First Thursday April 3, 2008

ArtXchange Gallery - Extended final week of “Stitched, Woven, Sewn,” an exhibition featuring textiles from Laos, Peru, Thailand, Indonesia, and nomadic weaving tribes of Central Asia.

Benham Gallery - Continuing exhibit “Erotic Beauty,” featuring Paul Dahlquist, David Steinberg, Fiona Aboud, and Sean Newman. Exhibit runs through April 12, 2008.

Photograph by David Steinberg at Benham Gallery

Catherine Person Gallery - New exhibit “Strata” featuring richly layered ceramic sculpture and installation work by Hannah Alex-Glasser. April 3 - May 10, 2008

Corridor Gallery - Reception for “Hunting Season,” sculpture and mixed-media by Jody Joldersma. Joldersma creates sculpture and flat work in a wide variety of media. Her pieces are dark, yet whimsical visions of the internal lives of strange people and animals. April 3-26, 2008.

Jody Joldersma "Lester Tells Charlie his Dreams," Scratch Board, 2008

Foster/White - Paintings by “Darlene Cole.” Apr 3, 2008 - Apr 19, 2008.

Friesen Gallery - Reception for "What Does Compassion Look Like?" an exhibition and fundraiser for Seeds of Compassion featuring donated artwork by 40 regional artists. "What Does Compassion Look Like?" is a national campaign with gallery participants in multiple Seattle locations through April.

G. Gibson Gallery - “Unnatural History” featuring artwork by Nealy Blau and Justin Gibbens. April 3 - May 10.

Gallery4Culture - Opening reception for “Saturn’s Return” an exhibition of embroidered textiles by Seattle artist Allison Manch. The title refers to the astrological phenomenon that occurs nearly every thirty years in a person's life when said person undergoes a series of life altering changes and also a period of self reflection. Manch, nearing her thirtieth year, reflects upon her familial heritage through embroidered text and images on second-hand linens and handkerchiefs. Her family's move from New York to Arizona, and then Manch's subsequent move to Seattle, gave rise to a feeling of displacement and disconnection. Her study of photography influences the subject matter, be they cactus, hip-hop portraits, or Jewish folk tales, as Manch examines icons and relics of her past and future. April 3 - 25, 2008.

Works by Allison Manch in "Saturn's Return" at Gallery4Culture

Gallery 110 - “Members 1: New Gallery Artists.” Featuring works by: Alexandra Gjurasic, Joel Grossman, Robin Harlow, Holly Ives, Elissa Voland, Reilly Donovan, Susanne Kelly, Sara Zin, Li Turner, Jennifer Kemp, Ann Maki, and Amy Oates. April 3 - 26, 2008.

Gallery I|M|A - “John Franklin Koenig.” In collaboration with the Whatcom Museum’s exhibition of John Franklin Koenig, Home and Away, Gallery IMA proudly presents a retrospective of available works. John’s abstract paintings weave the story of his epic life onto canvas. While he spent much of his life living in Paris, the roots of his work are clearly Northwest - capturing the mystical qualities of the Puget Sound in his subtle use of color and forceful brushstrokes. April 3rd – 27th, 2008.

Garde Rail Gallery - “Lloyd Benjamin, Paul Cordes Wilm, Tim Hooper: Folk Pop!” Staying in the narrative and pragmatic tradition of the Southern Folk artists that came before them, this group of young artists portray their individual experiences and varying perspectives in a unique new style. Although the styles all vary, we find them harmonious, and fitting quite well into a new sub genre ‘Folk Pop.’ Through April 26, 2008.

Greg Kucera Gallery - Opening reception for new painting exhibition featuring “Jeffrey Simmons and Michael Knutson.” Through May 10, 2008.

Grover/Thurston Gallery - “Hybridizing Nature,” sculptural works by Margaret Ford. Through April 26, 2008.

James Harris Gallery - New gallery unveiling celebration marked by inaugural exhibition “Now and There,” a solo exhibition of Seattle based artist Margot Quan Knight. Culling from a diverse range of art historical precedents, Quan Knight unremittingly explores the transformative potential of photography. While Quan Knight draws on her experience at Fabrica, Benetton’s communication arts research center, she is also undeniably pushing well beyond the boundaries of a photograph’s ability to communicate an actual, fixed event in time. Also opening are four works by intramedia artist Gary Hill. For the last 35 years Hill has pushed the limits of our experience with his work making him one of the most important contemporary artists investigating an array of issues ranging from the physicality of language, synesthesia and perceptual conundrums to ontological space and viewer interactivity. Exhibition runs through May 10, 2008. The new gallery space is located at 312 2nd Ave. S.

Linda Hodges Gallery - “Glue” a group exhibition of artists working in collage. Curated by Daphne Minkoff, these artists have been chosen for their original take on an art form described as a quintessentially twenty-first century. Through April 26, 2008.

Pratt Gallery - The Pratt Gallery in the Tashiro Kaplan building presents “Small/Big,” an exhibition of metal sculpture from the Sculpture and Jewelry/Metalsmithing Studios at Pratt Fine Arts Center. April 3rd- April 25th, 2008.

Punch Gallery - Opening reception for “Animal Spell” featuring the work of Justin Gibbens + Amy Ross. Referencing early wildlife and botanical illustration, both artists demonstrate their own distinctive versions of a subversive natural history. April 3 – 27, 2008.

Composite of details from Birch with Birdshrooms by Amy Ross and Unicorn Moles by Justin Gibbens

Rock | DeMent - “Stephen Rock: Conversation with a Lake.” During the month of April, Stephen Rock will be showing select work inspired by a 2005 Morris Graves Foundation residency at The Lake in Northern California. Rock was given access to the property, studio and artist’s library of the late Morris Graves. During the stay he explored themes dealing with a retreat from technology and how that effects our world view, our relationship with nature and the change of pace when disengaged from a modern lifestyle.

