BELLEVUE ART MUSEUM

510 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, (425) 454-3322

J.D. BELTRAN: THE MAKING OF A PORTRAIT

A series of five multimedia portraits created during the artist's residency at BAM. Through Dec 1.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST ANNUAL 2001

Traditionally one of the best local annuals, this year juried by Sue Spaid, curator of the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati. With works by 41 regional artists. Through Jan 6.

FRYE ART MUSEUM

704 Terry Ave, 622-9250

THE RUSSIAN CONNECTION

Paintings and drawings by Fechin, Bongart, and Gaspard. Through Feb 17.

WITNESS AND LEGACY: CONTEMPORARY ART ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST

How can art represent tragedy on a grand scale? What can be derived from it? What can be learned? Answers--perhaps--here. Through Jan 13.

HENRY ART GALLERY

15th Ave NE at NE 41st St, 543-2280

*JEFFRY MITCHELL: HANABUKI

In Hanabuki, ideas abound: contemplation vs. participation, fragments vs. whole, East vs. West, puns, bears, movement. It's a two-level installation loosely tied to ideas of heaven and earth, with a fur-lined cave below and clean white ikebana above. Through Jan 6.

*SHORT STORIES

A series of staggered rotating exhibitions that includes work from the permanent collection, commissioned projects, and installations. Work currently featured includes photographed drawings in sugar, chocolate, and dirt by Vik Muniz. Through May 12.

*SUPERFLAT

Contemporary Japanese art in the pop art vein, from work influenced by comics culture (manga and anime) to erotic doodles and weirdly blank photography. Superflat was curated by artist Takashi Murakami--of the wonderful Mr. DOB and a recent balloon installation in New York's Grand Central Terminal--who nurses a theory that the privileging of line over form is nothing new in Japanese art, but rather looks back to 14th-century scrolls, screens, and paintings. Through March 3.

SEATTLE ART MUSEUM

100 University St, 654-3100

MORRIS GRAVES AND SEATTLE

An exhibition that concentrates on Graves' early career, and takes as its thread the artist's relationship with the Pacific Northwest. Through Oct 20, 2002.

ANNIE LEIBOVITZ: WOMEN

Photographs of women from all walks of life. Leibovitz gained her high profile with her Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair covers, but these images are anything but sensational; rather they are quiet, powerful, and even ordinary. Through Jan 6.

ANNA SKIBSKA

Insisting on the delicacy of glass, Skibska stretches it into intricate webs. Through Feb 17.

WESTERN GALLERY

Fine Arts Complex, Western Washington University, Bellingham, (360) 650-3900

BOTANICA

Art and plants, with work by some top-notch artists including Kiki Smith, Alexis Rockman, David Wojnarowicz, Darren Waterston, and others. Through Dec 1.

WING LUKE ASIAN MUSEUM

407 Seventh Ave S, 623-5124

IF TIRED HANDS COULD TALK: STORIES OF ASIAN GARMENT WORKERS

Tired hands can't talk, but a series of videos, oral history interviews, and an installation recreating the working conditions of Asian immigrant workers can. Through Feb 2002.

WRIGHT EXHIBITION SPACE

407 Dexter Ave N, 264-8200

A CELEBRATION OF ABSTRACT ART

From the Wrights' collection, with work by Sol Le Witt, Kenneth Noland, Jules Olitski, Gerhard Richter, and others. Ongoing run.

OPENING EXHIBITIONS

DONALD FELS

Audio memoirs of growing up with plywood, plus a big ol' installation. Opening reception Thurs Nov 29, 7:30 pm. Jack Straw Productions, 4261 Roosevelt Way NE, 634-0919. Through Feb 28.

GROUP SHOW

With Larry Bemm, C. Blake Haygood, Elizabeth Jameson, Nan Johnson, and others. Opening reception Fri Nov 30, 5:30-8 pm. Ballard/Fetherston Gallery, 818 E Pike St, 322-9440. Through Jan 5.

THE POUND GALLERY ART AND GIFT SHOW

Best Christmas shopping around! Opening reception Sat Dec 1, 5-10 pm. The Pound Gallery, 1216 10th Ave, 323-0557. Through Dec 23.

*PATTI WARASHINA

This is Warashina's first solo show in Seattle in a decade; here, she focuses on the human body as seen in ancient history with sculptures that create a point on a visual timeline. Opening reception Sat Dec 1, 6-8 pm. Howard House, 2017 Second Ave, 256-6399. Through Jan 2.

CONTINUING EXHIBITIONS

*IOLE ALESSANDRINI

Alessandrini is 911 Media Arts Center's current Artist in Residence, and her stay culminates in an installation in first Christian Church's sanctuary. Known for installations that create light fields in odd places, Alessandrini here concentrates on the equation of light and revelation. First Christian Church, 1632 Broadway. Call 682-6552 for viewing hours. Through Dec 15.

