Art Watch

Stonington Gallery Rudy Willingham

Pioneer Square has dozens of superb galleries along its appealing brick streets and hosts America’s longest-running monthly Art Walk, held on first Thursdays. Stop by Greg Kucera Gallery (212 Third Ave S), which opened in 1983 and showcases a mix of museum-quality pieces from local and international artists, and Stonington Gallery (125 S Jackson St) for weavings, jewelry, and sculpture by Native American talents. More than 30 resident artists work from the studios inside the Tashiro Kaplan Artist Lofts (115 Prefontaine Pl S), while Method Gallery (106 Third Ave S) shows compelling site-specific installations.

The Frye Art Museum (704 Terry Ave) is always free to visit and displays modern and contemporary art from the collection of Charles and Emma Frye as well as rotating temporary exhibits. Photographic Center Northwest (900 12th Ave) stages innovative photo exhibitions, many that focus on social justice. During Capitol Hill Art Walks on the second Thursday of each month, bustling Chophouse Row (1424 11th Ave) marketplace joins in on the fun with art, food, drink, and live DJ sets. Georgetown abounds with places to engage with original art, especially during Georgetown Art Attack, held every second Saturday. Art talks take place at contemporary studio e (609 S Brandon St). In a creatively transformed gas station, Mini Mart City Park (6525 Ellis Ave S) serves as a community art space and pocket park. Also check out the thoughtful exhibitions at Koplin Del Rio (6107 13th Ave S) and the colorful home of alternative comics publisher Fantagraphics Bookstore (1201 S Vale St).