Stephen Rock "6 Stages of Not Being Morris Graves, #6" watercolor on paper

Shift Collaborative Studio - Shift Collaborative Studio is proud to present “American Woman,” a new body of work by Jennifer Diamanti. American Woman is a series of mixed-media self portraits that are an organic and expressive narrative on Diamanti’s daily life as a woman, housewife, and stay-at-home mother, reflecting her struggle to retain a sense of self as an individual and artist. April 3 thru 26, 2008.

SOIL - “Soapland,” artwork by Issei Watanabe. A large castle suspended in an uncanny sort of innocence represents only the very surface of Soapland. The castle is composed of individual cast-ceramic bricks shaped as bars of soap, which then go on to rest upon various materials of an artificial nature. This exhibit compares the differences between how things appear at a surface level and the realities which often lie beneath. April 3-27, 2008.

Issei Watanabe, "Soapland" Christmas lights, silicone, plastic planter, mirror, tape, sheet metal, wax

Some Space Gallery - Exhibition featuring recent work by “Joey Bates.” Our faces are capable of creating over 20,000 expressions giving us a set of the most complex language tools out of all animals. For the past few years, Joey Bates has been focusing on how these expressions function as a language and how we read one another. His new paintings and drawings are a continuation of of the study with an added twist. Showing April 1st - 26th, 2008

Traver Gallery - New exhibition featuring painting by “Alan Fulle” and blown and carved glass and mixed media by “Hiroshi Yamano.” Through April 27, 2008.

First Thursday March 6, 2008

ArtXchange Gallery - "Stitched, Woven, Sewn," an exhibition of textiles from around the world. Fabrics from Laos, Peru, Thailand, tribes of Central Asia, and more are displayed in an interactive and touch-friendly exhibition including photos and stories to bring the fabrics to life for the viewer. Exhibition continues through March 28.

Benham Gallery - Opening reception for “Erotic Beauty,” featuring work by Paul Dahlquist, David Steinberg, Fiona Aboud, and Sean Newman. The artist reception is from 6-8 pm. Join Benham on Saturday, March 8th at 2 pm, for a gallery panel discussion and slide presentation with the artists. Exhibition continues through April 12.

Corridor Gallery - “Always Remember This Place” encaustic and mixed media by Janet Miller (AKA Planet Janet). Janet Miller is a frequent traveler and a collector. She collects tangible items that serve as markers of her intangible experiences, the stories, thoughts, and questions that arise along her journeys. These tangible items, such as maps, books, letters, and flyers, form the foundation on which she builds her work. The result is art that documents and promotes a continuing dialogue between self and others about the world around us. Reception 5-9 pm. March 6 - 30, 2008.

Janet Miller, “I Know that Everything Changes, but this Moment is Perfect”Encaustic, oil paint, graphite, and found objects

D'adamo/Woltz Gallery - Reception for paintings by Alla Goniodsky. "I started my career as a theatre artist and, to a large extent, this is the way I see life. The less obvious visions and impressions of events interest me the most... Multiple layers and different sequences of oil paints, pastels, inks and pencil in a single piece characterize my rather complicated painting techniques."

Foster/White - Join Foster/White for new exhibition featuring artwork by Alden Mason. Mar 6, 2008 - Mar 22, 2008.

Gallery4Culture - The opening of "Old Growth and Used Memories," an exhibition of new sculpture by Seattle artist Jason Wood. Reception 6-8 pm. March 6 - 28, 2008.

Gallery 110 - "The Grief Series,” a collection of acrylic paintings and collages by Pacific Northwest artist Dixie Parker-Fairbanks. Widow of renowned ceramicist Richard Fairbanks, Parker-Fairbanks created this body of work in the last decade in response to her husband’s tragic death in 1989. This exhibit will also include select major pieces by Richard, whose works have been exhibited internationally. March 5-29, 2008.

Gallery IMA - For the month of March, Gallery IMA is pleased to announce the opening of “Juxtapositions,” new mixed media works by Cory Peeke, and “Garden Virtue,” oil and charcoal paintings by John Paul Schafer. Cory Peeke’s latest series of collages and wall pieces juxtaposes appropriated images acquired from found photography, art historical masterworks, vintage illustration, and the Internet with one another to explore the physical manifestations of masculinity. In response to our ailing environment, John Paul Schafer’s inspiration for his ‘modern botanical studies’ came from an assortment of bones, pods, insects and plants gathered from the artist’s backyard, nearby parks and nature trails. Also on display is a site-specific installation in Gallery III, by Carol Milne. March 6 – 30, 2008.

John Paul Schafer, Silent, oil & charcoal on panel, 24"x24" inches.

Greg Kucera Gallery - "Burpee Garden Revisited," artwork by Alden Mason. March 6 - March 29, 2008. Opening 6-8 pm.

Grover/Thurston Gallery - An exhibition of acclaimed Seattle artist Fay Jones. Exhibition continues through March 29, 2008.

La Familia – Michelle Anderst exhibits “Drugs and Social Network,” the artists homage to the Seattle coffee shop scene. Anderst salutes Seattle's Independent Coffee Shop in her Installation work featuring two-dimensional pieces with a "three-dimensional" experience. The paintings come alive, making it feel as if a coffee shop has been cut-out of its typical setting to be placed inside the gallery. Every image in the show is a representation of those things found in actual coffee shops in Seattle, including All City Coffee and Espresso Vavace. Runs through March 31.

Pratt Gallery at Tashiro Kaplan - “Print Zero Studios 5th Print Exchange .” The exhibition features 291 5x7-inch prints from artists in 17 countries. Eight instructors from Pratt Fine Arts Center are included in the show: Kamla Kakaria, Rickie Wolfe, Abraham Mong, Lisa Hasegawa, Kim VanSomeren, Eric Chamberlain, Theresa Neinas, and Kerstin Graudins. These artists of varying backgrounds each bring a unique perspective on print and together comprise a wide variety of printmaking techniques. The exhibition runs March 6th-30th with the opening from 6-8pm.

