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 visit June 7.
"Poetic Translations: A Visual Journey" at ArtXchange gallery
William Hernandez, a Portland-based Peruvian painter, is back in Seattle for his second solo show with a series of vibrant works. The exhibition is a collaboration and creative response to poems by Portland writer Christa Kaainoa.
From the gallery: “The characters in Poetic Translations seem to spring from a collection of fairytales and fables, with a blend of whimsy and melancholy throughout the dreamlike scenes. Sometimes the connections between words and images reveal themselves easily, but more often Hernandez takes Kaainoa’s words to surreal and imaginative heights. Continuing the collaborative spirit, the exhibition opens and closes with two dance events choreographed by Seattle artist and Latin dance teacher, Vanessa Villalobos. Responding to both Hernandez’s paintings and Kaainoa’s words, these original dance pieces will interpret the creative process itself and use movement to evoke universal stories of love, longing, death and inspiration.”
WHAT: “Poetic Translations: A Visual Journey”
WHEN: Opens First Thursday, runs until July 27
WHERE: ArtXchange Gallery, 512 First Ave. S, Seattle
“Kimberly Clark: A Stop on the Road” & “Judy Nimtz: Littoral” at Prographica/KDR
“A Stop on the Road” and “Littoral” are joint solo exhibitions. While Kimberly Clark focuses on landscapes, Judy Nimtz’ work centers solitary, contemplative figures. Both of their series evoke a meditative quality.
From the gallery: “The show’s title, ‘A Stop on the Road,’ is a reference to the search the artist embarks on to find inspiration for her work. Clark’s paintings are a documentation of her travels across the country and the long rides on her bike exploring the countryside. Clark relocated to South Carolina from Seattle in 2014. She begins the day on her bike, exploring the environs in and around her home, stopping when the light passing through the trees or the lines formed by the branches in the canopies above, catches her eye. The journey is as important as the process of constructing the paintings. Aiming to achieve a ‘quiet, introspective’ mood, Nimtz thoughtfully stages her models in bright sunlight on lava rocks under the ultra blue sky of her native Hawaii. With their cool, marble-like flesh and graceful poses, Nimtz’s figures reference the genre of 19th century society portraiture and the Pre-Raphaelites. Each piece focuses on the strength of its subject — a figure commanding rather than isolated by the surrounding space. The title of the exhibition, ‘Littoral’ is Latin for: existing or taking place on or near the shore. Nimtz was born in Taiwan and raised on the island of O’ahu in Hawai’i.”
WHAT: “Kimberly Clark: A Stop on the Road” & “Judy Nimtz: Littoral”
WHEN: Opens First Thursday, runs until June 30
WHERE: PrographicaA/KDR, 313 Occidental Ave. S, Seattle
“Matthew Ryan Herget: I SEE BETTER WITH MY EYES” at Treason Gallery
Matthew Ryan Herget’s work is celebrated in the US and internationally. His solo show at Treason gallery consists of his iconic mixed media paintings of astronauts and challenges the viewer to travel inward.
From the gallery: His gestural compositions are executed in a seemingly effortlessly manner, straddling abstract expressionism and realism. Each painting stands alone in its unique harmonious blend of color and movement, often creating a “painting within a painting,” captivating all who come in contact with them. The anonymous astronaut is described by Herget as the explorer that lies within all of us, yearning for an inner discovery of identity and peace. Herget’s narrative of the inner journey calls into question our struggle in the chaos of modern life, and the human condition.
WHAT: “Matthew Ryan Herget: I SEE BETTER WITH MY EYES”
WHEN: Open First Thursday, runs until June 30
WHERE: Treason Gallery, 319 Third Ave. 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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