Send listings two weeks in advance to visualarts@seattleweekly.com.

Lectures and Events

Art of India Art professor Ajay Sinha discusses how Indian art was originally set in context as well as the modern use of traditional Hindu imagery. 7 p.m. Thurs. Oct. 21. Seattle Asian Art Museum, Volunteer Park, 1400 E. Prospect Ave., 206-625-8900. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Sun.; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thurs.

Bellevue Art Museum Community Forum Meet Michael Monroe, BAM’s new executive director, and offer feedback on the museum’s plans to reopen as a craft museum. 7-8 p.m. Thurs. Oct. 14. City of Redmond Council Chambers, 8701 160th Ave. N.E. (Redmond), free.

Betty Bowen Artist Award Victoria Haven, whose superb show “Wonderland” is now on display at Howard House, accepts the prestigious annual award presented by Seattle Art Museum. 5:30 p.m. Thurs. Oct. 14, Seattle Art Museum, 100 University St., free, 206-654-3100.

Indian Art Market Weavings, baskets, jewelry, prints, carved wooden masks, and photographs by artists from a number of local tribes. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. Oct. 16. Daybreak Star Arts Center, Discovery Park, free (salmon lunch $10), 206-685-4425.

Panel Discussion: New Wave Structural Engineering Complex, computer-aided engineering is allowing architects to do astonishing things never before possible—from Rem Koolhaas’ Seattle Public Library to Santiago Calatrava’s Olympic Sports Complex. A panel of architects, including Tom Kundig, David Miller, and Edward Weinstein explore the new frontiers in architecture. 7 p.m. Thurs. Oct. 14, Henry Art Gallery, UW campus, $5, 206-543-2280.

Pilchuck Glass School Benefit Auction The annual fund-raiser for the region’s premier glass art school will feature more than 150 works in glass. Free public preview: 5:30-8 p.m. Thurs. Oct. 14. Auction: Fri. Oct. 15 Westin Hotel, 1900 Fifth Ave., $200 (reservations required), 206-621-8422, ext. 44.

Political Chalk Talk Illustrator and political caricaturist Steve Brodner (whose merciless pics have appeared in Mother Jones, Rolling Stone, and The New Yorker) gives a live “chalk talk” art demonstration on how to skewer the 2004 candidates. 3 p.m. Sat. Oct. 23. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., free, 206-545-4386.

Openings

Crawl Space University of Washington MFA graduate Gregory Schaffer’s “Come Clean” offers up deadpan photos of Wal-Marts, parking lots, and other banal locales—and finds odd moments of beauty in things like melted ice cream on hot pavement. Reception: 6-8 p.m. 504 E. Denny Way #1 (near Olive), 206-240-6015. Noon-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun.

Greg Kucera I have mixed feelings about the work of Darren Waterston, whose “13 Paintings” opens this week. From what I’ve seen, there’s no doubt that these watery, astral abstractions have a fine sense of composition and color. But there’s just something a little too easy about it all—a little too pretty and celestial in a New Agey sort of way. But see it for yourself—he’s quite popular (and yes, I’ll admit it, that probably has something to do with my unease). Reception: 6-8 p.m. Thurs. Oct. 14. Artist talk: noon, Sat. Oct. 16. 212 Third Ave., 206-624-0770. 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat.

James Harris Jeffry Mitchell’s watercolors of puppies and flowers find inspiration in the Japanese sumi tradition, but they just seem a bit too sugary-sweet. This show will also feature Mitchell’s assorted ceramic flowers and vases. Reception: 6-8 p.m. Thurs. Oct. 14. 309A Third Ave., 206-903-6220. 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat.

Kirkland Arts Center “Ruffle: Decadent Vexation” features fluff with a purpose by Elizabeth Jameson, Mandy Greer, Kris Lyons, and Anna Maltz. Reception: 6-9 p.m. Thurs. Oct. 14. 620 Market St., Kirkland, 425-822-7161. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri.