Kamla Kakaria, Untitled, 2007, shellac plate print

Punch Gallery – “Safe and Sound.” Howard Barlow’s new body of work, Safe and Sound, is cold and unfriendly yet formal and safely non-objective with evidence of an obviously dangerous past. Borrowing from a hospital aesthetic, Barlow aims to bridge the gap between conceptions of stability and volatility. Utilizing institutional powder-coat colors, gun-barrel patina finishes, recycled bullet-lead solder, reconstructed broken window panes, wool yarn, abused steel, and actions such as knitting, hacking, shooting, shattering, and leading glass, this body of work explores the symbiotic relationships of danger and safety, vulnerability and protection. Reception 5-8 pm. Exhibit continues through March 30.

Seattle Art Museum – In addition to being free on First Thursdays, the Seattle Art Museum can be experienced in a new way with PDL's “Unauthorized Audio Tour” of the Seattle Art Museum’s permanent collection. There are twenty-two tracks in total, all approaching works within the museum and offering a great range of perspective, truth and humor. Their limited addition of 50 recordings quickly sold out, but during the First Thursday PDL will be loitering in the lobby of SAM from 5:00 till closing, offering portable audio devices for free, to all who care to see SAM's permanent collection in an all together different light. Look for the guys in the turquoise blazers with their initials embroidered on the front, looking awkward and suspect.

Shift Collaborative Studio – “A Brief Walk on the Edge” exhibiting welded steel sculptures and a light box installation by June Sekiguchi. Using pattern in a continuation of her conceptual ideas of cultural and personal identity, pattern is brought to its most elemental, workable form and fabrication techniques while still working toward conveying her interest in layering pattern in a new way that the medium allows. The work in the exhibition have a common characteristic in that they are sectional pieces that combine to form the larger piece and can be reconfigured in a variety of ways significantly altering the design. Sekiguchi will be reconfiguring the work during the opening reception as well as each week of the exhibition. Reception 5-8 pm. Exhibit continues through March 29.

June Sekiguchi, Detail of "Octogon," 2008

SOIL - Opening reception for “New Members Show 2008” featuring work by four of SOIL's newest additions: Nola Avienne, Vesna Pavlovic, Renée Rhodes and Adam Satushek. This diverse group of artists will add fresh new perspectives to the SOIL collective. New works in photography, installation, video, sculpture and drawing will be exhibited. Opening 6-9 pm. March 6–30, 2008.

Some Space Gallery - Showing March 3rd - 28th, “Fake Glass Buoys,” recent work by Banjamin Hanawalt. Using collage as a blueprint for his oil paintings, Benjamin Hanawalt's compositions of shapes, figures, color and, most recently, an endless array of buoys, provide viewers a sense of escape. The buoys, each unique in size, shape and color, and lovingly rendered in muted tones, offer a familiarity by which to return. Opening reception 6-9 pm.

Wall Space - New show, “Introspection", showcases photographer Susan Burnstine’s newest body of work, Between, as well as her award winning series, On Waking Dreams. Susan’s images compel us to look to the place where reality ends and dreams begin, where we look into ourselves to find who we are and who we want to be. Artist reception 6-8 pm. Exhibition continues through April 5.

First Thursday: February 6, 2008

ArtXchange - "ArtXchange Showcase 2008," featuring a group exhibition by gallery artists. The showcase includes 2-D and 3-D work from national and international artists, including works by local artist June Sekiguchi and new works in lacquer by Vietnamese artist Bui Cong Khanh.

"Twelve Times Mandala," June Sekiguchi, acrylic on scrollcut hardboard, @ ArtXchange

Benham Gallery - “Stone” featuring photography by Bruce Barnbaum. This exhibition will explore Barnbaum’s entire history and fascination for rocks, stones and the formations they create whether natural or man made. February 6th through March 1st, 2008. Artist Talk: Saturday Feb. 9th 2–4 pm.

Corridor Gallery – “I.E.D.” In this series of photographs, Charles Holzhey applies his distinct brand of absurdist humor to the phenomenon of the Improvised Explosive Device. His provocative objects evoke thoughts on consumer culture and war, and the ever present human capacity for tragically ridiculous behavior. Through March 1, 2008.

D'adamo/Woltz Gallery – Opening reception for “Emerging Artist Exhibition,” new work from local emerging artists. Through February 29, 2008.

Foster/White – Opening at Foster/White in Pioneer Square, "Blackboard Retrospective," works by Bratsa Bonifacho. Through Feb 23, 2008.

Gallery 110 - “Passione: Infinite e Eterno,” work by Curt Labitzke, a studio art instructor at the University of Washington. Meet the artist: Saturday, February 23, 3:30-5 pm. Through February 29, 2008.

Gallery I|M|A – Reception for new exhibition “Western Landscape meets Italian Tradition,” featuring works by David Berridge and Sandro Negri. This exhibition places two distinctly different artists together, but with one purpose, to capture Western Landscape and Italian Traditions. Using vibrant colors and strokes, both artists aim to reproduce the rich feeling of home, from gradual rolling country hills of the West to working peasants in the fields of Northern Italy. Through March 2nd, 2008.

Grover/Thurston Gallery - New exhibition featuring works by "Inez Storer." Continues through March 1, 2008.

La Familia - Jason Stauffer exhibits "Purpose," a humorous look at social assumptions & expectations. A show in two parts, Jason Stauffer's February solo exhibit consists of over thirty sculptures and photographs that depict the duel purpose of objects and people out of place but still finding Purpose. The exhibition is divided into two sets of works; one explores the purpose of humanity's use of objects and the other, the purpose of humanity as an object. The second part of the show is entitled "Waiters" a photographic series conceived while Stauffer was doing seasonal work at a resort lodge in Alaska.

