint, and the relative merits of deliberation and accident." (Emily Hall) James Harris Gallery, 309A Third Ave S, 903-6220. Through March 15.
ASHLEY THORNER
Pliable, plastic pods, rooted in queries of efficiency and science fiction. King County Art Gallery, 506 Second Ave, Suite 200, second floor, 296-7580. Through March 29.
WE ARE NOT ALONE
Art as narcissism: In the gallery's premier juried show, SAW opens its doors to over 70 artists turning the mirror on themselves to celebrate vanity in a variety of media. Secluded Alley Works, 113 12th Ave, 839-0880. Through March 23.
EVENTS
THE ADVENTURES OF LUCY FUR & NATALIA
One night only. Stereo photography gone dirty: Part of the obsolete media weekend, Little Theatre presents a three-dimensional slideshow, with live burlesque performance to follow. Sat March 15 at 9:30 and 11 pm. Little Theatre, 610 19th Ave E, 329-2629, $TK.
