This Week's Events: Jan 7 - Jan 13, 2008

Can you believe how many amazing openings/events are happening simultaneously on Thursday? Good luck choosing, but rain or more rain, this is definitely the week to shake off the post-holiday slump and get out of the house.

Wednesday, January 9

OKOK Gallery - "Sound and Vision" will debut three compositions from the inaugural Environmental Aesthetics Satsop Residency founded by Gabe Bacon and Paul Schrag Wednesday. The three artists awarded the first annual Satsop Residency include Seattle artist Yann Novak, Olympia quartet Problems, and Olympia artist Myello. The artists were granted access to an abandoned Nuclear Cooling Tower in Elma Washington where they were invited to sonically interpret this epic industrial monument. Each composition will be accompanied by a photograph that will be projected on the back wall of the gallery. 7-9 pm.

Thursday, January 10

University of Washington – “University Art Institute Keynote Lecture by Robert Storr.” Robert Storr is an internationally renowned curator, critic, academic, and artist. Storr held the position of contemporary curator at the MOMA for years and is currently Dean of the Yale School of Art and was director of the 2007 Venice Biennale. In conjunction with the closing of “Kim Jones: A Retrospective” at the Henry Art Gallery, Storr will speak on Jones and his work's inclusion in the 2007 Venice Biennale and at Site Santa Fe in 2004. 7 pm in the Roethke Auditorium in Kane Hall, University of Washington Campus. Tickets ($15 General Admission, $10 Henry Members, $12 Students/Seniors) are available online at Brown Paper Tickets.

SAM Gallery – Opening reception for two new shows, “In Focus: Centrum/London” and “Autobiography.” The first exhibition highlights a local residency program at Centrum, in Fort Worden State Park near Port Townsend, and specifically the January residency of six U.K.-based artists whose work explores space/place/site. The second exhibition features a group of artists who explore their own identity, heritage, and/or artistic history in their artwork. Featured artists include Willie Bonner, Diem Chau, Pamm O. Hanson, Lezlie Jane, Judith Kindler, Layne Kleinart, Hugo Ludeña, Allan Packer and Amy Sollins. Reception runs from 5-7 pm. The SAM Gallery is located in the Seattle Tower Building.


G. Gibson Gallery – Reception for two new shows, “Berenice Abbott: New York” and “Doug Keyes: Becoming Language.” Doug Keyes' recent work, Collective Memory-Routes and Areas / Becoming Language, are multiple exposure photographs that document travel along a route or within a specific area in an attempt to record what the eye doesn't see but the mind retains. These large-scale luminous color photographs reveal (or conceal) an entire experience in a single image. Berenice Abbott was an influential photographer of the early 20th century, well known for her images of New York in the 1930s. Reception 5-8 pm. Both shows continue until February 16, 2008.

James Harris Gallery – Opening reception for “Hinterland,” an exhibition of paintings by Portland artist Adam Sorensen. Employing numerous sources in his compositions – which range from Surrealism to The Hudson River School to Japanese Anime – Sorensen explores the contemporary landscape in a way that captures how ecological circumstances have displaced traditional ways of imagining and relating to the natural world. Also opening in the James Harris Project Space is a small selection from Claire Cowie’s latest body of work. 6-8 pm. Show runs through February 9, 2008.

Adam Sorenson, "Grove and Hazard," opening at James Harris Gallery

Platform Gallery – For his new show “Prospect Fields,” artist Eric Eley has created a living drawing that becomes a field for a view. Seeing an opportunity to go beyond simply placing discrete objects in the white box of the gallery, Eley has created an environment that puts the viewer literally inside the sculptural object by delineating the space within the entire gallery. With no way to see the work in profile or from afar, one is instead given the opportunity to powerfully experience space as a three dimensional drawing. Opening 5-8 pm. Exhibition continues through February 9, 2008.