"Dragonfish," Jason Stauffer, at La Familia

Lisa Harris Gallery – “Daydreams and Nightmares,” new paintings and monotypes by Royal Nebeker. Exhibition continues through March 1, 2008.

Platform Gallery - “Eric Eley: Prospect Fields.” One of the dictionary definitions of the word prospect is a “broad view or a place affording such a view.” For his first solo show at Platform Gallery, 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. Exhibition ends soon: February 9, 2008.

Pratt Gallery - Pratt Fine Arts Center opens an exhibit of artwork by six instructors from the school’s drawing and painting department. The exhibit at Pratt Gallery at Tashiro Kaplan Studios will show different techniques, themes, and media used by these artists and will run February 7 through 24th.

Michael Ottersen, “Oblique Ice Index,” 2004 (left) & Perri Lynch, from the “Precisely Known Completely Lost” series, 2003 (right) @ Pratt Gallery

Project Project – Open to the public one night only, “Collection/Infection” featuring sculpture by Jamey Braden and film by Portland artist Amber Smith. These artists make work about a burdensome instinct to collect, if only to keep and hoard to be able to look at small discarded objects in ways reserved for "bigger and better" things. Smith's main piece climaxes in a wall of burning marshmallows, Braden's sculptures are ruptured (and infected?) cloth structure-paintings and arranged (literal) garbage. Project Project is in the 619 Artist Lofts, 4th floor, 619 Western Ave.

"Ruptured Painting," Jamey Braden 2007

Punch Gallery – Opening reception for a new exhibition featuring works by Jen Erickson, “Sad Math.” Jen Erickson uses her interest in physics, mathematics, identity and the visualization of information systems as a point of departure for her paintings. Exhibition continues through March 2, 2008.

Rock | DeMent – “As I See and Say,” featuring block prints, paintings & poetry by Bob Rock. Influenced by social, political and theological issues of the mid 20th century, artist Bob Rock’s work reflects a time when questions were being asked of church, state and of personal liberties. This show includes block prints and poetry from a 1965 handprinted letterpress portfolio that provides an intimate portrait of the artist and his expressionist works. Also in this exhibit are larger wood cuts, paintings and other pieces from the artist’s estate. Through March 5, 2008.

Shift Studio – “Amanda Mae vs. The Frye Art Museum.” Concept artist Amanda Mae exhibits mimetic recreations of works from the Frye Art Museum's permanent collection. Also opening “Dry Friction:” Jo Marie Jensen presents a mixed media sound installation that uses physical friction between solid objects to correspond to social interaction.

SOIL – “Simultaneity: Entanglement,” by Eunsu Kang, Joel Kollin, and Juan Pampin. Entanglement draws a symbolic acoustic line between two distant locations, SOIL and 911 Media Arts Center in Seattle. A hyper-directional sound beam linearizes the acoustics of the two galleries creating the illusion of a single, infinite line of sound into which both sites get trapped. Through March 1, 2008.

Juan Pampin, Eunsu Kang, Joel S Kollin, “Entanglement” Telematic sound installation, Variable size installation in two spaces

Some Space Gallery – “Beach Structure” new work by David W. Simpson. Simpson’s current work is in ever-changing, two-dimensional reiterations of a single structure made from driftwood found near his home. Exposing its shadows to photo-sensitive paper and screens, an array of progressive cyanotypes and serigraphs emerge, referencing vivid images of his youth and embodying the different directions any one life may take. Through February 29, 2008.

Wall Space – New work by photographer “Mark Vercammen” who documents and explores people with his camera, studying behavior and lifestyle of both friends and strangers. Wall Space is exhibiting Vercammen’s new works, from his continuing story on the male form. The work moves beyond straight photography, encompassing other mediums and textures to create soft sensual experiences of form.

William Traver Gallery – Reception for new exhibition featuring works by internationally renowned glass artist “Lino Tagliapietra.” March 30, 2008.

First Thursday: Jan 3, 2008

Sorry everybody! No time for a full list of openings this month. But check the Seattle Art News calendar here for info on many of the openings happening tonight: George Brandt and Molly Norris at Gallery 110, "My Phone Tells Me to Do Bad Things" by Ries Niemi at Punch Gallery, "Even the ID is Anxious" at Luxcollective Gallery (in the Prudential Building on Alaskan Way) and much more.

Have fun!

First Thursday - December 6, 2007

This First Thursday will be a great one for those people brave enough to face the weather! Good luck to all galleries who will be skipping the rain to spend the week at the Aqua Art Miami art fair.

ArtXchange Gallery – Continuing exhibition “Unpredictable Arrivals,” featuring paintings by Donald Cole, inspired by the colors, patterns, languages, and textures of Asia. Show continues until December 29.

Donald Cole, "Rocana (The Space of Light)," 2007, showing at ArtXchange

Benham Gallery – “New Work by David Fokos and Steven Meyers,” two of Benham Gallery’s favorite artists. Fokos’s large format Zen landscapes are not supposed to remind you of a specific location but rather to transport you to a place of tranquility and balance and Meyers has added created landscapes to the x-ray images he is so well known for. Exhibit continues through December 24.

D'adamo/Woltz Gallery – “Juried Photography Exhibit” from December 6 – December 31, 2007.

Foster/White – Opening reception for the “Holiday Small Works Show.” Through December 29.

G. Gibson Gallery – “Ron Van Dongen & Popco Bakkers: Two Artists from Warmond, The Netherlands.” In the tradition of what is Dutch, G. Gibson is showing 2 artists from Warmond, the Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. Popco Bakkers still lives there and Ron van Dongen, who currently lives in Portland, Oregon, wanted to bring Popco's work to the states. Exhibit continues until January 5, 2008.