Platform In his second gallery show in town (the other is at Suyama Space) Brian Murphy uses odd angles and mirrors to paint honest, unflattering self-portraits. Reception: 3-5:30 p.m. Sat. Oct. 16. 114 Third Ave. S., 206-323-2808. 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Thurs.-Sat.

SCCC M. Rosetta Hunter Art Gallery “Back on Broadway” returns some notable alums of Seattle Central Community College to SCCC’s gallery, including Linda Young, Bret Corrington, and Iosefatu Sua. Reception: 5-7 p.m. Wed. Oct. 13. 801 E. Pine, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and 5-7 p.m. Tues & Thurs. 206-344-4379.

Square Room In “Valley of the Dolls” Brian McGuffey, Laura Thacker, and other artists offer variations on dolls in ceramic, paint and concrete. Reception: 6-10 p.m. Fri. Oct. 15. 1316 E. Pike St., 206-267-7120.

Last Chance

G. Gibson “Homage to Aperture,” a collection of work celebrating the 50th anniversary of the influential photography publisher, includes shots by the great ones: Imogen Cunningham, Ansel Adams, Sally Mann, Edward Weston, et al. 514 E. Pike St., 206-587-4033. 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. Wed.-Fri.; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. Ends Sat. Oct. 16.

Hugo House Prints and light boxes by Mary Simpson and Valerie McEvoy (from Alaska and Ireland, respectively) that explore the theme “Another Country.” 1634 11th Ave., 206-322-7030. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Fri., noon-5 p.m. Sat. Ends Fri. Oct. 15.

Jack Straw New Media Gallery Seattle’s Iole Alessandrini installs interactive lasers and other optical gizmos in this multimedia experience intended to explore “the distributed body, multiple-self, and transmigration of presence.” 4261 Roosevelt Way N.E., 206-634-0919. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Ends Fri. Oct. 15.

Solomon Fine Art Wood panels that have been painted, drawn on, and gouged in an expressionistic manner by Page Davis. 1215 First Ave., 206-297-1400. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat. Ends Fri. Oct. 15.

Galleries

1506 Projects “Moving Digital,” a collection of video-based art, film loops, and TV-show inspired prints from artists Iole Alessandrini, Brad Ewing, Sean Frego and others. 1506 E. Olive, 206-920-8618. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun.

Artemis Work by two Cornish alums: watercolor papers straddling the boundary between abstraction and representation by Celeste Marble plus Liz Tran’s quirky buildings and cityscapes. 3107 S. Day St., 206-323-0562. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.

Atelier 31 In Judith Kindler’s slapstick feminist art, she positions a doll (standing in as the artist’s alter ego) in incongruous high-art settings. Yep, that’s her sitting in the middle of Da Vinci’s Last Supper with a bottle of mineral water while all the disciples are sipping high-carb Cokes. Also on display: Molly Norris Curtis’ short film about her obsession with a 20th century cabaret star. 2500 First Ave., 206-448-5250. 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Tues.; 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Wed.-Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun.

Ballard Fetherston Pleasant, scratchy abstractions in oil and wax by Kirsten Stolle and pleasant, spacey abstractions in acrylic and graphite by Chris Metze. 818 E. Pike St., 206-322-9440. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sun.

Bluebottle Ah, for the days when “Pacific Northwest” meant caulk boots, chain saws, geoducks, and flapjacks as thick as mules’ blankets. Amanda Kindregan shares my nostalgia, and her new series of woodsy woodcuts situates spunky young women amid the loggers and beavers of yesteryear. 415 E. Pine St., 206-325-1592. 1-7 p.m. Tues.-Fri., noon-6 p.m. Sat.-Sun.

CoCA CoCA’s “Northwest Annual,” juried by Ken Lum, will give gallery time to scores of artists from around the world. 410 Dexter Avenue N., 206-728-1980. 2-8 p.m. Tues.-Thurs., noon-5 p.m. Fri.-Sun.

