BELLEVUE ART MUSEUM
510 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, 425-454-3322
*LUMINOUS LIG*T AS MATERIAL MEDIUM AND METAP*OR
Light as architectural element is one of Steven Holl's most famous tropes, and this exhibition was assembled to examine it further. It happily includes work by some of the artists you would expect to be represented: Dan Flavin, Joseph Kosuth, Tokihiro Sato, and Iole Allesandrini. Through June 17.
CENTER ON CONTEMPORARY ART (CoCA)
410 Terry Ave N (inside Consolidated Works), 728-1980
NORTHWEST ANNUAL 2001
The show the provides the grist for the yearly gripe-fest. Come see what Michael Sweney (director of the Charles Cowles Gallery in New York) thinks is the best we have to offer. Opening reception Fri May 25, 7 pm-midnight, with music by the Metal Men. Through July 31.
CONSOLIDATED WORKS
410 Terry Ave N, 381-3218
*NOTICE OF PROPOSED LAND USE ACTION
Bye-bye, building. As a grand farewell to the temporary space, ConWorks commissioned site-specific work by 10 artists, each of whom will address the building itself, either through objects found within it, drawings outside it, or--in the case of New York artist Shannon Kennedy--looking through its innards with endoscopic cameras. Other artists are Dan Corson, Patrick Holderfield, Bret Marion, Jennifer McNeely, Brad Miller, Jesse Paul Miller, David Nechak, Matthew Picton, and Susan Robb. Through July 8.
HENRY ART GALLERY
15th Ave NE at NE 41st St, 543-2280
MASTER OF FINE ARTS 2001
Work by UW's graduate students in sculpture, fibers, printmaking, metals, painting, photography, design, and ceramics. Opening reception Fri May 25, 5-8 pm. Through June 17.
THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF JOHN GUTMANN: CULTURE SHOCK
Images from the '30s through the '50s selected by the photographer before his death in 1998 comprise this exhibition of American street life. Through May 27.
ALEXIS ROCKMAN: FUTURE EVOLUTION
What happens when the natural is subject to continual and careless tinkering? New York artist Rockman puts genetic engineering in the crosshairs, and his aim is dead-on. Part meticulous Audubon illustration, part horror show, these paintings show us what kinds of flora and fauna might evolve (and therefore survive) in the terribly compromised circumstances we're creating on Earth. Through August 19.
*S*ORT STORIES
A series of rotating exhibitions that includes work from the permanent collection commissioned projects, and installations. Over the course of the next year, the North Galleries will feature art by Ernesto Neto, George Stoll, Chris Finley, and other recognized and under-known artists. Through May 12, 2002.
SEATTLE ART MUSEUM
100 University St, 654-3100
SEWN
Sculpture by six local artists (Rachel Brumer, David Chatt, Alison Gates, Wendy Hanson, Sara Lanzillotta, and Keith Yurdana) who work with textiles and sewing. Through July 22.
TREASURES FROM A LOST CIVILIZATION: ANCIENT CHINESE ART FROM SICHUAN
You wonder if archaeology will someday become obsolete, that we'll eventually run out of artifacts to find. But then there's the discovery of a site like Sanxingdui, that 14 years ago began to give up its treasure to the eyes of the world: relics in bronze, jade, and clay from the 13th century B.C. to the third century A.D. These are wondrous, mysterious pieces--weapons, totems, vessels--the uses for which are still mostly unknown. The show is the culmination of five years' work by Jay Xu, SAM's Foster Foundation Curator of Chinese Art, and is the first large-scale U.S. exhibition of the archaeological finds (it goes on to the Kimbell Art Museum in Texas and the Metropolitan in New York). The patient anthropological guesswork goes on. Through Aug 12.
SEATTLE ASIAN ART MUSEUM
1400 E Prospect St, Volunteer Park, 654-3100
*T*E EMBODIED IMAGE C*INESE CALLIGRAP*Y FROM T*E JO*N B. ELLIOTT COLLECTION
There really isn't any equivalent of calligraphy in American culture--a merging of art and poetry that is highly revered in Chinese culture. Elliott's collection, one of the best outside Asia, includes scrolls, album leaves, and other works, 70 of which are on view in this exhibition. Through May 27.
WRIGHT EXHIBITION SPACE
407 Dexter Ave N, 264-8200
*T*E WRIG*T COLLECTION
Robin Wright Moll has selected works from all her family members' collections to ruminate on the idea of the Duchampian destabilization of art. Some of the high points include Andy Warhol's Oxidation (in which unspecified persons urinated on a canvas covered in metallic paint), an enormous Sol LeWitt wall drawing, and a set of Carlos Mollura's plastic pillows. Through August 11.