Gallery4Culture - Opening reception for "Boundaries of Vacancy," new sculpture and an installation by Seattle artist “Shawn Patrick Landis.” In a new room-sized installation, Landis defines the negative space around objects while simultaneously revealing the shape of air. Through December 28.

Gallery 110 - Works by elusive and eccentric artist T. Michael Gardiner and made-to-order reproductions of original works David Kane. Encaustics by Patricia Seggebruch in the loft space.

T. Michael Gardiner, "A Dubious Situation," opening at Gallery 100

Gallery I|M|A – “Annual Group Exhibition,” displaying a unique collection of small works by almost thirty of the gallery’s represented artists. Featuring a broad range of original paintings, glass, ceramic, and sculptural works created by local northwest, national and international artists. Also featuring sculptural kinetic works using books, thread and wire by the gallery’s newest artist, Casey Curran. Through December 30, 2007.

Gallery OK - Opening reception for "The Forgotten Works Challenge" 7th Annual challenge event.

Greg Kucera Gallery - Continuing exhibition "Minidoka on My Mind." In a group of 30 paintings, Roger Shimomura explores his family's internment during World War II, including some works suggesting his personal memories. The show's title refers to Camp Minidoka in Hunt, Idaho where he and his family were detained from the spring of 1942 until the summer of 1944. Exhibition closes December 22.

Grover/Thurston Gallery - Opening reception for mixed-media paintings by John Randall Nelson.

Howard House - Continuing shows “Cat Clifford: Fall” and “Jenny Heishman: Complexions” through January 5.

Cat Clifford, "Home" Installation View, 56 ink on paper & projector, currently at Howard House

James Harris Gallery - Continuing exhibition featuring photographs by "Bing Wright." The show will combine two distinct bodies of work that each gracefully captures the artist's interest in the history of the medium. Through December 21.

Linda Hodges Gallery - Continuing exhibition featuring one of the Northwest's most popular and highly respected painters, Gaylen Hansen. Fantastic in subject and formal in style, Hansen's talent blazes ever more brightly in the 8th decade of his life. Hansen is the currently the subject of a thirty-year retrospective traveling exhibition, titled "Gaylen Hansen: Three Decades of Paintings," organized by Washington State University Curator Chris Bruce and exhibiting at the Seattle Art Museum. Gallery exhibition continues through December 29.

Lisa Harris Gallery - Landscape photography by Peter de Lory. Through December 29.

Patricia Rovzar Gallery - "15th Annual Group Exhibition" featuring new works by all the gallery's artists. Through January 10, 2008.

Platform Gallery – “In Between Days: Photographs by Kevin O'Connell and Adam Satushek.” While the photographs that make up Platform's exhibition "In Between Days" are by two artists with very different experiences and perspectives, the "landscapes" observed by these artists go far in telling us about what happens around us when we aren't necessarily looking—in the in between moments. Show closes December 29.


Pratt Gallery – The Pratt Gallery in the Tashiro Kaplan Building features Pratt jewelry artists and members of the Washington State Enamelists partnering to display a wide variety of work. The show focuses on enamels and the community of artists working in this medium. Through December 29.

Punch Gallery – Opening reception for the Punch + SOIL International Juried Exhibition “A bell is a cup until it is struck.” Two fantastic galleries team-up to present the work of 16 artists from across the US and beyond. Nearly 1000 entries were submitted from more than 300 artists. Juried by Eric Fredericksen, director of Western Bridge, this exhibition includes a focused assemblage of photography, video, sculpture, ink on paper, cough drop labels and other mixed media. Themes include spills, spots, piles, trash, smoke, mirrors, bread, sunsets, Jesus, trees, motor homes, and a poodle. Through December 30.

Florian Japp, “Skadi,” color photograph, part of Punch + SOIL’s International Juried Exhibition

Shift Collaborative Studio - While continuing to exhibit "Shift4," works by new gallery members, a "Small Works Exhibition" opens, featuring works by many gallery artists.

SOIL – The Punch + SOIL International Juried Exhibition “A bell is a cup until it is struck.” Two fantastic galleries team-up to present the work of 16 artists from across the US and beyond. Nearly 1000 entries were submitted from more than 300 artists. Juried by Eric Fredericksen, director of Western Bridge, this exhibition includes a focused assemblage of photography, video, sculpture, ink on paper, cough drop labels and other mixed media. Themes include spills, spots, piles, trash, smoke, mirrors, bread, sunsets, Jesus, trees, motor homes, and a poodle. Through December 30.

Some Space Gallery – “Float, Flitter, Fade: New Work by Noah Overby.” Inspired by the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, Noah constructs poetic images from cloud forms, floral images and decorative patterns. These paintings use a simple, pared down visual vocabulary to explore themes of tranquility and impermanence. Showing December 3rd - 28th, 2007.

Noah Overby, “Pink Lotus,” acrylic and collage on canvas, opening at Some Space Gallery

Wall Space - "Home for the Holidays," an eclectic collection of images from a cross-section of photographers portraying the spirit of the holiday season. Through December 23.

William Traver Gallery - Works in glass by "Nadege Desgenetez" and "Richard Royal." Through February 3, 2008.

First Thursday - November 1, 2007

ArtXchange Gallery – Opening reception for “Unpredictable Arrivals,” a new solo exhibition by Vashon artist Donald Cole. Paintings that draw inspiration from the diverse languages of India as well as the time-weathered surfaces one finds in old cities around the world. Show runs from November 1 – December 29.

"Rudra," Donald Cole, 2007, acrylic on canvas, 36" x 50"

Corridor Gallery - “Gloria,” a multi-media Installation by Rebecca DeVere, celebrating the departed souls of women who were "everyday saints". Known locally for her mosaic tile work, DeVere will fill the space with shrines constructed of that material, as well as memory flags, and ghost paintings. On view through December 1.

