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Lectures and Events

Conspiracy Theory A politically active evening of art, music, and fashion—all to help defeat the great military-industrial-bin Laden-Fox News-Chihuly-complex. Or something like that. Paintings by Jay Mason, fashion by Agent X Clothing, and music by SPIDeRBITeS and assorted musicians and DJs. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Fri. Aug. 27. Capitol Hill Arts Center, 1621 12th Ave., $5, 206-388-0600.

Closing Party A closing-night party for Brian McGuffey’s “Thunderstorm” paintings inspired by the onset of global warming and our addictive oil-junkie culture. 5-9 p.m. Square Room, 1316 E. Pike St., free, 206-267-7120.

Openings

Davidson Steven Heino’s wood and aluminum “Effigy” series of sculptures arrive at human figures through cubist-looking geometric forms, while his abstract paintings are concerned with chandeliers, corsets, and other delicate structures. Also showing: new work by local Russian-born painter Alexander Petrov, whose surreal scenes are filled with sadomasochism, poverty, and misery. Fun stuff! 313 Occidental Ave. S., 206- 624-7684. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.

Nico “Urban Arcadia” features realist paintings by Seattle’s Kristina Hagman. Opening night jazz provided by the Paul Kemmish Duo. 6-10 p.m. Thurs. Aug. 26. 619 Western, Suite 22, 206-229-4593, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. and by appointment.

Last Chance

Ace Studios In “Plastic Fantastic,” Matthew Porter paints cute portraits of Japanese toy characters. 619 Western Ave., 206-623-1288, 1-5 p.m. Sat., or by appointment. Ends Sat. Aug. 28.

Artemis Laura Amussen’s big, abstract, and intriguing installations make use of bamboo and other natural materials to create some rather Freudian-looking holes and other patterns that aim to “initiate a dialogue between emptiness and desire.” 3107 S. Day St., 206-323-0562. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat. Ends Sat. Aug. 28.

Atelier 31 Etchings and aquatints by two important contemporary American artists: Julian Schnabel and sculptor George Segal. Also on display: simple sculptures in wood by Seattle artist Gary Berg. 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. Ends Sun. Aug. 29.

Bluebottle In “Esperanza es Eterna” (Hope is Eternal) San Diego–based artist Charles Glaubitz creates a new series of paintings narrating a personal, cross-border mythology in the age of globalization. At its center is a little costumed child-hero who witnesses the excesses of maquiladora factories and other border culture. Glaubitz’s art is a vibrant mix of influences—from Hello Kitty to Tijuana billboards. 415 E. Pine St., 206-325-1592. 1-7 p.m. Tues.-Fri., noon-6 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Ends Sun. Aug. 29.

Bryan Ohno A group show of gallery artists including Ben Darby (whose baroque 3-D painting on offer is an amalgam of holograms and ribbons of paint), Dean Eliasen and Rae Mahaffey. 155 S. Main St., 206-667-9572. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat. Ends Sat. Aug. 28.

Carolyn Staley “Modern Women” features a series of Japanese prints depicting strong, lovely, and sensible women from the 19th and 20th centuries. 314 Occidental Ave., 206-621-1888. 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat. Ends Tues. Aug. 31.

CoCA In “101 Ways to Remove a President From Power,” some rather impolitic art counts the ways to get rid of presidents (whether GWB, Martha Stewart or Kenneth Lay). Featured artists include Jack Daws, Susan Robb, Leiv Fagereng, and many others. 410 Dexter Avenue N., 206-728-1980. 2-8 p.m. Tues.-Thurs., noon-5 p.m. Fri.-Sun. Ends Sun. Aug. 29.

Foster/White Rainier Square Oy, again with “Mille Fiori.” The Dale Chihuly flower exhibit that flummoxed millions at the Tacoma Art Museum goes up for sale in Seattle. “Imaginations will be filled with wonderment and surprise,” the gallery promises. I wonder when will it ever end? 1331 Fifth Ave., 206-583-0100. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat. Ends Tues. Aug. 31.

Francine Seders The group show “Big and Small” displays one large painting and several small ones from artists Alfonse Borysewicz, Lauri Chambers, Denzil Hurley, Robert C. Jones, and Julie Shapiro. 6701 Greenwood Ave. N., 206-782-0355. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.- Sat, 1-5 p.m. Sun. Ends Sat. Aug. 28.

Gallery 110 Hallucinatory oil paintings of life run amok comprise Linda Horsley’s “Party Time,” while in John Martinotti’s “Relics of the Past,” luminary black-and-white photos document a dreamlike world of rural decay. 110 S. Washington St., 206-624-9336. Noon-5 p.m. Wed.-Sat. Ends Sat. Aug. 28.

Garde Rail The first show in Garde Rail’s new space in the Tashiro-Kaplan Building is Ohio artist Rick Borg’s folk paintings of people, animals, and houses. They’re all executed on scrap wood and are rich with crusty oils and house paint. And you get two for the price of one—each three-dimensional image is painted on both sides, the artist says, because “some folks like what’s on the other side better.” 110 Third Ave. S., 206-621-1055. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Sat. Ends Sun. Aug. 29.

