Seattle Art Blog

Woodside/Braseth Gallery, 2101 9th. Avenue in Seattle, ends their 50th year anniversary with masterworks by the “Northwest Mystics,” in an exhibit honoring the works of the “Golden Era of Northwest Art” by the big four: Guy Anderson, Kenneth Callahan, Morris Graves and Mark Tobey. A reception will be on May 17 from 5:30 – 8:3pm ; the show closes June 2. Included in this highly curated exhibition is Mark Tobey’s “Head of a Young Woman“ 1957, which was included in the 1961 “Mark Tobey Retrospective” at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Palais du Louvre, Paris and at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Additionally, Morris Graves’ 1944 “Young Pine“ and “Vessel As A Self-Portrait“ as well as the iconic large scale work from 1944 “Vessel in a Drift of Diamond Light in the Sky of the Mind”.

The Traver Gallery Seattle, 110 Union Street, presents the fourteenth solo exhibition by artist Merrill Wagner “Recycle: Flowers and Fields” a selection of the artist’s new works on steel and linen. The opening reception is on May 17 from 5-8pm.This new body of works on recycled and found steel includes the austere landscape abstractions for which she is best known, new abstract geometric compositions, and a series of abstract flower forms. Also on exhibit is a small selection of intimate plein-air landscapes on linen. The show will run through June 24.

Showing from May 17 through June 30 at the Greg Kucera Gallery is the first solo exhibition of Gee’s Bend, Alabama artist, Loretta Bennett. Bennett is a fifth-generation quilter. The African -American quilters coming from rural hamlets such as Gee’s Bend rely on recognizable traditions of patterning but create their own unique riffs as well. An artist talk is scheduled June 9 at noon, and the opening reception will be June 7 from 6-8pm.  Showing concurrently are the selected editions of Helen Frankenthaler. Featured is a selection of the artist’s prints from the last 50 years. Shown: Broken Housetop by Loretta Bennett.

Sculptor Ann Flemming is being introduced at the Cole Gallery, 107 5th. Avenue S. in Edmonds, as part of their “First Glance” series. A champagne reception for the artist is scheduled for May 17 from 5-8pm at the gallery. Shown: Hopes Boat.

Third Thursday

Belltown Art Walk, 6pm until closing. Visit http://belltownartwalk.com/

Edmonds Art Walk, 5pm-8pm. Visit www.manyaveeselects.com/artwalk/artwalk.htm

Tacoma Art Walk. Tacoma’s galleries, Museum of Glass, Tacoma Art Museum, and the Washington State History Museum are open from 5pm-8pm. All three museums are free. Call 253.272.4258 or www.artwalktacoma.com/

Upper Queen Anne Art Walk, 6pm-8pm. E-mail info@bouncingwall.com.

Third Friday

Port Orchard Art Walk from 4-7pm. May through October

Third Saturday

Everett Art Walk, 4pm-7pm. Visit www.everettartwalk.org.

LaConner Art Walk, 4pm-8pm. www.laconnerchamber.com/

May 8-15

Pilchuck Glass School Spring Group Tours, advance reservations required, minimum groups of 10. Call 206.621.6422 or email reservations@pilchuck.com.

May 17

Writer and spoken word artist Christa Bell presents a night of lyrical and musical responses to Theaster Gates: The Listening Room.  From 7-8pm at the Seattle Art Museum downtown at 1300 First Avenue in the 3rd. floor galleries.

May 18

Free museum admission as part of the Association of Art Museum Directors’ Art Museum Day in concert with the International Museum Day.

May 18-19

The Clymer Art Auction – Exhibit & Gala. Friday evening is a Gala with a preview of the best of the best of Western art at Swiftwater Cellars in Suncadia. Live auction will be held on Saturday. For information and reservations, visit www.clymermuseum.org.

May 18-20

University District Street Fair: longest running street festival in the nation. Over 350 craft and food booths. Visit www.udistrictchamber.org.

May 19

Kirkland Arts Center  celebrates local artisans with Locavore  from 12:30pm with a fashion show at 1:30pm. in the Kirkland Masonic Lodge corner of Market Street and 7th. Avenue in Kirkland.

May 21

Chihuly Garden and Glass opens in the Seattle Center.

During the month of May Front Street Gallery, 18881 Front Street in Poulsbo, is featuring “Wildlife,” the wire sculptures of Colleen Cotey,  an artist dedicated to exploring and celebrating the diversity if wildlife in the Northwest, especially the endangered species. Opening reception is Saturday May 12 5-8 pm as part of Poulsbo Second Saturday Art Walk. Owls will be on display from West Sound Wildlife Shelter and 5% of sales from during the opening will go to this local non-profit. Call 360 598 6133 for details.

A solo exhibition of works by Canadian contemporary native artist Rande Cook. “A Spirit Within” opens May 12 and will remain on display through June 10 at Steinbrueck Native Gallery. The opening and artist’s reception is 5:00-7:00pm, Saturday, May 12. The show focuses on contemporary versions of what is considered "traditional" native styles of artwork.The gallery is also hosting a First Nations dance group called Copper Maker Dancers from BC the same day of the show. Cook will be dancing with them, along with Bill and Marty Holm. This performance will be $12 per person and is too large to fit in the gallery, so it’ll take place at SAM’s Plestcheeff Auditorium.

