BELLEVUE ART MUSEUM
510 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, 425-454-3322
*LUMINOUS: LIGHT AS MATERIAL, MEDIUM, AND METAPHOR
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
(at Consolidated Works) 410 Terry Ave N, 728-1980
INDEXTERITY
The show's title, laboriously translated from its semiotic roots, signals an inquiry into photography-as-truth, a deconstruction of its authority. In this show: Yauger Yauger, Timothy Ringsmuth (Ms.), Miguel Edwards, Travis Winn, and Deborah Coito. Curated by Dan Kany. Through April 8.
CONSOLIDATED WORKS
410 Terry Ave N, 381-3218
SUBlimina
This new exhibition is the touring Altoids Curiously Strong Collection--tied rather loosely to the Consolidation Series theme of public and private thresholds, but we'll forgive it for bringing some good contemporary work by 25 emerging artists. Through April 8.
FRYE ART MUSEUM
704 Terry Ave, 622-9250
ALLAN ROHAN CRITE
This retrospective includes paintings, watercolors, and drawings by Crite, an African American artist largely ignored by the world until now. Crite--still alive and kicking at 90--focused on his neighborhood in Boston, creating a body of work that dignified ordinary life as he saw it. Through May 6.
HENRY ART GALLERY
15th Ave NE at NE 41st St, 543-2280
*WOLFGANG LAIB: A RETROSPECTIVE
Laib's work resides in the delicate realm of contemplation and nature: pollen sifted into piles and large color field-like squares, "milkstones," forms built of beeswax. This is the first American survey of Laib's work--a touring show that has been shown at the Hirshhorn in Washington D.C. and will travel to San Diego, Houston, and Munich. Through May 6.
PERFORMING PHOTOGRAPHY
Selections from the Joseph and Elaine Monson Photography Collection, chosen by the collection's curator, Michael van Horn. The idea is to demonstrate the medium's flexibility--from documentary to staged, entirely fictitious scenarios--but the upshot is just really good work by some of the best artists around. Through June 3.
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.
PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER
200 Second Ave N, 443-2001
*MATHEMATICA: A WORLD OF NUMBERS... AND BEYOND
The original version of this exhibit, an exploration of mathematics, created by the furniture designers Charles and Ray Eames, was one of the Pacific Science Center's first shows. Through April 29.
SEATTLE ART MUSEUM
100 University St, 654-3100
CREATING PERFECTION: SHAKER OBJECTS AND THEIR AFFINITIES
An exhibition examining the Shaker culture through its furniture, textiles, and tools, as well as photographs, prints, and drawings. A selection of non-Shaker objects shows the influences absorbed, and rejected, by this simplicity-embracing group; an adjacent display of modern works traces a similarly strict formalism that artists use to create structure in the chaotic modern world. Through April 29.
*LANGUAGE LET LOOSE
A tiny little exhibition on the incorporation of text into the visual world. The show's centerpiece is Gary Hill's video installation House of Cards; there's also work by Walker Evans, Ed Ruscha, Alice Wheeler, and a set of Robert Heinecken's Recto/Verso pieces, complete with intelligent but unrelated commentary. Through April 29.
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.
SEATTLE ASIAN ART MUSEUM
1400 E Prospect St, Volunteer Park, 654-3100
*THE EMBODIED IMAGE: CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY FROM THE JOHN 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, seventy of which are on view in this exhibition. Gorgeous! Through May 27.
WING LUKE ASIAN MUSEUM
407 Seventh Ave S, 623-5124
THROUGH OUR EYES
An extensive exhibition of Asian American photography of the Northwest, from journalism to fine art, including the photography of Frank Matsura and the contemporary work of Dean Wong and Jessica Kim. Through April 8.
WRIGHT EXHIBITION SPACE
407 Dexter Ave N, 264-8200
*THE WRIGHT COLLECTION
Virginia and Bagley Wright have devoted one gallery entirely to their great collection of '60s and '70s color-field paintings, and introduced a large David Salle oil and the John Baldessari piece Two Onlookers and Tragedy to the mix. Other highlights include a Robert Longo, Eric Fischl, a huge Warhol Rorschach, and Jules Olitski's Thigh Smoke. Open-ended run.
OPENING EXHIBITIONS
DEBRA BAXTER
Energetic abstractions using layers of paint, ripped canvas, scraping, cutting, and other active effects. Opening reception Sat April 7, 7-10 pm. Art Reach Gallery, 1405 Boylston Ave, 329-2722. Through April 30.