D'adamo/Woltz Gallery – Contemporary sculpture by physicist turned artist Paul Vexler. On view through December 4.

Foster/White – Continuing in Pioneer Square, paintings by Allison Collins, through November 24.

G. Gibson Gallery - "Garden of Earthly Delights," Hyper-real paintings of a strange world of animal & botanical life by New York artist Marc Dennis. "Optical Allusions," works by Beverly Rayner exploring the implications of personal observation and public surveillance.

Marc Dennis, "Velasquez's Budgies," 2007, oil on canvas, 12 x 12 inches

Gallery4Culture – “Quiet Riot,” new paintings by Seattle artist Garret Keith. November 1 – November 30.

Gallery 110 - “Iconoclasts,” an exhibition of collages by Lisa Sheets, artwork exploring Sheets’ subconscious ongoing communication about relationships, culture, and her own life. “Personal Stories” is a group show by four artists, Betsy Best-Spadaro, Christopher Buening, Amy Huddleston, and Liz Tran, whose work tends toward introspection. In the Loft Space: “Mark Callen: Beyond Etla.” Through November 24.

Gallery I|M|A – “STAND: Artist Designed Rugs,” curated by Layne Goldsmith. Featuring the work of Steve Badanes, Phillip Baldwin, Betz Bernhard, Linda Beaumont, Koren Christofides, Alan Corkery Hahn, Jessica Drummond, Zia Gipson, Layne Goldsmith, Gale McCall, Rachel Meginnes, Ries Niemi, Jay Tracy, Sara Ullman, Jean Whitsavage, Daniella Wolff, Rickie Wolfe, and Robert Yoder. Through December 2.

Robert Yoder, "Sluice Gate," hand tied wool, edition of 5, 96.5 x 96.5 inches

Gallery OK - "Think Inside The Box" 2nd Annual Event.

La Familia – work by designer/textile artist “Chrissy Wai-Ching,” expressed through fiber art, photography, and clothing. Also featuring music by rock band ‘Strange Jerome.’

Lisa Harris Gallery – “Elevation: Israel, Palestine, and Washington State,” paintings by Kathryn Altus and new paintings by Seattle abstractionist Catherine Cook. November 1 through December 1.

Kathryn Altus, "Elevation, 1349 Feet Below Sea Level (The Dead Sea)" 2007, water based oil on canvas

Patricia Rovzar Gallery – Oil on panel by “Rick Monzon,” showing through December 3.

Platform Gallery – “A Spectral Glimpse” continues through December 1.

Punch Gallery – “Vertical Hold,” an international video and sound exhibition that highlights the experimental and resolutely unique. Artists include Justin Colt Beckman (Thorp, WA), Brian Bress (Los Angeles, CA), Andrew Kaufman (Ellensburg, WA), Luciana Lamothe (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Adriane Little (Kalamazoo MI), Stefanos Pavlakis (Edinburgh, Scotland), and James Sham (Richmond, VA). Through November 25.

Shift Collaborative Studio – Shift “New Members Exhibition,” introducing the work of five new members. Terra Fine, Jessie Lyle, Claire Mack, Christen Mattix, and John Sloan will be presenting works in a variety of media including drawing, painting, photography, and sculpture.

SOIL – “Sensoria,” featuring Iole Alessandrini, Thom Heileson, Wyndel Hunt, Ed Mannery, and Ben McAllister. Sensoria presents two new immersive installations, each integrating light and sound to transform the gallery space, concentrating on the visitor's sensory perceptions within the specific physicality of a new environment. In the backspace, paintings by Claire Johnson: a dozen small donuts and a couple of big ones. Through November 30.

Iole Alessandrini, Ed Mannery, and Ben McAllisterm, "Hidden Spaces," Laser, sound, video

Some Space Gallery – “Outside the Moment of Relay,” new prints by Paul Holt exploring the visual references of cell towers. Through November 30.

Paul Holt, "Tower with strips," linocut, 2007

Vetri International Glass – “Gathered Forms, Natural Vessels,” flameworked glass by Glenn Lyons. In this series, Lyons explores the allure of nature through his use of organic forms and rich, autumnal colors. Lyons is the featured artist for the month of November.

William Traver Gallery – Encaustic paintings exploring the experience of consciousness and construct of reality by “Jef Gunn,” and metal sculpture by “Lynn Whitford.” Through December 2.

Jef Gunn, "Tiger Gate," 2006, encaustic, ink rubbing, gold leaf, on wood panel, canvas, plaster

At the museum:

The Seattle Art Museum celebrates the Day of the Dead from 5:30 to 9 pm with live music, art making, specialized tours and more. Check here for a schedule of events. SAM is FREE on First Thursdays.

And elsewhere:

Visit the Cherry Street Cafe @1212 1st ave., just a few doors down from SAM. "Four Unredundant Paintings: by Kenneth Marulis will be available for your critique.

First Thursday - October 4, 2007

It's that time again. Brave the rain and enjoy the First Thursday Artwalk in Pioneer Square.

ArtXchange Gallery - Continuing through October 29, ArtXchange partners with Seattle-based global health non-profit PATH to display an exhibit by PATH photographer Michael Wang.

Benham Gallery – Presenting the work of Peggy Washburn, Ann Pallesen and Shoshannah White, 3 photographers using 3 unique types of translucent imagery to poetically redefine the world around them. October 3rd - November 10th.

Corridor Gallery – A series of small, colorful embroideries by Su Job explore scientific theories as they affect our views of daily life in new exhibit “Urban Equations.” October 4 – 27.

"Standard Error," 8" x 8,” Photo transfer and thread on canvas, by Su Job

D'adamo/Woltz Gallery – Works in glass and oil by artists Pino Cherchi and Gordon Gagliano.

