ASL Art Walk

Patty Liang

Did you know that Seattle was the first city to lead the First Thursday art walk in the nation?  In 1981, a group of Pioneer Square art dealers handed out maps, to encourage the public to wander through Victorian storefronts and studios to see artists' new works. It became so popular that it has become one of the permanent Seattle attractions for locals.

Deaf Spotlight's Buddy Elledge led the first ASL Art Walk in early June with 15 people!  We met at the Occidental Park in Pioneer Square, easily accessible by bus, foot, and car.  We visited at least 8 different galleries that exhibit various art mediums: photography, mixed media, painting, drawing, sculpture, and more.  It was enjoyable to see other people's curiosity and interest in various exhibitions and discuss our interpretations of each work.

  

At Foster White Gallery, Guy Laramee's works were unique because as a sculptor, he used textbooks, dictionaries, and odd books to make miniature landscape topographies. Amazing!

I am a fan of printmaking, and I believe you will be after seeing his work, titled “Seiichi Hiroshima”.  His works is on exhibition at the Davidson Galleries.   He printed at least 3 to five different color layers onto one paper to make a stunning, yet  delicate print evoking nature and home.  Each of the prints faintly reminded me of intricate Japanese kimono fabric patterns, and the care he puts into each print shows.

Another favorite is Art Forte Gallery & Studio where I was stunned by James Charles' vibrant paintings.  What rich colors of red, orange, yellow, and blue!  You can see this technique used in his work, “Bellevue Morning”. 

It made me feel alive and want to jump into that painting. I love his works and hope to replicate that sense of vibrance in my works.  I just love to go to art galleries because I will always get inspired by their works and seeing  how they do it.

You may think, oh shoot, I missed it! Do not despair!  Deaf Spotlight will continue the ASL Art Walk (AAW) on first Thursday to October 2012.  The next outing is July 5th, 2012.  Please do join us at 6 pm at the Occidental Park with Katie Roberts!