DAVID BRODY
New and selected paintings. Brody's organic shapes look like Crumb on some kind of abstracting acid. Opening reception Thurs April 5, 6-8 pm. Esther Claypool Gallery, 617 Western Ave, 264-1586. Through April 28.
*FANDRA CHANG
Taking the Dada idea of ready-mades to the next odd level, Los Angeles-based Chang uses stock photography which she manipulates to explore issues of repetition and space. A leap from her previous work--abstract painting--but not entirely illogical. Opening reception Thurs April 5, 6-8 pm. James Harris Gallery, 309A Third Ave S, 903-6220. Through April 28.
CONTEMPORARY CZECH PHOTOGRAPHY
An exhibition curated by Eva Králová of the Prague House of Photography. Opening reception Thurs April 5, 6-8 pm. Benham Photography, 1216 First Ave, 622-2480. Through April 28.
CARLA FRAGA
Paired landscape photographs; the places they show might be right next to each other or thousands of miles apart. Opening reception Thurs April 5, 6-8 pm. King County Art Gallery, 506 Second Ave, Room 200, 296-7580. Through April 27.
FUNCTIONAL ART CONTEST
The 12th annual show of art that works. Prizes! Opening reception Sat April 7, 7 pm. Art/Not Terminal Gallery, 2045 Westlake Ave, 233-0680. Through May 3.
GREGORY GRENON
Bright eerie works--painted on glass, in reverse. Opening reception Thurs April 5, 6-8 pm. William Traver Gallery, 110 Union St, Second Floor, 587-6501.
*JON HADDOCK
Life as video game. Haddock takes real-life events (the government grabbing of Elian Gonzales, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.) and imagines them as settings for computer games. Opening reception Thurs April 5, 6-8 pm. Howard House, 2017 Second Ave, 256-6399. Through May 5.
BILL JACOBSON, DOUG KEYES
New work from both artists. Opening reception Sat April 7, 3-5 pm. G. Gibson Gallery, 122 S Jackson, Suite 200, 587-4033. Through May 26.
DAVID KONIGSBERG, NAN JOHNSON
Konigsberg paints surreal ways of flying through the air; in the back gallery are more of Johnson's chairs. Opening reception Fri April 6, 5-8 pm. Ballard/Fetherston Gallery, 818 E Pike St, 322-9440. Through May 2.
SHERRY MARKOVITZ
These works on paper are filled with images of dolls, dummies, masks, and stuffed animals. The doll images use a similar vernacular as Kim Dingle's furious baby girls, but here are expanded to include all kinds of stand-ins for real life. Gallery tour with the artist Sat April 7, noon. Greg Kucera Gallery, 212 Third Ave S, 624-0770. Through April 28.
*SARAH MORRIS
The title of the show is Collected Time, which refers to finding time to make art, and to make art into life. Consequently, Morris' materials are humble life-detritus: envelopes, twist-ties, and bus transfers all transformed through sewing and contrast. Smart, smart stuff. Opening reception Sat April 7, 6-10 pm. Pound Gallery, 1216 10th Ave, 323-0557. Through April 29.
GARY OLIVEIRA
Odd close-ups and awkward cropping creates a pleasingly disjointed sense of story in Oliveira's photographs. Opening reception Fri April 6, 6-8 pm. Photographic Center Northwest, 900 12th Ave, 720-7222. Through April 29.
*OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES
Photography by Tina Barney, Anthony Hernandez, Todd Hido, Tracey Moffatt, and Harrell Fletcher with Jon Rubin. Opening reception Thurs April 5, 6-8 pm. Eyre/Moore Gallery, 913 Western Ave, 624-5596. Through April 28.
EPHRAIM RUSSELL
Curious objects that seem to have a use--the name of the show is User Friendly--but are as inscrutable as they are attractive. Opening reception Fri April 6, 7 pm. Phinney Center Gallery, 6532 Phinney Ave N, 783-2244. Through April 27.
ANNE SIEMS, INEZ STORER
Humans in nature (Siems) and at home (Storer). Opening reception Thurs April 5, 6-8 pm. Grover/Thurston Gallery, 309 Occidental Ave S, 233-0816. Through April 28.
SIX REALLY GREAT ROUND BEAKERS
Collaborative sculpture and architecture by Tyler Cufley, Mark Johnson, Paul Davies, Sean Miller, Jake Woland, and Craig Miller. Opening reception Sat April 7, 7-10 pm. SOIL Artist Cooperative, 1412 12th Ave, 264-8061. Through April 29.
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
A collaboration of NuTribes Art Collective and 411, this performance/installation explores race, identity, and perception. Opening reception Fri April 5, 6 pm-midnight. Independent Media Center, 1415 Third Ave, 262-0721. Through April 30.