Lawrimore Project – “The Prom - A Semi-Formal Survey of Semi-Formal Painting.” Lawrimore Project is pleased to present the second of a three-part series devoted to contemporary painting strategies. Curated by gallery manager, Alex Ohge, THE PROM... is a pure celebration of the medium and could easily have been subtitled, "paintings for painters and the people who love them." This semi-formal survey brings together a group of artists from around the country all completely devoted to the process of painting and all exploring the semi-formal terrain where representation meets painting for painting's sake. Opening reception 5-8 pm. Exhibition runs January 11th - February 23rd.

Catherine Person Gallery – “The Black & White Show.” A mixed media survey in glorious black & white featuring recent work by Colleen Hayward, Davis Freeman, *Eric Elliott, Lynne Saad, Nola Avienne, Seth D'Ambrosia & Teresa Redden. Reception 6-8 pm. Exhibition continues through February 9.

Howard House – “Ken Fandell: Old Pictures” presents four new photographic diptychs and a 10 minute animated video in which the artist continues his explorations into the disorienting psychological effects of meetings between quotidian existence and drama, mystery, and grandeur. “Ken Kelly: Future Perfect” presents a new body of work which focuses on the referential possibilities of simple grid patterns. Reception for both exhibitions 6-8 pm. Show continues through February 23, 2008. (An Artist Talk will be held Saturday, Jan 12, at 12 Noon.)

West Seattle Junction Art Walk – Galleries and many participating businesses hold openings and events from 6-9 pm, rain or shine (probably rain).

* Hotwire Coffeehouse West - The unofficial starting point of the West Seattle Junction Artwalk will be featuring collage works by local artist Marty Gordon, sponsored by Twilight Artist Collective. (4410 California SW, Seattle).

Marty Gordon, "The Ladies Who Launch," 5x7" collage

Friday, January 11

Suite 100 Gallery – “Left Behind,” a new show featuring over 10 artists that captures various aspects of what being left behind entails, interpreted by each artist with personal experiences coloring his or her work. Opening night features live painting and music. 6-10 pm. Show runs through February 1, 2008.


Form/Space Atelier – Opening reception and lecture for “Scant Plush,” new paintings by Jessica Hachmeister. Jessica Hachmeister is drawn toward large and dramatic abstract painting, developing a style based on dominant shapes and interconnecting lines. Hachmeister distributes these marks across multiple canvases to create a balanced landscape of form and space. 6-8 pm. Exhibit duration: January 11-February 3.

Saturday, January 12

Twilight Artist Collective – “Twilight Artist Collective Celebration: 3 Ladies + 3 Years + New Location.” Twilight Artist Collective is turning 3, celebrating the opening of their second location (what an accomplishment!) and throwing a big party to toast their vision of creating a sustainable, thriving artist community of more than 100 artists. How can you turn down complimentary brew, bubbly, and baby-cakes provided by the Elysian Brewery, Cupcake Royale, and Cascade Trade, and live music by DJ Sean Majors of The Lost Boys. ALSO featuring artwork by many Twilight Artist Collective artists and Live painting by Justin Hillgrove, Eric Osborne, and OneSevenNine. 6-10 pm, at Twilight Artist Collective, (4306 SW Alaska Street.)

3 Ladies + 3 Years = Twilight Artist Collective

Ballard Second Saturday Artwalk – Galleries and participating businesses open from 6-9 pm. Maps are available at most locations. Openings include:

* Secret Garden Bookshop – “Marty Gordon,” featuring humorous collage-work by prolific local artist Marty Gordon. 6-9 pm.

* Re/Max Mutual Realty – Andrew L. Parker with RE/MAX Mutual Realty Seattle is a regular participant in the Ballard Artwalk and this month they present photography by local artist Thomas Krueger. After viewing the show, stop by the separate opening to meet the artist at the Forum Center, Cascade Board Room. Snacks & wine will be served.

Photograph by Thomas Krueger, on display at Re/Max in Ballard

* OKOK Gallery - The Gallery will be presenting a second show of the first installment of "Sound and Vision." 7-9 pm. (See above for more details.)

Sunday, January 13

Francine Seders Gallery – Opening reception for “Robert C. Jones: Paintings, Drawings, and Prints. Reception from 2-4 pm. Exhibition continues through February 17, 2008.