Foster/White – Work by Lois Graham. Oct 4, 2007 - Oct 27.

Gallery4Culture – “Atmosphere Attached,” new sculpture and collage by Seattle artist Ben Hirschkoff. October 4 - October 26, 2007.

Gallery 110 – “Kokeshi Collection” by Alexandra Gjurasic, “Opposing Forces” by Cindy Small, and “Bound Variables” by Fiona McGuigan in the Loft Space. October 4-27.

Works by Alexandra Gjurasic in her “Kokeshi Collection” at Gallery 110

Gallery I|M|A – Opening reception for “Alan Corkery Hahn: New Pages from the Discontinuous Book,” “Cory W. Peeke – A Brief History, Western Edition,” and introducing "Amanda Hanlon.”

Cory W. Peeke, "Fine Arts," Polaroid and mixed media, at Gallery IMA

Greg Kucera Gallery – Sculpture and photographs by Drew Daly and works on paper by Jason Jegal. Both run October 4th - November 10th. Visit Greg Kucera Gallery on Saturday, Oct 6, for the 'Saturday After' artist lecture (and an opening for new print editions by Chuck Close).

Grover/Thurston Gallery - "A Blink, a Glance and a Stare (oh my)" works by Phyllis Bramson. October 4 - 27th.

Howard House Project Space – Recent sculptural work by “Sean M Johnson,” from September 27– November 10, 2007.

Installation view of "New Trick Old Dog" by Sean M. Jeanson, at Howard House

James Harris Gallery - An exhibition of sculpture and works on paper by Katrina Moorhead, a young artist from Northern Ireland who represented her country in the last Venice Biennale. In the JHG Project Space, “Claudette Schreuders Sculpture and Works on Paper.” October 4 - November 10, 2007.

Katrina Moorhead, “On or about December 1981,” 2005, at James Harris Gallery

La Familia - Works in contemporary micrography by "Meclina."

Patricia Rovzar Gallery – Oil paintings by R.B. Sprague exploring interior spaces and relationships between objects. October 4 – 31.

Punch Gallery – “A Hundred Horses in a Landscape & Other Collages” by Joanna Thomas, an investigation on the landscape paintings of the Chinese literati from centuries past. October 4 - 28, 2007.

Joanna Thomas, “A Hundred Horses in a Landscape (detail),” 2007, at Punch Gallery

Shift Collaborative Studio – “Sub-divisions,” by Garth Amundson and Pierre Gour, an installation of photography and appropriated images covering an eight month investigation of the themes of domesticity, immigration, and national identity. October 4 - 27, 2007. Also, enjoy a conversation with the artists on Saturday, October 13th at 3 pm.

"Obra Negra No. 2 - Contemporary Declaration," from "Sub-divisions" at Shift Studio

SOIL – “I'm So Scared/It's All So Hard,” work by Jennifer Zwick and “Puget Sounds” by Jean Nagai in the Backspace.

Jennifer Zwick - "Hanging (back), Lambda print, 2007, at SOIL Art Gallery

Some Space Gallery - Some Space curators Daniel Carrillo and Shaun Kardinal exhibit their recent work in “Directors' Cut.”

Wall Space – “Ground Cover” by photographer Keith Johnson, a response to the construction in Boston and New Haven; the places Johnson works and lives.

Keith Johnson - "I-95 Branford" at wall space gallery

William Traver Gallery – Blown and carved glass by Davide Salvadore, and reverse painting on glass/plexi by Gregory Grenon.

First Thursday Late Night

The Hideout – Live music with the Dusty 45s. 9 pm.

Northwest Film Forum - See and be seen at the opening night party for the “Local Sightings” regional film festival. Food, drink, djs, live musicians, film/video projections and much more. Thursday, October 4th (9pm-2am) - Tickets are $7 for NWFF members / $10 general public - Purchase tickets here.

First Thursday September 6

So many shows, so little time. Find a map here, if you need one.

ArtXchange Gallery – Opening reception for an educational art exhibit featuring photography by “Michael Wang,” staff photographer for global health non-profit PATH.

Photography by Michael Wang, at ArtXchange

Benham Gallery – Continuing show featuring the photography of Nikolas Muray & Tod Gangler.

Corridor Gallery - “Rodentia Punatus Lylesae,” mixed media paintings and assemblage by art car queen and Seattle art maven Kelly Lyles.

D'adamo/Woltz Gallery – Abstract, mixed-media works by Gregory Deane.

Gallery 110 – Opening reception for “Mechanica,” mixed media work by Benito Rangel de Maria, and “Suspended Chambers,” paintings by Rosemary Powelson.

Paintings by Rosemary Powelson, opening at Gallery 110

Gallery I|M|A – “Lotus Fire,” new work by Galen Garwood, and “Apophenia,” abstract paintings by Dale Witherow.

Gallery OK – Opening for new solo show featuring "Jody Joldersma," painting, sculpture, assemblage.

Lisa Harris Gallery – “Venezia,” featuring new paintings, prints and glass by representational artist Thomas Wood.

Patricia Rovzar Gallery – Opening reception for oil paintings by Z.Z. Wei.

Platform Gallery - Scott Fife extends his exploration and presentation of cultural personalities in the form of sculptural portraiture with "True Grit," a collection of unabashedly mythic figures masterfully rendered in cardboard, glue, and screws.

"Billy the Kid" by Scott Fife, now showing at Platform Gallery

Punch Gallery - Continuing with his ongoing investigation into the dichotomy between urban and rural cultures and stereotypes, Justin Colt Beckman’s multi-media installation, Homestead, explores the banality of daily life and the contrast of private space and public experience.

Homestead, work by Justin Colt Beckman, opening at Punch Gallery.

Shift Collaborative Studio – “Crossover/Cruce de Vias” features collaborative work created between the US and Mexico with Cara Jaye working in Washington State, and Miguel Angel Rivera who is located in the historic city of Guanajuato, Mexico.

