Benham Gallery Vandalized

Last week, Benham Gallery in downtown Seattle was vandalized. The current exhibition, "Erotic Beauty," a daring exhibit that includes photographs of transgender woman and gay men, has presumably been the target of a hate-crime.

Gallery owner Marita Holdaway says it best on a note placed on the broken window:

"We believe our window was smashed by a person who was challenged by the
content of this exhibition.

The subjects of these artworks have experienced enough of this kind of
cowardliness and violence.

We are happy to discuss our curatorial decisions with anyone who wishes to
talk with us instead of experiencing this kind of behavior.

Happy Easter!"

Show your support of Benham and the artists in the exhibition by visiting the gallery and viewing this exhibition during the remainder of its run! For more information, visit the Benham Gallery website.

Seattle Art News is on Vacation!

Hello friends! As many of you have noticed, Seattle Art News is on a temporary vacation from weekly events posting. Much needed R&R is currently underway, as well as planning for an exciting FORMAT CHANGE coming up for this site in the next month.

The Seattle Art News calendar is still being updated, so check it out for all the dates you need to know, what's happening this weekend, and where the best art is right now.

I'll be back! Cheers, - Lois Lane

News: FREE Immigration Building to an arts organization

Scott Lawrimore from the Lawrimore Project alerts us to a very interesting development regarding the vacant Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) Building on South Airport Way:

"It has come to my attention that the City of Seattle has released its hold on a permit to acquire the GIGANTIC, historical and long-fallow Immigration Building next to my gallery here in the International District.

This building was offered by the Government Service Administration and its Regional Manager to the City of Seattle for $1 if they would dedicate it for an arts or cultural purpose.

The City of Seattle ignored this offer.

The City of Seattle instead tried to get it for a developer to turn into mixed-use office space as part of their larger plan to turn my entire block into condos, retail and office space (for which it is not yet zoned).

The Government Service Administration and its Regional Manager now have a very small window of time where they can hear from ANY, I repeat ANY arts organization that can utilize this building for the greater cultural community's benefit and make a "Public Benefit Transfer" of the property--essentially 'give' the building to an organization that will shepherd it for a cultural purpose. Whether it's Artist Trust or the Gage Academy or Cornish or The Henry or U.W. or SAM or The Frye or On the Boards or A.C.T. or... THIS IS THE TIME FOR THEM TO LET THEIR INTEREST BE KNOWN!!!

If this interest is not made know within the next week, the G.S.A. will be forced to put the building up for public sale and the noble, altruistic intent of the GSA's Regional Manager will fall by the wayside as it inevitably falls into the hands of a developer.

This is an amazing opportunity that should not go ignored."

Thanks to Scott for spreading the word!

The Sunday Edition (On Monday): Local News

Saturday September 29 is Museum Day 2007

Museum Day is a nationwide event where participating museums and cultural institutions across the country offer free admission, allowing for one day only the free-admission policy of Smithsonian's Washington, D.C.-based facilities to be emulated across the country.

Many Washington locations are taking part in this fun one-day event. Crowd-pleasing favorites such as the Seattle Art Museum, Tacoma Art Museum, and the Henry Art Gallery, as well as more off the beaten path venues like the Birthplace of Seattle Log House Museum and the World Kite Museum. And lots more! Find a list here and plan your day.

If you aren't currently a Smithsonian magazine subscriber, get a free Museum Day pass online.

Participate in the Artist Trust 2008 Auction

Seattle’s Artist Trust is already underway planning their 2008 Auction. If you are interested in performing or donating artwork, find instructions on how to submit here. Submissions received at the Artist Trust office on or before October 1st, 2007 will be considered for the 2008 Auction.

Based on the smashing success of the 2007 Auction, this will be a great chance to show your artwork to hundreds of Seattle art makers and supporters. Artist Trust also needs a small army of volunteers – I volunteered last year and had a fabulous time.

‘Reel Short Movies’ Screening Online at Seattle Channel’s ArtsZone

Reel Short Movies Episode 10 features selected films from Artist Trust's 2004-2005 Reel Big Deal. It is screening on-line now on the Seattle Channel's Reel Short Movies on ArtsZone. Featured filmmakers are Aaron Bourget, John Helde, Wes Kim, Stefan Gruber, Jim Woodring, Danielle Morgan, Donna Stack, Dave Hanagan, Pat Moriarty, and Jackson Douglas.

PhotoVision Awards Coming Up September 29

The Photographic Center Northwest is holding the Second Annual PhotoVision Award dinner and auction, recognizing internationally acclaimed photographer Keith Carter of Beaumont, Texas. The event will be held at 5:30pm on September 29, 2007, at the Photographic Center Northwest.

