Seattle’s oldest neighborhood is home to dozens of art galleries. The First Thursday art walk in Pioneer Square began in the early 1960s and is still going strong today.
On First Thursday, galleries often showcase new exhibits from 6 to 8 p.m.
First Thursday parking is free from 5 – 10 p.m. at Frye Garage (117 Third Ave. S.), Butler Garage (114 James St.) and 450 Alaskan (450 Alaskan Way - entrance on King Street). To redeem, pick up a voucher at participating Pioneer Square stores, restaurants or galleries.
Here are a few shows you may want to check out May 3.
“Robert Marchessault: The Lorax Dreams” at Foster/White gallery
Marchessault is a Canadian painter whose paintings have evolved from formal landscapes to trees emerging from an abstract background. He’s exhibited widely, and his work is in public and private collections.
From the gallery: “Marchessault fervently believes that trees are critical for our planet’s health and our own well-being. His lifelong exploration of their expressive nature captures the essential spirit of arboreal life and celebrates it. Marchessault’s portraits serve as a powerful reminder to recognize and protect our delicate natural heritage. It is the only one we have.”
WHAT: “Robert Marchessault: The Lorax Dreams”
WHEN: May 3 – 26, artist will be in attendance on First Thursday
WHERE: Foster/White Gallery, 220 Third Ave. S, #100, Seattle
“Sally Cleveland: Drawings/Paintings” and “Robert Schultz: Drawings in Silverpoint” at Prographica/KDR
On First Thursday, visitors to the gallery will not only be able to view the work of Sally Cleveland and Robert Schultz, but they’ll also have the opportunity to talk to the artists. The joint solo show brings together two distinct styles. Cleveland is known for painting intimate quiet scenes. Schultz has shown at KDR in California nearly two dozen times, but “Drawings in Silverpoint” is his Seattle debut. Creating silverpoint drawings is an involved process that begins with a sketchbook study in red pencil.
From the gallery: “The installation of recent work by Sally Cleveland is a blend of drawings and paintings covering a broad range of subject matter. A barren storefront, a solitary book on a chair, a contemplative woman alone at a table … each depicts an isolated moment in time devoid of a narrative element, yet familiar.
“Schultz’s signature technique and attention to detail goes seemingly beyond the ability of the human eye to capture information. His drawings speak not only of his uncompromising diligence, but also capture his passion of working from the live model and his deep connection with each individual subject.”
WHAT: “Sally Cleveland: Drawings/Paintings” and “Robert Schultz: Drawings in Silverpoint”
WHEN: May 3 - June 2; artists talk May 5 at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Prographica/KDR, 313 Occidental Avenue S., Seattle
“Between and Within: A Tenuous Beauty” at ArtXchange Gallery
“Between and Within” is a group show featuring the work of Jiyoung Chung, Gilchun Koh and Alan Lau.
From the gallery: “This exhibition by three artists (based in Rhode Island, South Korea and Seattle) explores the changing climate of nature’s textures from chaotic to serene, impacted by human development and the accelerating diminishment of natural resources. The complex choreography of the organic world is expressed through sensitive documentation of animal species and abstracted emotional landscapes, reminding us of humanity’s vital relationship with nature.
“Jiyoung Chung is internationally recognized for bringing the utilitarian “Joomchi” tradition, a Korean method of hand-felted Hanji (mulberry) paper, into the world of contemporary art. Chung has authored several books on this technique, lectured at academic institutions and exhibited her work internationally.
“Gilchun Koh, based on Jeju Island, South Korea, blends art and activism in his sensitive lithograph prints. Known for its majestic landscape of waterfalls, white sand beaches and a dormant volcano, Jeju is also home to migratory birds whose natural habitats are being impacted by militaristic activity between the US and China.
“Alan Lau follows the changing choreography of nature as a map, leading his hand to create densely layered paintings of landscapes both real and imagined. Inspired by Asian brush painting techniques, he honors the subject matter of daily life in his abstract works, which explore the emotion and color of subjects including walking through impossibly green cabbage fields and the life and death cycle of tree leaves.”
WHAT: “Between and Within: A Tenuous Beauty”
WHEN: April 5 – May 26
WHERE: ArtXchange Gallery, 512 First Ave. S, Seattle
Lisa Edge is a Staff Reporter covering arts, culture and equity. Have a story idea? She can be reached at lisae (at) realchangenews (dot) org. Follow Lisa on Twitter @NewsfromtheEdge
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