Greg Kucera In “Superhero Pantheon” Arizona-based artist Mark Newport creates warm and fuzzy knit superhero costumes in an attempt to deconstruct the myths of manhood locked within Batman, the Fantastic Four and other manly comics. Also on display: creepy, masterfully composed photographs by Tim Roda and a benefit print sale to support the defeat of George W. Bush; on offer is an impressive array of work from Jasper Johns, Susan Rothenberg, Ed Ruscha, Cicely Brown, Richard Serra, and John Baldessari. 212 Third Ave., 206-624-0770. 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat. Ends Sat. Aug. 28.

Gallery 4 Culture Neal Bashor’s assorted sculptures and paintings are all concerned with dams and restricted flows—a bathtub is fitted with an inconvenient divider, while sectioned swimming pool models are either half full or half empty, depending on your mood. Meanwhile, a series of small sculptures and paintings inspired by the state’s hydroelectric dams have a kind of feminine, voluptuous beauty to them. 506 Second Ave., Suite 200 (Smith Tower), 206-296-7580. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Ends Fri. Aug. 27.

JEM Studios Digitally altered photographic prints on paper, wood, and other materials by Cornish alum Caroline Kapp. 6012 12th Ave. S. (Georgetown), 206-427-6748. Noon-6 p.m. Tues.-Sun. Ends Sat. Aug. 28.

Linda Hodges Kenna Moser incorporates antique letters, flowers, and natural objects into beeswax to create engaging nature notebooks on wood, while David French’s painted abstract wood sculptures recall natural forms. 316 First Ave. S., 206-624-3034. 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat. Ends Sat. Aug. 28.

Lisa Harris The 20th anniversary of this dependable— if a bit conservative—gallery above Pike Place Market includes a selection of greatest hits from the Lisa Harris playlist including works by Peter de Lory, Ed Kamuda, Richard Morhous, Royal Nebeker, and Emily Wood. 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. Aug. 28.

LGBT Community Center “Reflections of a Self- Absorbed Woman” is composed of fractured photographs on the topic of—you guessed it—self and identity by Seattle’s Linda Young. 1115 E. Pike St. 206-323-5428. Noon-9 p.m. Ends Tues. Aug. 31.

National Parks Conservation Association “In Nature’s Light,” a collection of outdoor photographs by Keith Lazelle. 313-A First Ave., 206-903-1444, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., noon-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Ends Sun. Aug. 29

Priceless Works Two new solo shows: one from Terri Gibbs, a series of line drawings on vellum that embrace the gallery, and one from Kim Mahar, who practices postmodern, 3-D stained glass. 619 N. 35th St., Suite 100, 206-349-9943. Noon-6 p.m. Fri.-Sun. Ends Sun. Aug. 29.

Seattle Asian Art Museum “Larger than Life Heroes” presents Ukiyo-e and woodblock prints on the subject of sumo wrestling. Yup, big sweaty fat guys grappling with each other in loincloths. Volunteer Park, 1400 E. Prospect Ave., 206-625-8900. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Sun.; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thurs. Ends Sun. Aug. 29.

Vain “Hot Boys and Pouty Lips” offers paintings of a voyeuristic nature by Karl Fjelstrom. 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 Tues. Aug. 31.

William Traver In “Patterns Unrandomized” Sean Albert creates Mondrian-like pattern studies using colored glass tumblers and wooden shelves. 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. Ends Sun. Aug. 29.

Galleries

1506 Projects “Sea Legs” features new work by Ben Beres (tiny-text prints), David Herbert (low-tech sculpture and video), Jamison Ogg (supermarket-quality prints), Matt Sellars (minimal wood sculptures), and Daniel Smith (collage on cedar shingles). 1506 E. Olive, 206-329-5400. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat-Sun.

Benham Italian photographer Federico Busonero and American Stephen Johnson shoot images of national parks in their respective countries, while William Henry captures manmade castaway objects in nature. 1216 First Ave., 206-622-2480. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun.

Blue Door Suburban landscapes by Graham Fracha and paintings of urban decay by Susie Wind. 759 N. 80th St., 206-783-2583. Noon-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun.

Gulassa & Co. Paige Alderete’s “Les Cheveaux” features a series of wigs made from human hair, colorful synthetic fibers, feathers, beads and found objects. 10 Dravus St., 206-283-181. Noon-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri.

Howard House In “Soft Sport” Jenny Heishman’s photos on vinyl address the weird emptiness and sex appeal of golf. In addition to the photos, the show includes a series of generally abstract sculptures that test the bounds of plastics and vinyl—whether using layer upon layer in rainbow compositions or constructing a phony mountain range. Mark Takamichi Miller’s “Zion” takes a roll of anonymous snapshots discovered at Utah’s Zion National Park and transforms the pics into portraits that are so thickly painted they seem to pop from the vast empty canvases that surround them. 604 Second Ave., 206-256-6399. 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.

