ASL Art Walk: July

Katie Roberts

It was a lovely day in July as we headed out on the second ASL Art Walk.  This is a series of events that Deaf Spotlight sponsors during the spring and the summer. We will once again have an Art Walk in August and September, and you should attend!  Seattle art merchants have created this event, First Thursday, in order to draw patrons to their galleries. 

 

We had the opportunity to hit up a few galleries. We first stopped by the Glasshouse Studio, where we exchanged banter about some of their selections. Seattle is well known for their glass artists, and this store was no exception. They showcase classic pieces, such as those vases above. 

Next we stopped at the place which was my personal favorite- the Gallery IMA. I was quite impressed with the work by Graham Fracha, which evokes to me an interesting mix of both natural and manmade forms.  This particular painting, I really liked. The photograph does not do it justice - go by and see!

We also stopped next door at another gallery, the Stonington Gallery, and we were treated to contemporary pieces of work of Native art from the Northwest. I especially liked the mix of classical and contemporary forms, which were unique and beautiful. 

 The most surprising stop on our tour was recommended by Dani Keller, one of the tour participants. She led us down past first ave, upstairs in a building, and down a long hallway to the art studio of a friend of hers, JoseLuis Rodriguez-Guerra. His paintings are posted on large slabs, human size.  His work reveals a relationship between the human body and art, as in his Myth, Magic and Memory series. 

He combines otherworldy landscapes with the body as the centerpiece of his work. We are invited to ponder the connection between our fragile bodies and the vast cosmic phenomena which we are connected to.   

It was unfortunate, however, to see how many galleries had closed down due to the financial downturn.  More than ever, we need art to fuel our dreams, as a reflection of who we are as people and where we are from. The ASL Art walk will be done once again this week, and we are looking forward to seeing you there!