SOIL – Opening reception for “Leather and Lace,” a collaboration between studio mates Allison Manch and Ariana Page Russell, consisting of photographs and collage.

"Leather and Lace" at SOIL

Some Space Gallery - New Work by Harold Hollingsworth.

Wall Space – “Primordial Seas,” photography by Douglas Ethridge.

Photography by Douglas Ethridge at Wall Space

William Traver Gallery - Mixed-media artwork by Therman Statom and work in glass by Sean Albert.

First Thursday Late Night!

Lawrimore Project - "Drinks and Discussion" with artists from Lawrimore Project's current shows. View continuing shows "Perfect Landscape" and "Moses Lake.' 8-10 pm, between 5th and 6th Aves on Airport Way in the International District.

First Thursday Artwalk, August 2

This Thursday, August 2, is the Pioneer Square Artwalk - new and continuing shows at over 20 galleries and live music in Occidental Square by the Nicole Fournier Band.




Gallery IMA – A solo exhibition featuring John Franklin Koenig, Selected paintings from 1953 – 2003.

D'adamo/Woltz Gallery – Acrylic on stainless steel paintings by Simona Foggitt.

ArtXchange Gallery – “Hai & Thanh: New Work from Vietnam,” contemporary paintings by twin brothers from Hue and selections from NW photographer Cora Edmonds’ “Himalayan Faces” series.

William Traver Gallery – Stone and silver sculpture by John Marshall, ceramic work by Eric Nelsen and bamboo sculpture by Jiro Yonezawa.

Vetri International Glass – Blown glass artworks by Scott Benefield.

La Familia – “2 Year Anniversary Group Show,” Wire Sculptures by Jason Stauffer, Scenes in Oil by Michelle Anderst, and mixed media by Tom Albers.

Gallery OK - "Found Art Fashion & Things People Keep" - the garbage show.

Gallery 110 – “A Common Language: Seattle/Shenzhen” – A U.S./China print exhibition, in the Loft Gallery: Jennifer Nerad.

Shift Collaborative Studio – “Double Vision,” a group exhibition curated by Elise Richman, featuring the collaborative work of three pairs of artists.

Patricia Rovzar Gallery – Encaustic work by Stephanie Hargrave

Lisa Harris Gallery – Oils on copper by Kent Lovelace and paintings by Lois Silver.

Some Space Gallery - First Annual Photographers Showcase.

SOIL - "Groundtruthing," featuring work by artists from across the country, each with a different approach to the idea of going "on location."

Corridor Gallery - “Literal Reflections,” paintings by Jay Mason.

Gallery4Culture – “Lost in Translation,” new work by Diem Chau.

Wall Space – “Rite of Passage,” Seattle’s first look at Tom Chambers’ vibrant, unpredictable photographs.

Punch Gallery - "Resistance," artwork by Andrew Kaufman and Donna Stack that mediates political currents into contemplative forms.

See individual gallery websites for more information.

News and Congratulations

Yesterday was THE quietest First Thursday I've seen in a while - maybe ever! Even Occidental Square galleries were slow, although a (small) crowd gathered outside to enjoy the music.

C'est la vie - I guess even the free espresso at ArtXchange couldn't draw the hung-over post-4th crowd.

On a lighter note, congratulations to Roq La Rue for winning the NWSource People's Pick for Favorite Gallery. Congratulations to the other finalists as well: Faire Gallery Cafe, Frye Art Museum, Gallery 110, Henry Art Gallery, OKOK Gallery, Oasis, Seattle Art Museum, Simply Frames & A Miner Gallery, and Vain.

First Thursday Art Walk in Pioneer Square

"Boys," by Cynthia Bittenfield, opening at Gallery 110

First Thursday, Seattle’s largest art walk, is coming up on July 5th, 2007 – over 35 galleries, studios, spaces, booths, and shops are participating, with new art openings and other fun events.

But did you know that the SAM Downtown and the Seattle Asian Art Museum offer free admission all day on First Thursdays? Well they do – if you’re lucky, you already have the day off – otherwise, take it off! It’s July – relax a little! More employers should offer paid Art Days for their employees – at least one per year. Maybe you should suggest it.

Occidental Park’s “Art in the Park” events should be in full swing. Check out the booths and entertainment by local artists and craftspeople, and enjoy live music by the Tim Turner Band.

First Thursday Openings:

Gallery 110 opens Cynthia Bittenfield’s art/history project “World War II Revisited” and Natalie Niblank’s “Yes,” a series of large-format drawings.

New work by Travis Stanley will be on display at Some Space Gallery.

Work by Will Robinson will be opening at Foster/White’s Pioneer Square location.

"Erosion,” blown and carved glass vessels by Mark Roth will be opening at Vetri International Glass.

"The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" will be opening at 3 participating galleries – more details to come – this show is too big to fit into a blurb.

“Bubbles, Loops, & Spheres: Sculpture and drawings” by Tara Donovan and “Always a Pleasure,” by Angela White, both open at Greg Kucera Gallery.

Site specific installation and sculpture by Rick Araluce will be on display at William Traver Gallery, along with embroidered paintings by Mary Josephson.

Oil paintings by Greg Skol will be on display at the Patricia Rovzar Gallery.

"Hai and Thanh: New Work from Vietnam” will be opening at ArtXchange Gallery, an exhibition of mixed media and lacquer paintings by twin brothers from Vietnam.

Textural, abstract acrylic paintings by Parvin will be opening at D'Adamo/Woltz Gallery.

“Independence,” new sculpture by Laura Wright at Gallery4Culture.

A mix of sculpture and installation by Sarah Gilbert, titled “Ghosts and Monsters,” opens at Shift Studio.

Among many others!

Find a map of the Pioneer Square gallery district here.