Photo: Musician-artist Tim Kerr, featured in this month’s Georgetown Art Attack.
Seattle has been gaining steam as a burgeoning hub for the arts, whether it be painting, sculpture or crafts. Pioneer Square, a neighborhood in the southwest corner of Downtown, is already one of the country’s most prominent and well-established art gallery districts, with emerging and established artists from around the world featured in the community’s various art spaces. During summer months, dozens of regular art events and street fairs pop up across Seattle neighborhoods, the larger festivals featuring hundreds of arts and craft booths and attracting more than 100,000 people over the course of a weekend. In other words, take these warm weather days as an opportunity to hit the galleries, museums, fairs and festivals. A little cultural reconnaissance will expand your visual vocabulary and add a little flavor to your otherwise rote water-cooler convos.
Here are five art events you should be attending (in chronological order):
First Thursday Artwalk: July 7
Starting in 1981, First Thursday in Pioneer Square was the first Art Walk in the USA and is still a beloved fixture on the local arts calendar. First Thursday takes place each month from 6 pm to 8 pm, so head on down and meander in and out of art galleries, get to know new exhibitions and artists, and enjoy the dozens of public art installations that can be found when walking between galleries.
Georgetown Art Attack: July 9
Held on the second Saturday of each month, the Georgetown Art Attack features over 30 art establishments coming together to celebrate the diversity of visual, performing and applied arts practitioners in the Seattle community. Involving over 40 locations, the Art Attack includes an eclectic mix of restaurants, retailers, galleries and nightclubs.
Art on the Avenue: July 10
With art ranging from classic to outrageous and cutting-edge, Art on the Avenue is a one-day fest that features an array of art displays, local vendors, live musical performances and inspired hand-held cuisine from popular nearby restaurants. More than 5,000 people attend this 6th Avenue block party in Tacoma every year.
Bellevue Arts Museum Arts Fair: July 29-31
The Bellevue Arts Museum Arts Fair is one of America’s biggest and best. This year marks the fair’s 70th iteration and promises to feature 300 inspiring artists presenting works that span modern, traditional and emerging genres. The annual gathering is a great large-scale opportunity to connect to the world of art, craft and design.
Seattle Art Fair: August 4-7
The Seattle Art Fair returns this summer, bringing 75 top galleries from around the world to CenturyLink Field Event center. Now in its second edition, the fair has a special emphasis on the Pacific Rim, underscoring its focus on the vibrant culture and diversity of the Pacific Northwest. Co-produced by Art Market Productions and Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan Inc., the fair is designed to be a destination for new and established collectors, international art patrons, and local residents.
