A Rich and Ripe Bounty: Northwest Arts and Artists

Traveler, the season is ripe. Ripe for taking in an abundance of art. Artists abound and their work is to be found in, near and far from Seattle.

This summer, on any given weekend, you can attend any number of art fairs and festivals as well as art walks. Did you know that Pioneer Square’s First Thursday Art walk was the first in the nation? See for yourself how this concept has grown legs across the region! Whether you reside in the area or are passing through, the output of Northwest artists is meant to be seen and experienced first-hand.

For the second year, Seattle is hosting the Seattle Art Fair. This national/international event will bring an heightened awareness to the ongoing artistic activity in the city. Whether you opt-in or opt-out of the fair, there’s art to be seen everywhere! There are artists at all stages of their careers, emerging from their studios, on view in galleries and museums, and artists no longer among the living but whose work is here as testament to their journey.

Where to begin? Well, let me be the first to suggest a series of resource lists focused on the history of Northwest art and artists. Each list is graced with an iconic image from The Seattle Public Library’s Seattle Historical Photograph Collection. This set serves as an introduction to the works of Northwest artists that you’ll be able to experience long after the shows have moved on and the clouds have moved in:

• SEE: Northwest Artists presents a broad survey of artists and mediums.
• SITE: Northwest Coast Arts covers the history, arts and cultural contributions of Native Americans.
• HOLD: Collectors and Collections identifies particular art collections, public and private, as well as the collectors who shaped them.
• RECALL: Pacific Northwest Art History identifies individual, organizations, movements and historical periods that have shaped the growth and development of the artistic ecosystem of the Northwest.

Now, don’t wait for the clime of wintertime to eyeball all the art you can bear to see. Get out there, partake of a fair, get festive and have fun discovering an artist whose work fills you up and moves you on to new horizons!

~posted by Chris