Artwalk

SO much less crowded than the LA artwalk= yay. Though, the later it gets, the more crowded the 619 western building becomes. There’s points where you have to really develop a strategy to exit/​enter each floor without trampling someone/​getting trampled. Though it goes to show where the hot spot is.
One of my fav galleries was the Glasshouse Studio down near that main plaza (still new here!). All the pieces were fantastic, and there was a live glassblowing demonstration going on in the back room. Sweet.
There’s also a nice spread of tents where you can purchase locally made art/​tshirts/​candles/​you-​name-​it. Good stuff.

619 Western
This building is an amazing hub of artists.
This is an excellent venue to see art in progress.
Please support this venue and the amazing people who work there.

The artwalk is great place to experience a wide range of art, culture and people watching! You have the overwhelming crazy 619 building to fine art galleries. I love the energy, creative inspiration and of course it’s fun to enjoy it with a glass of wine or two!

Its time to play drunk Donkey Kong at 619.
Five stories of artists lofts, each level is swarming with those classically distant unapproachable hip Seattleites, being crazy friendly. I mean almost San Francisco friendly. (I know its hard to believe so, I will let you pause for a moment and take that it in. Seattle being almost San Francisco friendly…)
On with the game.
Each floor is equipped with massive amounts of labyrinth like art studios, serving wine, crackers cheese. You hit each floor drink 1 serving of wine at each loft and see if you can make it to the fifth floor before passing out or heading back down in some genius mad adventure. I think the last one involved, Jesse Blue, crouches and Indian food.
Where was I, oh yes this place is fun. I look forward to each and every first Thursday in Seattle so that I can go to 619. Some of the art is horrible and some of it is outstandingly good.
The furthest I have made it, when playing drunken Donkey Kong is the forth floor. typically I usually only make it to the third.
I imagine the 5^th floor has the best art and a geni that can bless you with two livers.
I recommend to bring those that are new to Seattle here. Like Darth Vader, we are not all bad there is some good in us and artwalk shows Seattles nice side.

Confession: I used to come down to the Pioneer Square art walk ALL the time in high school — because I could look at art for free, but also because they passed out glasses of wine WITHOUT CARDING.
This is no longer the case, my friends. An inside source told me that the majority of the galleries stopped wasting money on booze and snacks, because they knew that most people who come down on First Thursday aren’t really going to buy any art. So short of special openings, you’re not likely to find any wine here.
Oddly enough, one gallery was passing out glasses of apple & grape juice, which several people were carrying around. And I swear to you, I feel like they were only carrying those glasses around to make it «seem» like they were drinking free wine. Because that juice was not cold — and who drinks apple & grape juice at 7pm anyway? I’m just sayin’…it was pretty strange.
But I digress. The whole point of this night is to get out, walk around, people-​watch, see some fabulous art, and maybe mingle with some of richies who can actually afford this stuff.
BONUS: There’s many a bar in-​between the bulk of the galleries, so it’s super easy to stop and get a drink — just about anywhere. :)

How To Do First Thursday:
Meet at Mitchelli between 4 and 6. Drink 2 lemon drops and an apple martini and eat 2 mini pizzas and tell yourself it’s soaking up the alcohol. Head out the door at 6 and start walking. Ask «where are we going?» If you’re with Michael you’ll find out that he once was taken to a place «somewhere down here» in one of the buildings in the shadow of the Viaduct that was showing bondage pictures. You’re now looking for a bondage show. You all look at eachother, say «cool» and keep walking. You never actually find bondage pictures but if you have Mitzie with you she’ll keep asking at the studios you do visit until it becomes clear they just aren’t showing this time around.
You enter a studio with old typewriters that are more awesome than the art on the walls. You talk about whips and chains and bondage in a studio filled with children’s art on the walls, and, oops, children. You’re so inappropriate. You head up to Occidental Square where there’s music and booths and Dante’s Inferno Dogs. You stop in a gallery or two, admire some art, realize Rachel knows much more about art than you do, and touch the glass objects in the glass place even though you really shouldn’t.
You decide to go to the Tashiro Kaplan Lofts. You pass by McCoy’s Firehouse and realize you need some more fortification, plus Jon hasn’t had enough to drink yet. You get a drink. Or two. You head back out for the Lofts and find 3, uh, performance artists slowly, slowly moving across the street and gathering a crowd. You slip into a gallery, explore, and when you come back out they’ve fnally made it to the sidewalk. They sport white face paint and kimonos and white rubber gloves filled with sugar around their necks. Their photographer friend tells you if you just stay put you may become part of the performance. You can’t resist, but they piss Tiffany off so there’s only you and Jon to watch in morbid fascination as the girl does a headstand on the sidewalk and the dredlocked female drums and chants, and you make up story lines for what they’re doing because, as with all good performance art, it makes no sense whatsoever.
This creates an appetite and you go back to Occidental Park to find Dante and his Dogs and are talked into putting cream cheese on your brat for the first time ever. Damn tasty. Y’all were right. Next, you head out for SAM because it’s open until midnight on first Thursdays. But the Bookstore Bar is on the way and you’ve read such great Unilocal you have to cross the street and enter. Only Ron orders some kind of scotch, ’cause he’s cool like that, but you enjoy the space and the drinks until you realize it’s now 10 and you do want to check out SAM. You stare at the exploding cars, which really should only be seen at night, ogle the giant rat and the Asian armor made out of dog tags that a docent tells you have no significance, and the cereal boxes and a tower of blankets. Bernie shows up and dances on the wood floor and you finally realize you have a bus to catch and you have to be at work in 6 hours.
That, my friends, is the Art Walk. You should go.

In case some of you didnt know it, the first Thursday of every month all the galleries downtown (and in the area) are open later, some with music and many with free booze and nibbles. Many galleries schedule their openings during this time, as they get lots of visitors due to the later hours and free admission.
During the summer time this is a must do, for those who can brave the weather during the winter its still a great way to pass the evening.
Lots of listings are posted on the strangers «whats the haps in art» section, but there are smaller spots like the artists lofts at 619 western that is a party in a building. There is also a Leonardo exhibit at the Museum of Flight that is worth checking out as well.
Tonight is first Thursday… I’m going, are you???