Consolidated Works “Quiet Revolution” is a group show that promises “interpersonal politics, atmospheric conditions, civil disobedience, fantasy vs. the real, and sensorial information.” Artists include Mandy Greer, who creates lovely installations that weave fables in fabric, beads and glitter; Paul Margolis, who does amazing things with quilts; Jack Ryan, whose installation contains hundreds of acrylic ears; and Kat Tomka’s sculptures made from Scotch tape. 500 Boren Ave. N., 4-8 p.m. Thurs.-Fri., 1-8 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 206-860-5245.

Davidson (See spotlight this issue.) 313 Occidental Ave. S., 206-624-7684. 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.

Facèré “Exempli Gratia” displays art jewelry from the University of Central England’s renowned program, including work by Norm Cherry, Jivan Astfalck, Eimear Conyard, and Terry Hunt. 1420 Fifth Ave. (USBank/City Centre), Suite 108, 206-624-6768.

Forgotten Works “Politics Askew.” Yes, Virginia, it’s another group show of political art (you ARE going to vote, aren’t you?). dealing with patriotism, choosing the lesser of two evils, and all that fun stuff. 300 S. Washington St., 206-343-7212. noon-3 p.m. Sat.-Sun.

Foster/White Richly colored glass vessels by Merrilee Moore. 123 S. Jackson, 206-622-2833. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun.

Francine Seders Philip Govedare observes changes in weather and light above Seattle’s polluted Duwamish River—with results that range from nearly abstract cloud studies (very reminiscent of early 19th-century paintings by Turner) to somewhat more conventional industrial landscapes. 6701 Greenwood Ave. N., 206-782-0355. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.- Sat., 1-5 p.m. Sun.

Gallery 110 “Sada: Voices of Women” brings together work by four women with roots in the Muslim world: Pakistani artist Ayesha Khan’s expressionist canvases, Guita Monfaredi’s abstract paintings influenced by calligraphy and her Iranian heritage, Lebanese artist Randa Hilal’s fusion of feminism and oriental rug motifs, and Umber Kazmi’s realistic depictions of Pakistani women. 110 S. Washington St., 206-624-9336. Noon- 5 p.m. Wed.-Sat.

Gallery 4 Culture Seattle artist Buddy Bunting had an inspiration to paint and document the interior of the Northwest’s “most interesting prisons” as well as the region’s flora, fauna, and geology. Turns out the wardens wouldn’t let him in, so he was content to document the region’s penitentiaries from the outside. The result is this not-so-scenic travelogue, “Scablands,” a collection of sketches and ink wash paintings. 506 Second Ave., Suite 200 (Smith Tower), 206-296-7580. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.

Garde Rail Paintings and assemblages by Toronto-based outsider artist Casey McGlynn, whose work is populated with rough-hewn animal and human figures. 110 Third Ave., 206-621-1055. 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Wed.-Fri.; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.

Grover/Thurston Ceramicist Akio Takamori’s figurines blur the line between cute and menacing—and this ambivalence has its most potent effect in a series of karako—Japanese-style, bad-ass bambinos crawling on all fours. 309 Occidental St., 206-223-0816. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.

Gulassa & Co. “Bur(id)den: An Entomology of Memories,” offers new work by local artist and architect Christine Chaney. 10 Dravus St., 206-283-181. Noon-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri.

Howard House Victoria Haven was recently awarded Seattle Art Museum’s prestigious Betty Bowen Award, and not a moment too soon. Haven does incredible things with lightweight materials such as tiny Mylar rings and shelf paper. But fragile is an adjective that should never be applied to Haven’s art. Even though her works are made from wispy, ephemeral materials, there’s a formidable solidity to her work. Haven’s “Halo,” a series of Mylar loops arranged in a bubbly constellation on the gallery walls, has all the grandeur of an evening sky to it. 604 Second Ave., 206-256-6399. 10:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.