Jack Straw New Media Gallery Seattle’s Iole Alessandrini installs interactive lasers and other optical gizmos in this multimedia experience intended to explore, the artist says, “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.

Martin-Zambito Rare figure drawings by Japanese-American modernist Kiyoshi Shimizu and Depression-era paintings by WPA artist Louis Wolchonok. 721 E. Pike St., 206-726-9509. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues.-Sat.

Seattle Art Museum Rental/Sales Gallery A satisfying little show of work from emerging artists, “Summer Introductions” showcases abstract paintings by a number of locals. Barbara Sternberger’s canvases bring to mind expanses of skin and flesh, while Amanda Knowles’ scientific-looking compositions recall technical diagrams and chemical formulas. Patricia Hagen’s work is a weird mix of candy-colored sweetness and disturbing blobs of yucky stuff you’d find under a microscope, while Shea Bajaj’s wood-and-resin paintings are distinctly three-dimensional, with glossy, repeating forms that emerge from the clear resin like bathers stepping from a glassy lake. 1220 Third Ave., 206-343-1101. 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat.

Solomon Fine Art Tom Gormally’s encaustic paintings recall vaguely cellular forms. Also on display: abstracted landscapes by Fred Holcomb, the “Wonder” and “Dream” series by Alex Mitchell, and kaleidoscopic chaos by Page Davis. 1215 First Ave., 206-297-1400. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.

Western Bridge Western Bridge’s kickoff show, “Possessed,” is a superb collection of video and mixed-media pieces that make a veritable fetish of anxiety. Aïda Ruilova’s quick-cut video of nervousness has a garage-punk edge to it, while Zoe Leonard’s room full of used dolls manages to be both unnerving and a formalist study in female identity. In Nicola’s Vruwink’s Living, the artist documents her worship at the altar of Martha Stewart, creating tables full of handmade goodies, videos of her projects, and even the Martha-style Oxford shirts she wore in order be a more perfect woman. The title of this group show derives from Shirin Neshat’s stunning 10-minute film featuring Iranian-born actress Shohreh Aghashloo as a madwoman wandering into the village square. It’s a harrowing, wordless mini-opera made all the more powerful by Neshat’s masterful use of crowds as a kind of teeming sculpture. 3412 Fourth Avenue S. 206-838-7444. Noon- 6 p.m. Thurs.-Sat.

Zeitgeist Sarah Kavage’s large paintings of fingerprints, computer circuitry, and other 21st-century subjects, all painted in lurid silvers and golds. 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. And for those who don’t know a watercolor from a mezzotint, the Frye’s new selection of works on paper offers a tutorial in techniques such as lithography, drawing, and engraving. 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 of aerial photographs of human-altered landscapes across the American West, while “The Work of the Work,” is an international potpourri of video and painting by Anne Appleby, Hannah Villiger, Kim Sooja, Gary Hill, and Olafur Eliasson. “Santiago Calatrava: The Architect’s Studio” showcases the work of the ultramodern Spanish architect with a fondness for organic swoops. “Selections from the Collection of William and Ruth True” offers a sampling from the collection of these two keen-eyed art collectors and longtime patrons of the Henry. 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, plus dolls, fabric creations, and glass faces all exploring issues of identity by local artist Marita Dingus. 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 “600 Moons: Fifty Years of Philip McCracken’s Art” presents a retrospective of the Northwest sculptor known for combining exquisite craftsmanship with a deep respect for the natural world. 121 South First St. (La Conner), 360-466-4446. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

Royal B.C. Museum A huge touring exhibit of ancient Egyptian artifacts from the British Museum will make its only stop in the Pacific Northwest at Victoria’s Royal B.C. Museum. Expect to see heaps of gorgeous treasures, including intricate golden death masks, a multiton granite lion, scraps of Egyptian scrolls, and yes, real, dead mummies. 675 Belleville Street (Victoria, B.C.) 888-447-7977. 9 a.m.-5 p.m daily.

Seattle Art Museum “Van Gogh to Mondrian: Modern Art from the Kröller-Müller Museum” offers a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with some truly great examples of Van Gogh’s work. Also on offer in this traveling exhibit from The Netherlands are other exemplars of the modernist movement, including some early Picassos, cubist work by Juan Gris, freaky mythological scenes by Odilon Redon, and pictures by Leger and Seurat. Also on display: 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 artists. “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 TAM’s Northwest Annual, this year with the moniker “Buildingwise,” is a grab bag of local art, some quite good and some just OK. Standouts in this juried show include a painting and time-lapse video of its creation by Patte Loper, realist paintings thick with queasy pinks and greens by Robert Jones, a couple of clever video installations by Juniper Shuey and Iole Alessandrini, large-scale abstractions by Margie Livingston, and Rachel Brumer’s quilts-as-stained glass. Also on display: “Andy Goldsworthy: Mountain and Coast, Autumn Into Winter,” presents photographs from the nature artist’s 1987 residency in Japan, plus four sculptures of burnt wood and other natural materials. 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.; 12 p.m.-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.