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A New Gallery at the Allen Institute for Brain Science

I met a friend last week at Pivot Art + Culture, a new gallery inside the Allen Institute for Brain Science building in South Lake Union.

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Exterior view of Pivot Art + Culture Gallery

Outside the building, a new art by Jaume Plensa

On Mercer Street, two stainless steel figures sit face-to-face. You can see a lot of letters or symbols from several alphabets appear. This is Mirall (Mirror in Catalan) by Jaume Plensa. We already had the chance to admire one of his works at the SAM Olympic Sculpture Park: the gigantic, white Echo.  The lighting at night brings a magical dimension to his piece. It is beautiful!

First exhibit at Pivot Art + Culture: The Figure in Process: de Kooning to Kapoor 1955-2015  

This is their first exhibit and features masterworks by eclectic renowned modern artists. Among them: Francis Bacon, David Hockney, Willem de Kooning, Alberto Giacometti, Roy Lichstentein, and Anish Kapoor. A few pieces even come from Paul Allen’s Collection itself.

I was really happy to see this show even if some pieces are really weird, ugly, scary or incomprehensible. I was really puzzled in front of some but others were beautiful, technically impressive, handsome, or inspiring. I really loved Kehinde Wiley‘s portrait, an artist we will be able to see at the SAM from February 11th.

I was lucky enough to visit the show with a friend who knows much more than I do regarding art. If you don’t have an artsy friend and if you want to be informed on this show, curatorial tours are organized every Wednesday till February 24 at 12:30.

—  Pivot Art + Culture, 609 Westlake Ave N
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Command-Shift-4 by Pae White

Last days for a great installation at Henry Art Gallery, through Jan 24.
Don’t miss Pae White‘s Command-Shift-4
Depending on where you stand, your perception of what you can see changes.
A colorful installation with painted graphics and strings of yarns attached between walls, the ceiling, and the floor, that appear to form shapes, words, and letters when you move around.
Be careful not to bump into the yarn…
— Henry Art Gallery, 15th Ave NE and NE 41st St – Open Wed – Sun
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Murals around Seattle

I love Seattle’s many murals. Some consider them graffiti, while others see them as another form of art. They also can be ads. Often painted directly on a wall, the murals incorporate bricks, stones, metal or architectural elements in their designs.

Downtown, a beautiful orca.

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another one

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On the side of Fremont Studio: Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.

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In Fremont, a still life coffee house.

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In Fremont again.

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In International District, by artist Erik Burke (http://eriktburke.com/)

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In Beacon Hill, on the wall of Kusina Filipina by a group of artists called Matamuros.

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One more in Ballard

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