The evening will include a three-course dinner, live art auction, and a program honoring this year's PhotoVision Award recipient. All proceeds will benefit the ongoing programs of the Photographic Center Northwest, a non-profit photography school, gallery, and community resource in Seattle, WA.

An online catalogue of auction items can be seen here, or visit the PCNW Gallery for a rotating exhibit of auction photographs up now through September 28.

Tickets are $140 each, and may be purchased at PCNW, by calling (206) 720-7222 ext. 10, or at Brown Paper Tickets.

Motel #1 Brings Down the House

Saturday night at the Bridge Motel was no scene for claustrophobes, that's for sure. The organizers of Motel #1 deserve a big round of applause for creating an event so novel that it attracted a crowd of hundreds. But, ultimately, the event suffered from the crushing weight of too many people crammed into too small a space.

Flattened Can Spiral, by Robert Zverina, midway through it's eventual trampling

I think we can all agree - it was crowded. Overcrowded. I really wanted to see the art, unlike many people who seemed happy enough to stand in the parking lot and drink. But I wasn't able to push my way into many of the rooms. I wasn't even going to deal with the 2nd floor balcony situation. The headlines were already running through my head: "Artists to Blame for Tragic Balcony Collapse in Fremont."

The Bridge Motel, 'dressed up' for its last night of existence

On the plus side, this was the most photographed event of the season. It was like the Emmys. So for those of us who didn't manage to actually SEE anything, or only caught little glimpses around the edges of other people, there are tons of photos capturing everything for posterity. The photos here are a few of my own.

room installation by Meghan Guthrie

I left around 10:30, thinking I could enjoy next week's Motel #2 at leisure. Change of plans! Apparently the Ambassador Motel, host location of Motel #2, has 'freaked out' and decided that, for some reason or another, they DON'T want 1,200 drunken art lovers jumping on the beds and smoking weed on their balconies. But the organizers have secured a new, top-secret location in a working motel on Hwy 99, 'the dirtiest, smelliest, prostitutest, violentest strip in Seattle,' and will launch the week-long festival of endurance pieces via webcam.

I think the picture says it all.

Open Satellite's "A Roof Upended"

Congratulations to Open Satellite and Olga Koumoundouros for a successful inaugural opening last night.

Ms. Koumoundouros's 'architectonic' sculpture using discarded materials from Bellevue building sites is definitely an appropriate opener for a gallery/residency-program located in a shiny new high-rise and supported by a developer.

If you stop by to see the piece, take a chance to walk around the immediate area and get a feel for the location and context. I appreciated the piece much more after a short walk. One or two blocks from the sparkling 989 Elements high-rise and landscaped sidewalks, I passed a boarded-up building almost entirely covered by trees and moss - being reclaimed by the earth in the midst of Bellevue's explosive upward growth. Koumoundouros’s work at Open Satellite brings pieces of this ‘obsolete’ urban detritus inside the newer, 'better' buildings that are replacing them.

I'm excited to see what Open Satellite will do in the future. From the back of their postcard: "The residency-based program provides an opportunity for emerging and mid-career artists from outside the region to work for an extended period to create large-scale artwork in any medium. Exhibitions are staged four times annually with every fifth show focused on architecture as a critical position."

For the full story, see Jen Graves' article here. I love the quote from Lead Pencil Studio's Daniel Mihalyo: "Developers are potentially the new Medicis." Also appreciated are some timely statements by Mihalyo regarding 'cross-lake snootiness.'

Cheers to Open Satellite!

The Sunday Edition: Local News and Artist Opportunities

Mayor Nickels on the arts in Seattle

A new interview with Mayor Greg Nickels is appearing in Inside Encore, a publication of Encore Arts Programs. Learn Mayor Nickels' thoughts on what powerhouse arts and culture mean to Seattle.

Seattle Artist Exhibiting at Brenau University

Brenau University in Gainesville, GA, is presenting an installation exhibition by Seattle artist and University of Washington faculty member Naomi Kasumi. The exhibition, entitled MEM: memory memorial, includes two parts of a series of memorial pieces that represent an emotional experience in this Japan-born artist’s life.

Naomi Kasumi, MEM: memory memorial / no. 5 limbo, detail from installation

Kasumi’s “ritual” of repeating the same object over and over serves as a therapeutic, redemptive action. Coming from Japan and living in the US, Kasumi is surrounded by complex cultural views on the topic of abortion. “Sharing the truth of my experience with others publicly is my catharsis and part of my healing process. My intention is to provide a rich and honest forum where through interactive storytelling, I invite people to identify their own memories of loss and secrecy. I know I am not alone in dealing with this experience."

