1420 11th Ave, 728-1980.

2002 NORTHWEST ANNUAL

Curated by Linda Farris, with work by lots of talented people you've heard of, and haven't. Through July 13.

HENRY ART GALLERY

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

* SHORT STORIES

In splendorform, Seattle artist Elizabeth Jameson contrasts exaggerated fashion elements of the past (corsets, bustle cages, etc.) with her own absurdist works. The Photographic Impulse uses 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 media. 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.

OPENING EXHIBITIONS

BRIAN BOUSMAN, KATIE KADWELL, WEYLIN McGRAW

Randomized features members of the Secluded Alley Works crew, on loan during that space's July construction. A mishmash of photographs, photomontage, and paintings. Penny Gallery, 1707 NW Market St, 784-6426. Through Aug 10.

KRIS HOGLUND

A show about nothing? God, that sounds familiar. Opening reception Sat July 13, 7-10 pm. Art/Not Terminal Gallery, 2045 Westlake Ave, 233-0680. Through Aug 8.

KREEPY KRAFTS

Dry macaroni, Elmer's glue, and the occult. Works by the Iron Maiden fan in your Arts and Crafts class. Also featuring new paintings by Sean Miller. Opening reception Fri July 12, 6-10 pm. Roq la Rue, 2224 Second Ave, 374-8977. Through Aug 2.

PERSONAL VIEWPOINTS

Juried by Michael Kenna (here plugging his current exhibition at G. Gibson), the Seventh Annual Photographic Competition Exhibition features 80 images that best illustrate the titular umbrella concept. Opening reception Fri July 12, 7:30-9:30 pm. Photographic Center Northwest, 900 12th Ave, 720-7222. Through Aug 30.

CONTINUING EXHIBITIONS

3 INSTALLATIONS

The pharmaceutically inclined among us should check out David George's Pills, a collection of photograms using discarded blister packs as subjects. Also featuring completely unrelated works by Jon Gierlich and Bradd Skubinna. Artist discussion Sun July 14. Francine Seders Gallery, 6701 Greenwood Ave N, 782-0355. Through July 21.

AMBASSADORS OF COLOR

The first annual show spotlighting members of the ArtsWest Artists Association. Runnings Family Gallery, ArtsWest, 4711 California Ave SW, 938-0963 ext. 107. Through July 27.

JOHN BISBEE

Three Tons refers quite literally to the amount of material shaped by the artist into large, prickly sculptural landscapes. In this case, it's three tons of nails. Suyama Space, 2324 Second Ave, 256-0809. Through Aug 16.

* CAROL BOLT

We usually expect Bolt to gather the fragments of the world into understandable assemblage--whether with Starlight Peppermints, cryptic kiosk poetry, or questions and answers. With Eight Is Great she compresses her generous three-dimensionality into a series of layered illustrations on acetate. Pound Gallery, 1216 10th Ave, 323-0557. Through July 21.

CATHERINE COOK

New paintings. Zeitgeist, 171 S Jackson, 583-0497. Through Aug 7.

* CLAIRE COWIE

Reviewed this issue. James Harris Gallery, 309A Third Ave S, 903-6220. Through Aug 3.

JENNIFER DAYDREAMER

Illustrations by the independent comic artist. Glo's, 1621 East Olive Way, 529-2735. Through July 20.

TONY de los REYES

In his paintings, de los Reyes focuses on details from baroque and rococo decorative art; blown up and rendered in lavishly applied paint, they become abstract signifiers of desire. Howard House, 2017 Second Ave, 256-6399. Through July 20.

DAVID de VILLIER

Tranquil Sounds and Silent Drifts combines de Villier's theatrical works with acrylics, ceramics, and bronze sculpture. Linda Hodges Gallery, 316 First Ave S, 624-3034. Through July 27.

FORGOTTEN WORKS CHALLENGE

Here's an interesting idea: What do you get when you give artists 30 days to complete 30 individual pieces, each to be sold for $30? Give up? Yeah, I don't really know either. Forgotten Works Gallery, 619 Western Ave, fourth floor, 343-7212. Through July 27.

GRAHAM FRACHA, BRAD CAPLIS

Fracha sketches images of interior design elements with oil on wood and canvas. Caplis works with acrylics to create impressions of images through large dots. Artemis Gallery, 3107 S Day St, 323-0562. Through July 31.

* KATHRYN GLOWEN

A scaled-down version of Glowen's excellent Petland: the investigation of a life through possessions. Phinney Center Gallery, 6532 Phinney Ave, 783-2244. Through July 13.

GRADE

The first of a series in which artists will be challenged to create art in response to a single word. With work by Kipling West, Laurel Anderson, Elizabeth Jameson, Robert Rini, Neil Bashor, Jan Haag, and Arleann Lourdes. Otis Café, 1005 Boren Ave, 342-9866. Through July 28.