Opening May 11th at a reception from 6-8pm at Howard/Mandville Gallery, 120 Park Lane in Kirkland, is a show featuring oil on copper paintings by Kent Lovelace, “la Bonne Terre…The Good Earth,” travels in France. Lovelace will also give an informal talk about his art at 7pm. The Pondera Winery will unveil a new wine featuring a painting by the artist, “Danse Study” on the label. Shown: St. Jean de Luz.

Artists CASH, John Osgood, Kellie Talbot and Siolo Thompson have each created a small series of work or rather a "Vignette" for a show at BHerd Studios Gallery , on view from May 11 through June 1. The four vignettes create a short story or sketch of subject matter that allows the viewer to peer into a brief storyline that each artist has created. For example, Thompson’s vignette of paintings depict children on the cusp of adulthood posed as kings or queens and asks us to consider the flawed kingdom that today’s youth stand to inherit.  The show opens on May 11 from 6-10pm and on Saturday, May 12 from 12-05pm. Shown: King of Poisoned World by Siolo Thompson,

“Contemplating Nature,” a group exhibition at SAM Gallery Art Sales and Rental, 1220 Third Avenue in Seattle, features the work of eight artists who are influenced in an intimate way by natural forms from their gardens, local parks and further afield. The show, on view from May 10 through June 9, opens on May 10 from 5-7pm. Shown: Grass, Slat and Pollen/Poppy, detail of a diptych by Nina Tichava.

Jim Demetre will discuss “The Reductive Impulse,”  the current show at Prographica / fine works on paper, on Thursday evening, May 10, at 7pm in an event open to the public. The gallery is located at 3419 East Denny Way in the Madrona neighborhood.  Please call 206.322.3851 or email info@prographicadrawings.com with questions. Demetre is a Seattle-based writer and art critic. He was the publication manager at Reflex Magazine and the publisher and editor of Aorta and Artdish. His writings have appeared in the Stranger, the Seattle P-I and the Seattle Weekly.

“In the Midst of Transition,” a show featuring the work of Tyson Anthony Roberts, is on view at the Ghost Gallery, 504 East Denny Way, from May 10 through June 11. A reception for the artist is on May 10 from 5-8pm.

Showing from May 9 through June 10 at the Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery, 800 Bellevue Way NE, are new paintings by Brad Caplis in a show called “Welcome Home.” Meet the artist at a reception in the gallery on May 9 from 6-8pm. Shown: Vineyard View.

On view from May 8 through July 7 at the ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery, 4711 California Avenue SW, is “Tableaux Vivants,” featuring the work of six artists who work as storytellers in an attempt to inspire conversation and stimulate the imagination. The artists are Marty Gordon, Ulrich Pakker, Betty Sapp Ragan, Deborah Scott and DameBuilder.  A reception for the artists will be on May 10 from 6-7:30pm at the gallery.

Second Thursday

Blitz, Capitol Hill’s Art Walk from 5-8pm. More information and maps: www.blitzcapitolhill.com

West Seattle Art Walk, 6pm-9pm, Visit www.westseattleartwalk.blogspot.com.

Second Friday

Greenwood-Phinney Art Up Art Walk, 6pm-9pm, along Greenwood Ave. North from 67th-87th St. Visit http://artupgreenwood-phinneyblogspot.com/

Kirkland Art Walk 6-9pm

Maple Leaf’s First Art Walk from 6-9pm. Start at Fine Impressions Gallery, 8300 5th. Avenue NE.

Second Saturday

Ballard Art Walk, 6pm-9pm. Call Ballard Chamber of Commerce at 206.784.9705. www.centraldistrictartwalk.com/.

Central District Art Walk from 1pm-5pm. at various locations around 23rd Ave & E Cherry St.

Georgetown Art Attack, 6-9pm. Visit www.georgetownartattack.com

Port Angeles Art Walk, 5-8pm. Visit www.portangelesdowntown.com/

Poulsbo Art Walk from 5-8pm. http://poulsboartwalk.com/default.aspx

May 12-13

Vashon Island Open Studio Tour features artists in all mediums in group shows as well as 30-40 open studios. Maps available at island galleries and the Chamber of Commerce, 9am-5pm.

May 8-15

Pilchuck Glass School Spring Group Tours, advance reservations required, minimum groups of 10. Call 206.621.6422 or email reservations@pilchuck.com.

May 11

21st Annual PONCHO International Wine Auction for the Arts. Dedicated to supporting the local arts community. Seattle Sheraton. For information and reservations visit www.poncho.org.

May 11-12

Phinney Greenwood Art Walk, over 40 locations between 65th and 87th. Fri., 6pm-9pm; Sat., noon-5pm.

May 12-13

Camano Island Annual Mother’s Day Weekend Studio Tour, 10am-6pm. Visit camanoarts.org.