Hey Artists: Another Call for Art!

PUNCH Gallery and SOIL present an International Juried Exhibition taking place December 2007. Artists from any country may submit work in any medium. There is no limit to the number of entries. In addition to traditional 2-D and 3-D works, artists are encouraged to submit work in new media, video, sound, or installation.

The show will be juried by Eric Fredericksen, director of Western Bridge gallery in Seattle. The entry fee is $15 for the first two images, $5 per additional image. Deadline for receipt of submission is October 15, 2007.

Click here to review the complete prospectus and submit your entries via online submission form.

And Yet Another: Artists sought for transfer stations, Electric Gallery

The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs is seeking artists for two artist residencies, one at Seattle Public Utilities' North Transfer Station and one at the South Transfer Station, to study the facilities' operations, to develop temporary artworks, and to create permanent artworks to enhance future replacement facilities.

They are also seeking artists for temporary large-scale installations at the outdoor Union Street Electric Gallery, a rotating outdoor exhibition space on the western face of the Seattle City Light facility at Union Street and Western Avenue.

Find out more about these calls for artists and link to the project applications here. The deadline to apply for the transfer station artist residencies is Friday, Sept. 28. The application deadline for the Union Street Electric Gallery is Friday, Oct. 5.

Columbia City Gallery Art Classes and Workshops Now Registering

The Columbia City Gallery, an artist-run collective in southeast Seattle, is now offering a series of Studio Art Classes and Creativity Inspiring Workshops. The classes range from fun craft techniques like glass fusing and artist journals to somewhat mystical offerings such as ‘painting poetry’ and ‘soul collage.’ All the classes are affordably priced and most, if not all, seem suitable for kids and teenagers.

Click here for a full schedule and click here to register.

The Sunday Edition: Local Updates

Tacoma Art Museum Offers Free Internet Access

Good news for laptop addicts. The Tacoma Art Museum now provides free Internet (WiFi) access, allowing museum visitors to access the Internet from the museum’s public spaces such as: Untitled Café, the Murray Family Event Space, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Art Resource Center, and the outdoor balcony. By becoming a WiFi Hotspot, Tacoma Art Museum has created a new means of integrating art and technology for community use.

PICA’s TBA:07 is Coming: Take Action Now

The Time-Based Art Festival 2007 is coming up in a few weeks. Now is the best time to peruse schedules, purchase tickets, and ask your friends for rides to Portland. As part of the festival, The TBA Institute will be presenting a series of workshops, panel discussions and conversations featuring TBA artists.

The first workshop, which will be held on September 7th, will feature Chilean artist Cristián Silva, the artist behind TBA:07 project, The Non-Green Garden. This workshop requires registration and will fill up fast – the deadline is August 30th.

Advance registration is required for this workshop-please call the TBA Central Box Office at 503.224.PICA. $10 members, $15 general.

Cristián Silva was born in Chile and lives and works in Guadalajara, Mexico, since 2001. His work has been exhibited at the Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art (Austin, TX), The Project (New York), Museo Carrillo Gil (Mexico City) and the VII Bienal de la Habana (La Habana, Cuba). He has taught Contemporary Art History, Composition and Color at several institutions in Chile and Mexico, and is exploring color and visual design for his current TBA:07 project, The Non-Green Garden.

Silva’s “The Behavior of Color” workshop will illustrate the basic aspects of how we perceive and can use color as a vehicle for expression and communication. Based largely on the principles dictated by Josef Albers’ seminal class “The Interaction of Color,” it will feature elements helpful for both absolute beginners and more advanced enthusiasts/practitioners of the visual. Cristián Silva will base part of this workshop on the analysis of images previously submitted by the participating community.

Find information on registration and image submission here.

Hey Artists: Call for art @ Suite 100 Gallery

Take part in Suite 100 Gallery’s first annual 'Sweet 100' holiday art exhibition, coming up Nov – Dec 2007. All 2D submissions will be considered for this one-of-a-kind event.

Send a link to an online portfolio or digital images via email to info@suite100gallery@com. Artists can submit up to three works for the show.

Works must be framed and/or mounted, ready-to-hang, no larger than 24" w/h (exceptions can be made), and 'awesome.'

10% of gallery proceeds will be donated to the Child's Play charity.

What to do this rainy Sunday evening?

Listen to Art Radio and watch art TV.