Linda Hodges Nature paintings inspired by locales throughout the state by Seattle artist Gayle Bard. 316 First Ave. S., 206-624-3034. 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat.

Lisa Harris Like an odd fusion of Audubon and Dalí, Thomas Wood paints allegorical canvases stocked with a menagerie of creatures and flora. Some are a little heavy-handed (a woodsman chopping down a tree laden with endangered animals: get it?) but most offer up a lush world with a detailed, personal iconography. 1922 Pike Pl., 206-443-3315. 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun.

Martin-Zambito Paintings and prints by members of the mid-20th century “Prairie Printmakers” movement, which included Doel Reed, Birger Sandzen, Arthur Hall, Levon West, Charles Capps, and Stow Wengenroth. 721 E. Pike St., 206-726-9509. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues.-Sat.

National Parks Conservation Association “Away Out Over Everything” collects Mary Peck’s stunning photos of the Olympic Peninsula’s Elwha Valley. 313-A First Ave., 206-903-1444, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., noon-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun.

Phinney Center The 2004 Northwest Fine Arts competition is juried by Meli Solomon of Solomon Fine Art and features work by 15 local artists. 6532 Phinney Ave., 206-783-2244. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. Sat.

Photographic Center Northwest “Photography Past/Forward: Aperture at 50” features prints that originally appeared in the legendary photography periodical founded in 1952 by Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange, and Minor White. 900 12th Ave. 206-720-7222. Noon-9:30 p.m. Mon., 9 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Tues.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.

Priceless Works A potpourri of assorted works: stuff from Pilchuck Glass School artists-in-residence; collaborative prints by the glass art team of Dick Wiess and Bob Carlson; and a smattering of art by gallery favorites Jesse Paul Miller, Francesca Berrini and others. 619 N. 35th St., Suite 100, 206-349-9943. Noon-6 p.m. Thurs.-Sun.

SOIL Samantha Scherer’s pen-and-watercolor paintings of celebrity body parts are very funny—in the past she’s done portraits of Tony Curtis’ belly and Condoleezza Rice’s scowl. As hilarious as Brad Pitt’s nipple might be, Scherer’s art actually delves into all sorts of deeper issues: How does the brain recognize faces? Why our fetish for celebrity? And what exactly are Angelina Jolie’s lips made of? 112 Third Ave. S., 206-264-8061. Noon-5 p.m. Thurs.-Sun.

South Seattle Community College Art Gallery “Material/Ethereal” showcases abstract works by Ellen Ziegler and Gordon Wood. 6000 16th S.W., 206-764-5337. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri.

Suyama Space Brian Murphy returns with more of his watercolor self-portraits of the sort that wowed the crowds at the old Esther-Claypool space a couple years back. Once again facial features float off at odd angles, like unmoored islands of utter corruption, but this time the paintings are freakin’ HUGE. They’re, like, as tall as you standing on your own shoulders. 2324 Second Ave. 206-256-0809. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri.

ToST Simple-but-cool paintings of furniture, tricycles, flowers, and other nice stuff by Todd Karam. 513 N. 36th St., 206-547-0240. 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Tues.-Sat., 5 p.m.-midnight Sun.-Mon.

William Traver A group exhibition of new glass from Denmark, including work by Marianne Buus, Micha Karlslund, and Steffan Dam. 110 Union St., second floor, 206-587-6501. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun.

Winston Wächter This gallery on Dexter moves a couple blocks—into more spacious digs (and that much closer to the heart of art scene). They’re celebrating with a show of gallery favorites, including Victoria Adams, Bo Bartlett, Eric Fischl, Caio Fonseca, and Hiro Yokose. 203 Dexter Ave. N., 206-652-5855, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.