GARTH AMUNDSON

Amundson creates lenses from everyday objects, such as water bottles, and with them explores the gap between an object and its image. Seattle Art Museum Rental/Sales Gallery, 1334 First Ave, 748-9282. Through Jan 7.

LISA BUCHANAN

Buchanan's paintings are both patterned and chaotic, giving the unusual impression of movement and stillness at the same time. Bryan Ohno Gallery, 155 S Main St, 667-9572. Through Dec 22.

ERIC BURKE

Painting and installation featuring weird little figures. Independent Media Center Gallery, 1415 Third Ave, 262-0721. Through Dec 1.

RENEE CORTESE, POLLY PURVIS, EVA SKÖLD WESTERLIND, TYLER CUFLEY

Good stuff: personal-item assemblage from Cortese, marionette photography from Purvis and Westerlind, and an installation from Cufley. Commencement Art Gallery, 902 Commerce St, Tacoma, (253) 592-5341. Through Dec 13.

PAT de CARO

Works on paper in a series called Telling Stories. Francine Seders Gallery, 6701 Greenwood Ave N, 782-0355. Through Dec 2.

DAVID DEVILLIER

Twelve new paintings of people doing things in places, all of it unsettling. Eyre/Moore Gallery, 913 Western Ave, 624-5596. Through Dec 1.

ELLIOT ERWITT

Erwitt's photographs fall into that interesting space between art and kitsch: They're so familiar that they seem like advertisements for themselves. You'll recognize many of the images by this Magnum photographer. Photographic Center Northwest, 900 12th Ave, 720-7222. Through Dec 21.

FAMILIAR

I have no idea what this show is about, and there was another Familiar about a month ago--no relation, I think. Intriguing manifesto, though, including the sincere sentiment, "Our hypocrisy doesn't escape us (often)." What the hell--try it out. Cut Kulture Gallery, 2018 First Ave, 374-8753. Through Dec 15.

JOSEPH FINDEISS

New photographs. Joe Bar, 810 E Roy St, 324-0407. Through Dec 5.

FOTOCIRCLE MEMBERS EXHIBITION

With work by Carl Lierman, Rick Jones, Karen Howard, Lou Cuevas, Jerry Simon, Jackie Ransier, Steve Laskevitch, and Carla Fraga. FotoCircle Gallery, 562 First Ave S, 3rd floor, 624-2645. Through Dec 1.

RAJAA A. GHARBI

Layers of watercolor, North African dyes, ink, pencil, and things found in nature. Antioch University Seattle, 2326 Sixth Ave, 441-5352. Through Dec 1.

ANDREW KEATING, JOHN STAMETS

Between them, Keating and Stamets offer views of architecture both sexy and funny. Keating's paintings of buildings have absurd and slightly cute human qualities, and Stamets' photographs show the gorgeousness of buildings under construction. Esther Claypool Gallery, 617 Western Ave, 264-1586. Through Dec 1.

*WILLIAM KENTRIDGE, KATHRYN VAN DYKE

Lest we forget that terrorist regimes are not confined to the mountains of Afghanistan, Kentridge's prints and drawings give emotional and elegant testimony to the state of things in South Africa. With an absolutely awesome installation of mirrors by Van Dyke. Greg Kucera Gallery, 212 Third Ave S, 624-0770. Through Dec 1.

DAVID KLEINER

Surprisingly good Cubist-style still lifes. Re-bar, 1114 Howell St, 233-9873. Through Nov 30.

*KUSTOM PURSE

Retail: the new future of art galleries. This show, curated by artist Elizabeth Jameson, features purses created by 30 of my favorite artists. These are not your average accessories: Prepare to have your mind bent, at least a little. Kuhlman Clothing, 2419 First Ave, 441-1999. Through Nov 29.

RANI LAIK

Architectural works. Zeitgeist, 171 S Jackson St, 583-0497. Through Dec 6.

MATTHEW LANDKAMMER, BRIAN NOVATNY, KATHLEEN RABEL

All visual categories covered. Landkammer's surfaces are minimalist color studies with unexpected depth; he layers each panel with glaze until the colors shimmer like a hallucination. With Novatny's new paintings of detached and alienated people, and Rabel's patterned works. Davidson Galleries, 313 Occidental Ave S, 624-7684. Through Dec 1.

STEVEN LaROSE

Bonsai paintings--very, very cute! Elliott Bay Cafe, 101 S Main St, 682-6664. Through Dec 5.

*KAREN LIEBOWITZ

Big, luxurious, complicated paintings on Jewishness and history and storytelling. King County Gallery, 506 Second Ave, room 200, 296-7580. Through Nov 30.

FELIX MacNEE, PAUL SPENCER

Two San Francisco artists are showing a total of 1,000 drawings, created in blocks of 14, in sessions that explore imagination and its derivatives. Proceeds from this Herculean show benefit National Disaster Relief. With paintings by Chris Dougherty and some amazing new paint-and-ink-on-glass works by Marc Lindsay. Nico Gallery, 619 Western Ave, 2nd floor, 264-1710. Through Nov 30.