OPENING EXHIBITIONS
KYNAN ANTOS
New work, in a series of portraits (both paint and multi-media) entitled Skin Deep. Opening reception Wed May 30, 8-10 pm. Nation, 1921 Fifth Ave, 374-9492. Through June 24.
CONTINUING EXHIBITIONS
THOMAS ALBRECHT, DYLAN MOSLEY, CLAUDE ZERVAS
Abstract work, in both drawing and sculpture. King County Art Gallery, 506 Second Ave, Room 200, 296-7580. Through May 31.
PETER BILL
If you're reading this now, you've missed the four-day exhibition of Bill's video installation Magdalena's Window, but you can still see the paintings and digital prints it inspired. Bill's video work uses time lapse and fish-eye lenses to slow down and distort urban landscapes, and his painting is similarly inspired. Nico Gallery, 619 Western Ave, Second Floor, 264-1710. Through May 28.
WELDON BUTLER
Prints and drawings from one of Seattle's sparest geometric artists. Visual Abstractions, 1130 34th St. Through May 26.
*DAN CLOWES C*RIS WARE
What's not to love about this pair of pop-culture luminaries? Between them they've changed the visual language of comics: Clowes (Eightball, Ghost World) with his portraits of alienated men saddled by specific sexual cravings and Ware (Jimmy Corrigan) with his tiny-framed, slow-paced stories. Knowing their work is de rigeur for anyone interested in the area that comics and art share. Roq la Rue, 2224 Second Ave, 374-8977. Through June 2.
BEN DRURY
Album sleeves and limited-edition toys. Houston, 907 E Pike St, 860-7820. Through June 2.
BETSY EBY
New encaustic diptychs--the seam between the two pieces becomes a very physical split, a kind of lightning bolt through Eby's abstract fields. Ballard Fetherston Gallery, 818 E Pike St, 322-9440. Through June 6.
DAVID ECKARD
Some kind of ritual happened here--but what? Eckard has created an arena with a series of conceptual question marks. Suyama Space, 2324 Second Ave, 256-0809. Through June 8.
*LEIV FAGERENG
Welcome to the Quicksand Years showcases Fagereng's odd vision of the times--the world and our impact on it. Vital 5 Productions, 2200 Westlake Ave, 254-0475. Through June 4.
FORCEMASSVOLUME
The fifth show from Artdrill, with work from over 120 members. Sand Point Naval Base, 7400 Sand Point Way NE, Building 11. Through May 27.
*C*RISTIAN FRENC* MEGAN MURP*Y
French has created a model for the gamble of art, with an installation made of lottery tickets. Viewers are invited to contribute to a kitty for more tickets, and the winnings will be split three ways--between the artist, gallery, and purchaser. With paintings by Murphy, in a series entitled Flesh. Eyre/Moore Gallery, 913 Western Ave, 624-5596. Through June 2.
MICHAEL GESINGER, PHYLLIS UITTI-MASLIN, TERRY VINE
Photography pulled in three directions: hand-colored (Gesinger), collaged with needle and thread (Uitti-Maslin), and foreign/narrative (Vine). Benham Photography Studio/Gallery, 1216 First Ave, 622-6383. Through June 14.
*WENDY *ANSON
A window installation by Hanson, whose work is featured in SAM's Sewn show. Entitled Horn of Plenty--Memorial for a Weary Economy, this work uses discarded clothing and thread to meditate on things lost and changed. SAM Rental Sales Gallery, 1334 First Ave, 654-3183. Through July 15.
HEARD SAID
Artist Stuart Keeler has interviewed and recorded the stories and sounds of immigrants and turned them into a sound and sculpture installation. Jack Straw New Media Gallery, 4261 Roosevelt Way NE, 634-0919. Through May 31.
*BILL JACOBSON DOUG KEYES
Jacobson uses the out-of-focus photograph to redefine seeing. From Keyes, more of his very cool book pictures--every page photographed and superimposed into one very condensed, but somehow ethereal image. G. Gibson Gallery, 122 S Jackson, Suite 200, 587-4033. Through June 2.
JESUS SAYS BUY MORE FOLK ART
It's not just an excellent exhibition title; it's jazzy folk art from New Orleans. The artists are Sainte-James Boudrot, Charles Gillam, Reginald Mitchell, and "Big Al" Taplet. Garde Rail Gallery, 4750 35th Ave S, 760-3720. Through May 26.
DAVID C. KANE, GLENN RUDOLPH
Kane's Book of Physiognomy is a series of 192 small monoprint portraits created, according to the artist, in an improvisational mood. From Rudolph, the landscapes and lifestyles of rural Washington State. Esther Claypool Gallery, 617 Western Ave, 264-1586. Through June 2.
NORIKO KATO
Traditional Sumi art. Art/Not Terminal Gallery, 2045 Westlake Ave, 233-0680. Through June 7.