The new edition of Art Radio Seattle is online now - local and international art news delivered straight to your ears.

Also, did you know that you can watch Seattle Channel original programming online? You need Realplayer to watch (available free online). Two shows you might want to watch:

Seattle Public Art – a new series of video profiles featuring Seattle public artworks and the artists who created them.

Gallery Hop – take a guided tour of new and established galleries with perky host Nancy Guppy.

Seattle Art News is Back in Town

If this blog has been too silent lately, it's because I've been on vacation, traveling by train no less. Trains don't have much in the way of wireless access (a helpful character I met on the way attributed this to EMF fields). But I'm back and up to my regular scouting, detecting, and sleuthing of Seattle's art venues.

Art & Fashion in August, part 2

Ali Kurhan, a local Seattle nursing student and budding artist, is making and selling fashionable cuff bracelets from salvaged materials, ribbons, and buttons under the label “Salvation.”

Kurhan is raising money with her wearable art so that she can volunteer with No More Deaths – an organization that staffs migrant center camps on the United States–Mexican border to offer aid to people who have recently been deported in compromised health and are in need of respite care.


Ali is a member artist of Twilight Artist Collective and sells her art through Twilight’s third-floor Pike Place Market retail art store.

Last Minute News - COCA and Chris Bruch

Chris Bruch "How Did I Get Here?" at Lawrimore Project extended

The Cris Bruch exhibition has been extended an extra week, and now closes on August 11th instead of Aug 4th. Lawrimore Project is located at 831 Airport Way South.

COCA "Holly Senn: Textural" reception at Belltown Gallery - TONIGHT

Artist Reception Wednesday July 18, 2007 7-9pm on the terrace directly above the gallery. "Textural" is a site-specific installation by Holly Senn that "challenges viewers traversing the urban landscape to contemplate the life of the mind."

The Belltown Gallery is a four-foot deep by 38-foot long "show case" that creates a lively, dynamic installation space for artists of all media and disciplines. Located on the first floor of the Avenue One Condominiums at 2721 First Avenue, the gallery is viewable through the three windows on the Clay Street side.

Other News

Tacoma Art Museum hires Curator of Collections & Special Exhibitions

Tacoma Art Museum Director Stephanie A. Stebich has named Margaret Bullock Curator of Collections and Special Exhibitions. She will begin her work at the museum this September.

Most recently, Bullock was curator and collections manager at the Harwood Museum of Art at the University of New Mexico in Taos, which preserves, collects, and exhibits historic and contemporary art and culture of the Taos region. Previously she worked at the Portland Art Museum, first as Curatorial Assistant in 1998, then Assistant Curator of American Art, and finally as Associate Curator of American Art in 2001.

Says Stiebach: "Working with Rock Hushka, our Director of Curatorial Administration and Curator of Contemporary and Northwest Art, Margaret will build on the museum’s tradition of presenting important exhibitions of historic American and European art and will focus on new research of the museum’s core collections. Margaret also will play a key role in the museum’s development of major special exhibitions with accompanying scholarly publications.”

COCA 26th Annual Seafair Ball - Tickets Now on Pre-Sale

Tickets are on sale for the Coca 26^th Annual Seafair Ball – An Evening of Eclectic Entertainment – which will be held July 26^th at the Shilshole Bay Beach Club.

Recent works by Marita Dingus, Juan Alonso, Richard Kehl, Chris Buening, Alan Fulle, Laura Castellanos, Richard Hutter, Juan Carlos Castellanos and Cathy Woo will be on view. Other entertainment includes music, full bar, “specialty food stations,” henna tattoo artists, and tarot card readings.

The tickets are $25 on pre-sale until July 24, $30 at the door ($5 artist discount). Tickets are available online here.

Vashon Artist Elaine Hanowell Wins National Award

Vashon Island artist Elaine Hanowell has been awarded the grand prize in the 2006/2007 Margo Harris Hammerschlag Biennial Competition for Direct Carving. She received the award from the National Association of Women Artists in NYC, the oldest women’s professional fine arts organization in the United States. The competition was juried by internationally acclaimed sculptors Judith Shea and Walter Dusenbery.

"Fox" and "Red on Red Koi" by Elaine Hanowell

Ms. Hanowell has been an active member of the Seattle arts community for over 20 years. Her sculptural work in carved wood, which can take years to complete, was last seen in “Conversations with Hanuman” at Foster/White Gallery. Her works in paper/lighted sculpture are installed at popular downtown restaurant The Dahlia Lounge. She is currently represented by ArtXchange Gallery.