On the first Thursday of every month, hundreds of people head to Pioneer Square to view the latest art shows. Seattle’s oldest neighborhood is home to dozens of galleries. First Thursday showcases new exhibitions and artists from 6 to 8 p.m.
Parking is free for artwalk visitors at Frye Garage (117 3rd Ave S), Butler Garage (114 James Street), and 450 Alaskan (450 Alaskan Way - entrance on King Street).
Arts reporter Lisa Edge shares the following suggestions for what to check out during your self-guided tour.
Andre Petterson: Random by Design at Foster/White Gallery
From the gallery: “In a society saturated by an excess of objects, it is hard to escape the constant presence of the discarded. Below the surface of what appears to be ordered and modern often exists a mess of cast-offs. These items may have had rich lives, and perhaps once served a purpose for which they are no longer being used. The presence of these remnants is something that we barely notice, so resigned are we to the fact that their existence is ordinary. However, it is in these ordinary moments, in these unplanned structures of cast-off materials, that artist Andre Petterson has found inspiration for his newest body of work, Random by Design.
WHAT: “Andre Petterson: Random by Design”
WHEN: Opens First Thurs., 6 to 8 p.m., runs until May 25
WHERE: Foster/White Gallery, 220 Third Ave. S #100, Seattle
Holly Ballard Martz: The Greatest Show on Earth at METHOD Gallery
From the gallery: “Historically, American democracy has been heralded as a worldwide beacon of liberty and justice, with the US flag one of its most potent symbols. In her latest installation, Holly Ballard Martz reconfigures the familiar stars and stripes into a more fitting representation of the current spectacle of US politics. Fifty sanctioned cotton flags are cut, stitched, and stretched across the expanse of the gallery, creating a 30-foot circus tent for all to enter. No need to run away to join the circus, the circus has come to you.
“Holly Ballard Martz uses language and found objects to create iconic, multi-media works about deeply felt social, political, and personal issues, including mental illness, gun violence, and reproductive rights. Her two-dimensional, sculptural, and installation-based practice includes casting, sewing, metalwork, encaustic-whatever is needed to articulate her concerns and engender critical dialogue.”
WHAT: “Holly Ballard Martz: The Greatest Show on Earth” at METHOD Gallery
WHEN: First Thurs., 5 – 9 p.m., runs until May 25
WHERE: METHOD Gallery, 106 Third Ave S., Seattle
Silk & Stone: exploring abstract terrain at ArtXchange Gallery
Local artists Caryn Friedlander and Donald Cole come together for the exhibition “Silk & Stone: exploring abstract terrain.”
From the gallery: “Inspired by textures, materials, and abstraction that evokes emotional resonance, Friedlander and Cole’s densely intricate artworks respond to the building upon and deconstructing of layers, inspired by terrain that they have individually explored on their extensive travels. Friedlander’s elegant wall-hangings of intuitive stitchery on silk respond to formations of natural dyes created from organic elements drawn from the natural world around her. Cole captures the grandiosity of landscapes he has experienced in vivid abstract works ranging from monumental 20-foot wall-sized paintings to the tiniest matchbox sketch.”
WHAT: “Silk & Stone: exploring abstract terrain”
WHEN: First Thurs., 5 – 8 p.m., runs until May 25, artist talk on the last day of the exhibition
WHERE: ArtXchange Gallery, 512 First Ave. S, Seattle
yəhaw̓ at King Street Station
Just a few blocks away from ArtXchange gallery is the newly renovated cultural space at King Street Station. yəhaw̓ is the inaugural show, which showcases the work of more than 200 Indigenous artists. From stunning photography to a Bigfoot sculpture made out of 15,000 pieces of plastic, the exhibition is a must-see for art lovers. The title yəhaw̓ is derived from a Coast Salish story of people from many tribes who come together to lift the sky after the Creator left it too low. They spoke different languages but they all learned one word, yəhaw̓ , which means to “go forward, to do it.”
The sprawling exhibition is a nuanced show of contemporary and traditional art. More than 100 tribal affiliation and Indigenous communities are represented. The artists are based in Alaska, British Columbia, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
Two weeks ago, a portrait from the show graced the cover of Real Change. Check out the write-up before you go.
WHAT: yəhaw̓
WHEN: First Thurs., 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., runs until Aug. 3
WHERE: King Street Station, 303 S. Jackson St.
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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