STEFAN KNORR, JENNIFER DIXON, CHRISTOPHER BUENING
Go back to the little video room for Knorr's Dining Table; the video screens at its four place settings serve up delicious images every 30 seconds. Frustrating! With assembled works in sculpture and two-dimensions from Dixon and Buening. Commencement Art Gallery, 902 Commerce St, Tacoma, 253-591-2002. Through June 14.
I.H. KUNIYUKI
Silver-print images from Kuniyuki's performance work. Mary Vitold Gallery, 110 S Washington St, 624-9336. Through June 2.
MARC LAWRENCE
Light sculpture! Velocity Art and Design, 2206 Queen Anne Ave N, #201, 781-9494. Through June 30.
MARGIE LIVINGSTON
Abstract work based on the observation of a thicket of trees and vines. SOIL Artist Cooperative, 1205 E Pike, 264-8061. Through May 27.
JOHANNA NITZKE MARQUIS, MAYME KRATZ
Collages from Nitzke; cast resin sculpture from Kratz. Elliott Brown Gallery, 215 Westlake Ave N, 340-8000. Through May 26.
CAMERON MARTIN
Martin plays with landscape painting by altering the very things that allow us to identify it. Horizons disappear, foreground and background shift, and distance is relative. The use of iridescent and industrial paints further complicates his take on a stale old genre. Howard House, 2017 Second Ave, 256-6399. Through June 9.
NIKI POLYOCAN
New photography in a series entitled Los Ninos de Sayulita. Rose Club Cafe, 3601 McClellan St, 725-3654. Through May 31.
PRINT SHOW THE FIRST
New gallery! The inaugural show features West Coast printmakers, with an emphasis on letterpress. Cracked Compass Productions, 2129 Third Ave, 770-5900. Through June 30.
MELANIE REED
Landscapes collaged from found images--the surreal, dreamy nature comes right to the surface. Little Theatre, 608 19th Ave E, 675-2055. Through June 30.
LAURIE REID
The faintest of marks--watercolor with only a trace of pigment--takes the act of painting down to pure gesture. James Harris Gallery, 309A Third Ave S, 903-6220. Through June 9.
*P*IL ROAC*
Tiny perfect environments seen through a fish-eye lens. Nico Gallery, 619 Western, Second Floor, 264-1710. Through June 3.
TANYA ROESIJADI, RANDY WOOD
Purrponius is the name of Roesijadi's emissary (through painting) into this strange world. He's part cat, part lizard, with a fuzzy demeanor and a forked tongue. Wood's installation uses work based on his comic book series Kitties!!! Do you sense a theme here? Pound Gallery, 1216 10th Ave, 323-0557. Through May 27.
*AMY RUEFFERT
Luminous vessels are just the beginning in a show called Beyond Tupperware. Rueffert has created a kind of domestic fantasy based on the colors of a set of Tupperware spoons; her vision is generous enough to include a bunny with switchable tails, little sweaters for the bottles, and a patio chair upholstered in stripes from the same palette. Bubba-Mavis Gallery, 1158 Eastlake Ave E, 405-3223. Through May 31.
JANICE TOULOUSE SHINGWAAK, LEONARD BEAM
In The Traveling Alter Native Medicine Show, Toulouse Shingwaak and Beam document their journey to sacred and historical sites across Canada and the United States with rubbings of objects from those sites. Sacred Circle Gallery of American Indian Art, Daybreak Star Arts Center, Discovery Park, 285-4425. Through Aug 14.
SAUNDRA VALENCIA, BRENDA SCALLON, ALICIA BERGER
In the front room, Valencia's mixed media lightboxes. In the "parlour," there's a video installation by Scallon and Berger. Black Lab Gallery, 5208 Ballard Ave NW, 781-2392. Through June 6.
*KARA WALKER
It doesn't come much more discomfiting than this. Walker's silhouettes show us slave narratives that are (somehow) both horrific and whimsical. Are these stories repressed by history? A personal expression of Walker's experience as a black woman? Greg Kucera Gallery, 212 Third Ave S, 624-0770. Through June 2.
FRITZ WESTMAN
Pushpins, road paint, and photocopies transformed into conceptual objects. Li'l Red Shack Gallery, 1028 First Ave S, 621-7807. Through June 30.
EVENTS
WHAT DID YOU SEE?
A closing party for a two-week multi-media collaboration between Nu Tribes and Arts411. The artists involved are Roger Mitchell, Kip Miller, Elizabeth Johnson, Roderick Caldwell, Mecca, Jeff Joseph, Cyreeta Mitchell, and Eddie Hill; the topic is racial symbology, identity, and the visual process that interprets it all. Independent Media Center, 1415 Third Ave, 262-0721. Sat May 26, 6 pm-midnight.