ROBERT HARDGRAVE

An outdoor sculpture called Farmaceutical. Post Alley Sculpture Garden, 1417 Post Alley. Through Aug 10.

ERIC HUEBSCH AND ANDY ROSEN

A mixed-media installation that, judging from the press release, defies coherent description. Bubba-Mavis Gallery, 1158 Eastlake Ave E, 406-3223. Through July 12.

"IT'S JUST LIKE THE MOVIES": THE SEQUEL

Independence Day brings another look at the direct artistic response to 9/11. Artists on exhibit include Gary Berg, Erica Enders, Keith Tabellione, and Alan Rushing, and others. Li'l Red Shack Gallery, 1028 First Ave S, 856-6555. Through Aug 11.

AARON JASINSKI, RACHAEL PEACOCK

Jasinski paints in a style reminiscent of contemporary children's literature illustration. Peacock works in mixed media on canvas. Aurafice Café, 616 & 612 E Pine St, 860-9977. Through July 31.

MICHAEL KENNA

Japan features new photographic work from, well, Japan. G. Gibson Gallery, 122 S Jackson, #200, 587-4033. Through Aug 17.

CAROLYN KRIEG, LAUREN GROSSMAN

Krieg's work combines found photographs, hand and digital manipulation, and darkroom trickery to produce strikingly rich chromogenic images. Grossman's sculptures contrast mechanics and religious metaphor. Esther Claypool Gallery, 617 Western Ave, 264-1586. Through July 27.

YUKI KUNIYUKI JR. AND I. H. KUNIYUKI

Photographic grab bag acting as a dialogue between two long-lost relatives. Reception July 17, 5:30-7:30 pm. M. Rosetta Hunter Art Gallery, Seattle Central Community College, 1701 Broadway, 344-4379. Through Aug 16.

* KUSTOM SHOE

The Kustom Purse concept is back in this snappy clothing store; this installment features a more time-honored fetish object. Kuhlman, 2419 First Ave, 441-1999. Through Aug 31.

JOHN McQUEEN, RICHARD MARQUIS

Basket-woven sculptures by McQueen, and new glass objects--both crazy and everyday--by the wry and prolific Marquis. Elliott Brown Gallery, 215 Westlake Ave N, 340-8000. Through July 20.

ALEX MITCHELL

Playful wood constructions. Solomon Fine Art, 1215 First Ave, 297-1400. Through July 26.

SHAWN NORDFORS, JAMES MATTEI

Two Cornish grads show off their wares with Nordfors' dioramas built inside of wooden heads, and Mattei's graffiti art for the gallery set. Foster/White Gallery, 123 S Jackson St, 622-2833. Through July 28.

ROUND

SOIL asks the question you thought you knew the answer to: "What does 'round' mean?" Featuring the work of Jana Brevick, Stefan Knorr, Mark Lawrence, Evan Blackwell, and Jack Daws. SOIL Gallery, 1317 E Pine St, 264-8061. Through July 31.

'ROUND MIDNIGHT

Art inspired by music. SAM Rental/Sales Gallery, 1334 First Ave, 654-3240. Through July 13.

SOFTCORE

Inexpensive graphic-designy art. Check out the innocent/generic orifice by Dan Paulus. Area 51, 401 E Pine St, 568-4782. Through July 31.

TAMMY SPEARS

Subtle botanical abstractions. Still Life in Fremont Coffeehouse, 709 N 35th St, 547-9850. Through Aug 4.

KATY STONE

An installation featuring "accumulations"--large works composed of acrylics, inks, and crayons on acetate and translucent paper. Commencement Art Gallery, 902 Commerce, Tacoma, 253-591-5341. Through July 11.

* JOHN TAYLOR

Taylor's ships are phenomenal things: meticulously made from driftwood and bits of old machinery, with tiny obsessive touches involving rulers, lights, and stamps. Garde Rail Gallery, 4860 Rainier Ave S, 721-0107. Through July 27.

MARK TOBEY

Two major collections of Tobey's work are represented in this "important exhibition." Woodside/Braseth Gallery, 1533 Ninth Ave, 622-7243. Through Aug 1.

* ALICE WHEELER

See Stranger Suggests. Greg Kucera Gallery, 212 Third Ave S, 624-0770. Through July 27.

RANDY WOOD

SOIL member exhibits recent romps in illustration, painting, and comics. Victrola Coffee, 411 15th Ave E, 325-6520. Through July 31.

JIM WOODRING

In Drawings Pleasant & Unpleasant, Woodring takes a break from the outlandish color of his brilliant comics work with a collection of complex charcoal drawings. Elliott Bay Café, 101 S Main St, 682-6664. Through Aug 31.

EVENTS

* ONE NIGHT ONLY: 11 SHOWS IN 11 MONTHS

See Stranger Suggests. Fri July 12, 7-11 pm at 321 Third Ave S (between Seattle Lighting and King St Station; look for One Night Only and Lula signs). For information, call 720-9909.