Wright Exhibition Space Decorative eye candy for corporate lobbies or sincere experiments in color and texture? The color field painters were the aesthetic descendents of Pollock and Rothko, in a period when Warhol, pop art, and installation art were replacing high-minded abstraction. This show curated by Virginia Wright hopes to revive interest in color field painters Jule Olitski, Morris Louis, Helen Frankenthaler, and Kenneth Noland. Some of the pieces are magnificent in their lush disregard for anything but their own colors: Noland’s vast “Vista” surrounds the viewer with a bath of mauve, while Louis’s “Mem” is a subtle veil of browns. 407 Dexter Ave. N., 206-622-1896. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thurs.

Zeitgeist Thuy-Van Vu’s drawings and paintings of everyday objects ranging from chairs to construction equipment. 171 S. Jackson St., 206-583-0497. 6 a.m.- 7 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat.-Sun.

Museums

Frye Art Museum In “Figuring the Forces,” contemporary realist painter Scott Goodwillie brings a baroque sensibility to contemporary anxieties and conflicts. “Eloquent Vistas” collects American landscape photography from the second half of the 19th century by Eadweard Muybridge, William Henry Jackson, and many others. 704 Terry Ave., 206-622-9250. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun.; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thurs.

Henry Art Gallery Emmet Gowin’s “Changing the Earth” features more than 10 years’ worth of aerial photographs of human-altered landscapes across the American West while “Santiago Calatrava: The Architect’s Studio” showcases the work of the ultramodern Spanish architect with a fondness for organic swoops. UW campus, 206-543-2280. 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Tues.-Sun.; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thurs.

Museum of Glass Motorized, kinetic sculptures by Museum of Glass favorite Gregory Barsamian, and “Murano,” a showcase more than 200 pieces of 20th century Venetian glass from the Olnick Spanu Collection. Plus, Chihuly’s gargantuan versions of Japanese glass fishing net floats invade the museum’s mezzanine reflecting pool. 1801 E. Dock St. Tacoma, 253-396-1768. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Sat. (third Thurs. of the month until 8 p.m.), noon-5 p.m. Sun.

Nordic Heritage Museum “Contemporary Marine Totems,” highly personal totems created by William McKee from salvaged wooden molds used to cast metal parts for the Northwest maritime industry. 104 N.W. 67th St., 206-789-5707. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; noon-4 p.m. Sun.

Seattle Art Museum The video “Shadow Procession,” a recent SAM acquisition by South African artist William Kentridge, is a low-tech shadow parable; “The View From Here,” offers selections of Pacific Northwest art from 1870 to 1940, while “Modern in America,” explores the interaction between photography and the paintings of Georgia O’Keeffe, Jasper Johns, and other 20th century greats. “Song, Story and Speech” is a multimedia installation exploring how oral tradition is crucial to Native Coast Salish culture. 100 University St., 206-654-3100. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sun.; 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. Thurs.

Tacoma Art Museum “A Sense of Place,” a selection of big names from the permanent collection, including Camille Corot, Edward Hopper, and Jacob Lawrence. Plus, the late UW professor and ceramics maven Howard Kottler is celebrated in “Look Alikes,” a selection of kitschy and witty commemorative plates from the 1960s to the 1980s. 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-272-4258. Every third Thursday free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thurs.; noon-5 p.m. Sun.

Tacoma Art Museum It might be a stretch to say that the Hudson River painters—Thomas Cole, Frederic Church, and Alfred Bierstadt among them— invented the American wilderness. But even so, these early 19th century painters, influenced by Thoreau and Emerson, shifted the popular view of nature from something to be feared and fought to something sublime and worthy of reverence. This collection of 50 important landscapes from Connecticut’s Wadsworth Antheneum will feature work by Cole, Church, Bierstadt, and several others. 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-272-4258. Every third Thursday free. 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thurs.; noon- 5 p.m. Sun.

Wing Luke Asian Museum The juried exhibit “Beyond Talk: Redrawing Race” attempts to break open the lockbox of dialogue on race. 407 Seventh S., 206-623-5124. 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.-Fri.; noon-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun.