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

Lectures and Events

Lecture/Performance: Robert Wilson Legendary theater director and artist Robert Wilson, who designed the well-executed Noguchi exhibit now showing at SAM, gives a three-hour multimedia slide show and lecture—a portrait of Wilson’s lifelong creative process. 6-9 p.m. Thurs. June 30. Seattle Art Museum, 100 University St., $12-$18, 206-654-3100.

Openings

Baas Art Ellen Rutledge’s hand-colored prints stocked with an array of childhood symbols, from cupcakes to toys. Reception: 5-8 p.m. Wed. July 6. 2703 E. Madison St., 206-324-4742. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.

Bluebottle “Letting Go of Holding On,” new paintings examining love, conflict, and relationships by self-taught SoCal artist Tim McCormick. Reception: 7-10 p.m. Sat. July 2. 415 E. Pine St., 206-325-1592. 1-7 p.m. Tues.-Fri.; noon-6 p.m. Sat.-Sun.

Frame Up Studios Kamala Dolphin Kingsley’s peaceable kingdom of animals, Spanish princesses, and bullfrogs, in paintings influenced by tattoo design. Reception: 6-9 p.m. Fri. July 2 (Fremont Art Walk). 3515 Fremont Ave. N., 206-547-4657. 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. daily.

Henry Art Gallery Seattle artist Trimpin, born in Germany and working in Seattle since 1980, does amazing things combining technological gizmos with low-tech stuff like typewriters, player pianos, and other musical instruments. (His best-known work is the immense Roots and Branches sculpture of robotically controlled guitars at EMP.) The next year or so is going to be something of a Trimpin celebration, with local galleries and museums showcasing various kinetic sculptures. At the Henry, the wonderfully titled installation Phfftt will involve some 200 woodwind instruments controlled by interactive motion sensors. Also opening is “Seeing the Unseen,” rare prints of X-ray, time-lapse, and other 19th-century photographic novelties. UW campus, 206-543-2280. 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Tues.-Sun.; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thurs.

InfoHazard Brian Seldt’s subversively erotic variations on scherenshnitte, the German art of cut-paper silhouettes. Opens Sat. June 2. 1716 E. Olive Way, 206-324-6630. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tues.-Sat.

Joe Bar “Images of the Floating World” features Maija Fiejbig’s peacefully trippy paintings inspired by Japanese decorative art. Reception: 6-9 p.m. Wed. July 6. 810 E. Roy, 206-324-0407. 7:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 8:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sat.-Sun.

Oasis Alex Strazzanti’s ink on canvas and Diane Atkinson’s Chinese calligraphy. Opens Fri. July 2 (Fremont Art Walk). 3644 Wallingford Ave. N., 206-547-5177. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues.-Fri.; 10 a.m-5 p.m. Sat.; 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sun.

Last Chance

Bluebottle Davis’ moody paintings of birds, featuring found objects in a thick layer of resin. 415 E. Pine St., 206-325-1592. 1-7 p.m. Tues.-Fri.; noon-6 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Ends Thurs. June 30.

Capitol Hill Arts Center Suzanne Kaufman and Karin Yamagiwa’s paintings inspired by Saturday morning cartoons and other animation. 1621 12th Ave., 206-388-0500. 6-10 p.m. Wed.-Fri.; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat. Ends Fri. July 1.

Davidson In “Natural Selection,” a handful of painters interpret cityscapes in stylized, formal compositions, including intricately abstract scaffoldings by Tram Bui and Mary Iverson’s studies of machinery in Seattle’s port. 313 Occidental Ave. S., 206-624-7684. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat. Ends Sat. July 2.

Facèré “Signs of Life” collects art jewelry that stretches the boundaries of wearable artifacts and pairs each work with a poem or short prose piece by a local writer. 1420 Fifth Ave. (U.S. Bank/City Centre), Suite 108, 206-624-6768. Ends Tues. July 5.

G. Gibson “Stitched” brings together work by Larry Calkins, who does sentimental, elongated sculptures of dresses; Ruth Marie Tomlinson’s sewn fragments of rubber inner tubes; and recent UW MFA graduate Laura Wright’s “security blankets,” which include sewn-in necessities for the post-9/11 era: machetes, shovels, and booze flasks. 300 S. Washington St., 206-587-4033. 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Wed.-Fri.; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. Ends Sat. July 2.

Gallery 4 Culture A sampler of black-and-white photographs from the county’s public art collection, including work by Eduardo Calderon, Michael Gesinger, Mary Peck, and Chris Engman. 506 Second Ave., Suite 200 (Smith Tower), 206-296-7580. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Ends Fri. July 1.

Gallery 110 Deborah Walker’s series of slightly surreal paintings of birds, vessels, and containers; plus Cindy Small’s lurid dream paintings filled with monkeys, carnival clowns, and tattooed ladies. 110 S. Washington St., 206-624-9336. Noon-5 p.m. Wed.-Sat. Ends Sat. July 2.

Joe Bar Seattle photographer Frank Huster’s photographs of UNICEF tsunami relief work. 810 E. Roy St., 206-324-0407. 7:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 8:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Ends Thurs. June 30.

Lisa Harris Christopher Harris’ nearly abstract color images of the fields of Eastern Washington, taken with a pinhole camera. 1922 Pike Pl., 206-443-3315. 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sun. Ends Sat. July 2.

Roq La Rue Creepy-surreal paintings of Barbie-thin women by Lori Early, plus “The Mod Squad”: Andrew Brandou (aka Howdy Partner) puts Golden Book children’s characters to work in pursuit of world revolution, while Keith Weesner, Ryan Heshka, and Dale Sizer paint pinups and tiki kitsch. 2316 Second Ave., 206-374-8977. 2-6 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; noon-4 p.m. Sun. Ends Fri. July 1.

Seattle LGBT Community Center “Portraits of Pride,” features self-portraits by local gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender artists. 1115 E. Pike St., 206-323-5428. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. Sun. Ends Thurs. June 30.

SOIL “Unearthed” is a group show featuring delicately burned papers by Tokyo-born artist Etsuko Ichikawa, new work by Tuan Nguyen and Sara Osebold, and Helen Curtis’ assemblages incorporating glass and pig intestines. 112 Third Ave. S., 206-264-8061. Noon-5 p.m. Thurs.-Sun. Ends Thurs. June 30.

Vain Fragments of spray-can work and graffiti lettering by Sam Sneke, one the city’s most renowned street mural artists. 2018 First Ave., 206-441-3441. Noon- 7 p.m. Sun.-Tues.; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Wed.-Thurs.; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Ends Sun. July 3.

Vera Project Break-dancing photographs by local Amanda Hovey. 1916 Fourth Ave., 206-525-8585. 2-6 p.m. Tues.-Thurs.; 2-5 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Ends Mon. July 4.

Vidya “The Triumph of Death and Other Stuff” features comics-inspired paintings and drawings by Tim Marsden, plus John Feodorov’s symbolic paintings. 619 Western Ave., second floor, 206-297-0437. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues.-Sat. Ends Thurs. June 30.

Zeitgeist Nature-based abstract paintings and drawings by Stephanie Dennis. 171 S. Jackson St., 206-583-0497. 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Ends Wed. July 6.

Galleries

Carolyn Staley Eleven prints depicting nude, frolicking Buddhist goddesses, all by late-20th-century Japanese artist Mayumi Oda. 314 Occidental Ave., 206-621-1888. 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.

CoCA Tokyo-based architect and artist Yumi Kori’s two-part installation “Infinitation” attempts to suggest the infinite through the manipulation of sound and light. 410 Dexter Ave. N., 206-728-1980. 2-8 p.m. Tues.-Thurs.; noon-5 p.m. Fri.-Sun.

Crawl Space In “Common,” six local artists aim to raise the banal—whether Laundromats, muscle cars, or picnic dinnerware—to the level of high art. 504 E. Denny Way #1, 206-240-6015. Noon-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun.

Francine Seders Painter Alan Lau’s day job as a produce stocker at Uwajimaya figures in his new abstract works, executed in sumi ink, oil pastel, and China markers. Also on display: sculptures in wood, plastic, and bronze by longtime local artist Dan Carmichael. 6701 Greenwood Ave. N., 206-782-0355. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.- Sat.; 1-5 p.m. Sun.

Howard House Fourteen artists explore the shifting terrain of landscape painting in the early 21st century. No gorgeous vistas or Ansel Adams nature portraits here; instead, New York’s Cameron Martin portrays Mount St. Helens in superflat studies of gray, while Seattle painters Victoria Haven and Robert Yoder create near-abstract compositions suggestive of mountains and aerial views. 604 Second Ave., 206-256-6399. 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.

Kirkland Arts Center Iowa-based artist Tim Dooley (see spotlight, p. 73). 620 Market St., 425-822-7161. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. Every third Thurs. open until 8 p.m.

Photographic Center Northwest Thesis portfolios by PCNW graduates, including Ken Claflin’s illuminated urban cityscapes. 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.; noon-5 p.m. Sun.

Platform New paintings by five artists: Jaq Chartier (Seattle), James Gudat (Portland), Patte Loper (New York), Daniel Rushton (New York), and Kim Squaglia (Sacramento). 114 Third Ave. S., 206-323-2808. 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Thurs.-Sat.

Seattle Art Museum Rental/Sales Gallery SAM/Rental samples work from artists with studios in Ballard, including Deborah Bell, Dionne Haroutunian, and Michael Schultheis. 1220 Third Ave., 206-343-1101. 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat.

Suyama Space In Utah-based artist Paul Stout’s oddly compelling installation “Second Nature,” huge blades of “grass” grow up from assorted Victorian coffee tables. Don’t miss Stout’s virtuoso mechanical bugs under glass in the adjacent space. 2324 Second Ave., 206-256-0809. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri.

Western Bridge German artist Daniel Roth’s strange and subtle installation River Styx presents “evidence”—in drawings, sculpture, and photography—of an underground river running west from Seattle, below the Olympic Peninsula, and out to a burial island off the coast. Also on display is Rodney Graham’s clever second look at an old oak tree, Roni Horn’s obsessive 100-photo installation You Are the Weather, and a superb series of portraits of four sisters taken over a span of 30 years by Nicholas Nixon. And speaking of the River Styx, you’ll feel like you’ve been to hell and back after experiencing Gary Hill’s numbing video Wall Piece, a study in frustration, artistic struggle, and the failure of language. 3412 Fourth Ave. S., 206-838-7444. Noon-6 p.m. Thurs.-Sat.

Winston Wächter New work by eight abstract painters, including locals Jaq Chartier, whose paintings are the results of meticulous tests of materials, and Susan Dory. 203 Dexter Ave. N., 206-652-5855. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.

Wright Exhibition Space “Aboriginal Vision” offers selections of contemporary Australian Aboriginal art from the expansive collection of UW international studies professor Margaret Levi and her husband Robert Kaplan. 407 Dexter Ave. N., 206-264-8200. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thurs.-Fri.

Museums

Bellevue Arts Museum BAM is back with a re-tooled mission as an accessible (read: noncontroversial) place for art, craft, and design. Executive Director Michael Monroe launches the resurrection with “The Artful Teapot,” an impressive but safe collection of 250 teapots-as-sculpture. Albert Paley’s new–Art Nouveau iron work is nice and intricate, kind of like a Chihuly is nice and intricate. (Fans of the Tacoma glassmeister can see one of his newly commissioned works in BAM’s lobby.) And for those who just can’t get enough glass, there’s an exhibit of art and posters from the early days of the Pilchuck Glass School. 510 Bellevue Way N.E., 425-519-0770. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat. (until 9 p.m. Thurs.); 11 a.m-5:30 p.m. Sun.

Burke Museum Subhankar Banerjee’s magnificent photos of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge are the result of a two-year expedition among caribou and tundra. (See review, p. 72.) Also on display: traditional and contemporary Native American art depicting arctic animals. UW campus, Northeast 45th Street and 17th Avenue Northeast, 206-543-5590. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily (until 8 p.m. Thurs.).

Frye Art Museum “The Retrofuturistic World of NSK” collects 20 years’ worth of painting, prints, and other media by Slovenia’s Neue Slowenische Kunst art movement. Challenging the whole idea of authorship, nationality, and avant-garde, the artists in NSK create theater, music, and visual art that appropriates Communist and capitalist kitsch in an effort to subvert authority. “Taking and Making” features recent work by Oliver Herring, the German-born artist whose experiments in photography, video, and sculpture take novel turns, including a life-size self-portrait sculpture made from snapshots. 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 Doug Aitken’s three-screen video installation Interiors is a majestic meditation on the search for meaning amid the stress and alienation of 21st-century urban life. Also on display: “Playtime” collects whimsical art made from or inspired by toys, including Peter Fischli and David Wells’ amazing 30-minute video of pyrotechnic mayhem. UW campus, 206-543-2280. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sun.; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thurs.

Museum of Glass A 20-year survey of the career of Stanwood, Wash., glass man William Morris, whose importance in the Pilchuck glass industry rivals that of Chihuly. Also on display: a retrospective of local glass artist Ginny Ruffner’s work. 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.

Museum of Northwest Art “Stewards of the Northwest Vision” offers selections from two private collections, featuring works by Tobey, Graves, Anderson, Michael Spafford, Elizabeth Sandvig, William Cumming, Gerard Tsutakawa, and others. 121 S. First St., La Conner, 360-466-4446. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sun.

Seattle Art Museum “Isamu Noguchi—Sculptural Design” is an unorthodox and splashy exploration of the eclectic 20th-century sculptor-designer. The exhibit is a visual and sonic extravaganza designed by theater experimentalist Robert Wilson. Various rooms evoke different themes in Noguchi’s long career: His work in the theater with the likes of Martha Graham takes the shape of a brooding theatrical space; intensely material sculptural works are set in a Zen rock garden complete with several tons of raked gravel. Other rooms suggest Noguchi’s mission to popularize art through mass-produced design. There are moments when the whole project goes over the top—the canned thunder and lightning accompanying a model of a monument to Benjamin Franklin, complete with kite and key, is just a bit much. Still, this is a fascinating look at an artist who managed to span divides between cultures and artistic disciplines. Also on display: “Africa in America” is a varied and complex exploration of slavery, displacement, and ethnic culture as portrayed in African-American art of the late 20th century, including work by James W. Washington Jr., Kara Walker, Ellen Gallagher, Oliver Jackson, and Marita Dingus. 100 University St., 206-654-3100. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sun.; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thurs.

Tacoma Art Museum Jewelry doesn’t have to make the diamond barons at DeBeers rich. Case in point: “Zero Karat,” a touring collection of jewelry made from such nonprecious materials as aluminum and Chinese newspapers. Also on display: “Carving a Legacy,” contemporary interpretations of traditional Native American art by Shaun Peterson, Greg Colfax, Karen Reed, and others. 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-272-4258. Every third Thursday free and open until 8 p.m. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun.

Wing Luke Asian Museum “Women and Violence” explores domestic violence, sexual abuse, war, trafficking, and the “mail-order bride” phenomenon, specifically focusing on the Asian/Pacific Islander community. 407 Seventh Ave. S., 206-623-5124. 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.-Fri.; noon-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun.