The big contemporary art show of the season opens tonight, a traveling exhibition called The Talent Show—exploring our obsession with being seen, whether on Facebook or reality TV, or by government surveillance devices. To celebrate what will surely be an exuberant and creepy gathering of photographs, sculptures, and installations (originally organized by Minneapolis’s Walker Art Center), the Henry Art Gallery is throwing a party with food, drinks, a green-screen dance scene just waiting for your intervention, a costume contest to be judged by The Stranger‘s own David Schmader, and a performance by Tender Forever. See, be seen. (Henry Art Gallery, 4100 15th Ave NE, 543-2280, 8–10 pm, $12)
Jen Graves (The Stranger’s former arts critic) mostly writes about things you approach with your eyeballs. But she’s also a history nerd interested in anything that needs more talking about, from male... More by Jen Graves
Or, if you’re in Fremont, you could check out the First Friday Art Walk, enjoy the new mural repainting of the N 38th underpass at Aurora, and do free DIY art at the Fremont Arts Council booth next to Lenin – you know, the non-profit (tax deductible) that puts on the Fremont Solstice Parade and the post-parade Giant Puppet event at Gasworks (this year they have a wine and beer garden there, with local brews).
Sunday is free admission for moms at Seattle Art Museum.