NUDES AND NOTS

Humans, as photographed by Regina and Brian Daigneault, Vincent T. Brown, and Melissa Sands. Chrissa's Wine Bar, 1013 E Pike St, 726-3422. Through Dec 2.

ERIC OLSON

An investigation into the tension between planning and random events--using dots and grids and math. Paramount Cafe, 911 Pine St, 621-8376. Through Dec 7.

DAVID PAN

Chinese brush script in red, gold, and black. Art/Not Terminal Gallery, 2045 Westlake Ave, 233-0680. Through Dec 6.

*PAUSE

A sound and video installation by Heather Dew Oaksen and Norie Sato, who investigated simultaneous 10-second pockets of time at opposite ends of the world through film. Suyama Space, 2324 Second Ave, 256-0809. Through Jan 4.

*SAVAGE ILLUSTRATIONS

Blatant conflict-of-interest alert! Illustrations by Stranger Art Director Joe Newton, as seen in Dan Savage's column Savage Love. But that doesn't mean it ain't great! The Rose Club, 3601 S McClellan St (Beacon Hill). For info e-mail roseclub@cablespeed.com. Through Dec 1.

*MICHAEL SCHULTHEIS

In White Matrix, Schultheis continues his visual exploration of mathematics. Patricia Cameron Fine Art, 108 S Jackson St, #207, 343-9647. Through Dec 20.

SEATTLE COLLECTS 2001

The Seattle Arts Commission's Seattle Collects program acquires work for the city's portable works collection. This year's honorees are Jennifer Dixon, Dai Giang, Tom Hall, Mary Iverson, Joel Lee, Victoria Haven, Blake Haygood, and Glenn Rudolph. The Gallery, Key Tower Building (Cherry St and Fifth Ave), 3rd floor, 684-7312. Through Jan 11.

*SHOPPING

In the spirit of the holidays, an oblique take on stuff and its acquisition. With work by Christian French, Dylan Neuwirth, and Jennifer McNeely, all three of whose work incorporates the double-take, the huh?, the slippery wicket. (Also featured: Rich American Brand, Christine Taylor, P.A.N.-Lab Industries, and not bad for a girl productions.) Vital 5 Productions, 2200 Westlake Ave, 254-0475. Through Dec 23.

*RAMONA SOLBERG

Solberg is like everyone's wacky art teacher: she takes some single item from her horde of found objects and makes crazy--sometimes crazy-beautiful--jewelry out of it. This exhibition has a lovely new catalogue to accompany it. Artist lecture Wed Dec 5, 6 pm. Bank of America Gallery, 701 Fifth Ave, 3rd floor, 585-3200. Through Dec 14.

ALEX STAIGER

The Subsonic Backbone Series. Jem Studios, in All City Coffee, 1205 S Vale St, 767-7146. Through Dec 1.

JAMISON TAYLOR, QUINCY QUIGG, JOSEPH WARTES

In Also Known As (AKA), three artists take their graffiti styles off the streets and onto the canvas. Nation Gallery, 1921 Fifth Ave, 374-9492. Through Dec 9.

*SHAWN WOLFE, JEFF KLEINSMITH

Two graphic artists who have elevated the workhorse of design into the realm of real art. Wolfe is the man behind the useless branding exercise Beatkit™ and the Installer/ Remover. Kleinsmith is best known for his posters. Roq La Rue, 2224 Second Ave, 374-8977. Through Dec 10.

NINO YUNIARDI

Blurred landscape paintings--as if seen through the windshield of a moving car--from an Indonesian-born artist. Raw Gallery, Northwest Asian American Theatre, 409 Seventh Ave, 340-1445. Through Nov 30.

EVENTS

THE MAGPIE'S STASH

See Stranger Suggests. An aviary evening, with bird-themed art, dance, and music. Wed Dec 5, 8 pm, at Vain, 2018 First Ave, 441-3441.

SOIL HOLIDAY ART AUCTION

See Stranger Suggests. Sat Dec 1, 6-11 pm. The silent auction begins at 7:30 pm; live auction at 9 pm. Noodleworks, 802 Sixth Ave S; for more information call 264-8061.

*BRENT WATANABE

You can see Watanabe's excellent video work in Jeffry Mitchell's Hanabuki--it's the film loop of kaleidoscopic dancing marionette men inside the fuzzy cave. He's giving a lecture, free with museum admission, that includes an hour's worth of his videos and discussion. Thurs Nov 29, 7 pm at the Henry Art Gallery, 15th Ave NE (at NE 41st St), 543-2280.

WINTER OPEN STUDIOS

Lots of art. Sat Dec 1, 1-6 pm at 1426 S Jackson St.