*BLAIR WILSON, ANTHONY AUSGANG
Wilson's paintings and illustrations are absolutely eye-popping; he creates them out of thousands and thousands of hand-rendered benday dots. Ausgang's bright cartoon-like paintings are equally trippy. Opening reception Fri April 6, 6-10 pm. Roq la Rue, 2224 Second Ave, 374-9877. Through May 5.
SCOTT WILSON
Disturbing medical images are Wilson's visuals of choice; this series looks closely, oh so closely, at fluid-preserved specimens. Opening reception Thurs April 5, 6-8 pm. Mary Vitold Gallery, 110 S Washington St, 624-9336. Through April 24.
CONTINUING EXHIBITIONS
BEN DRURY
Album sleeves and limited-edition toys. Houston, 907 E Pike St, 860-7820. Through June 2.
CAIO FONSECA
New paintings by the Italian artist in his first Northwest show. Winston Wächter, 403 Dexter Ave, 652-5855. Through April 27.
GODDESS ODALISQUE IDYLL
The female figure translated into object of worship, through oil paintings and prayer mats. Erotic! Black Lab Gallery, 5208 Ballard Ave NW, 781-2392. Through April 11.
HEARD SAID
Artist Stuart Keeler has interviewed and recorded the stories and sounds of immigrants (most of them living in Seattle) and turned them into a sound and sculpture installation. Jack Straw New Media Gallery, 4261 Roosevelt Way NE, 634-0919. Through May 31.
ERIC HILDEBRANDT
Colorful drawings, paintings, and installation. Velocity Art and Design, 2206 Queen Anne Ave N, #201, 781-9494. Through May 12.
INTRODUCTIONS
Work by Rod Appleton, Barbara DePirro, David deVillier, John Jenkins III, Gemma Molera, Laura Ross-Paul, Junko Yamamoto, and Hamid Zavareei. SAM Rental Sales Gallery, 1334 First Ave, #140, 654-3240. Through April 7.
STEVE JENSEN
Wall of Masks is a work Jensen has created over the past year with kids from the Maple Lane High School (a juvenile correctional facility), Diversity Dance Workshop, and Lambert House. The emphasis is on communication through art, and these masks, made with found objects as well as traditional materials, offer these kids ways of expression outside therapy-speak . SAM Rental Sales Gallery, 1334 First Ave, 748-9482. Through May 13.
*CHARLES ROSENBERG
Works of paper, rather than on paper--in this case silky glassine sewed to handmade black paper. Rosenberg's art investigates ideas of pattern, shape, and sign. Nation, 1921 Fifth Ave, 374-9492. Through April 22.
ALAN RUSHING
New painting in a new venue! Secluded Alley Works, 113 12th Ave, 839-0880. Through April 27.
SOPHIE RYDER
You can see her Minotaur and Hare in Kirkland's waterfront sculpture park, and then check out the smaller works in the gallery. The creatures are built out of bronze and bound wire, and have a rough shagginess that is quite appealing. Atelier 31, 122 Central Way, Kirkland, 425-576-1477. Through April 11.
BRYAN SMITH, DAVID TRAYLOR, CATHY McCLURE
Smith transforms cardboard, screws, and wire into formal elements in his abstract work. Traylor's spiky, organic ceramics have the heft of some heavier metal; they're satisfying and repellent at once. In the video room, new work by Seattle's McClure, who harnesses light, movement, and music like nobody's business. Commencement Art Gallery, Ninth and Commerce, Tacoma, 253-591-5341. Through April 12.
* S.M.S. PROJECT, LOUIS MUELLER
It stands for "shit must stop," and is a collection begun in 1968 by the painter William Copley, who invited artists to submit work to be sold to subscribers in portfolios, with all the commercial work (the replicating, the selling) done by the artists. It includes representative work from a number of important 20th-century movements, including Fluxus, Pop, and conceptual art, with work by Marcel Duchamp, Yoko Ono, John Cage, and Christo. Mueller's painted bronze sculpture is also on view. Elliott Brown Gallery, 215 Westlake Ave N, 340-8000. Through April 14.
OPPORTUNITES FOR ARTISTS
CoCA NORTHWEST ANNUAL
This year's annual--which typically draws a kind of weary controversy over the final selections--will be juried by Michael Sweney, the director of the Charles Cowles Gallery in New York. If you live in Washington, Montana, Oregon, Alaska, or Idaho, send your submissions to 410 Terry Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109; it must be postmarked by April 27 or hand-delivered by May 4. For more information, call 728-1980 or go to www.cocaseattle.org.
