New Thought-Provokers at Ethnic Heritage Gallery

Departments across the City of Seattle dedicate 1% of eligible capital construction funds for public art. While the art does not rotate as often as many of the organized art walks throughout Seattle, there is no shortage of what has been gathered with the invested funds. 

A small gallery at Seattle Municipal Tower on 5th Avenue and Columbia Street has changed decor. Where up until recently was some cartoonish art with an ode to boxing, now sits an exhibit by Bryan Wilson: Atmospheric River. The piece is accompanied by a poem from the artist reading a lofty dream within the watery characteristics of the Sound. The reader finds themselves brought into a scene with images of the softness of snow and the smoothness of a rock sculpted by a river. Spring nettle forages and sky-gathered animals make mention as delights to find in our journey and discovery of Pacific Northwest surroundings. 

Atmospheric River by Bryan Wilson / The Evergreen Echo

Before entering the government building, Atmospheric River sits just outside on the walkway into the doors. What looks to be a single, white banner paper with cut-out block lettering is strewn across the small room hung in the formation of different words: RISE, WORDS, TUMBLING, and perhaps more. The words are even further appreciated with the placement of lights, capitalizing on the small space, to shine through and silhouette them on the walls. The banner seems endless. Some of the words are difficult to read as they bend around the room but leaves the viewer curious for more. In failed attempts to walk into the room, one can’t help but stand still to try to read everything.

The Ethnic Heritage Gallery hosts several paintings across the third floor of SMT. One of the paintings, Wat’sa with a Pearl Earring (2014), by Alison Marks, puts a mask on a version of the famous Girl with a Pearl Earring piece. While the alluded painting gently remains unchanged, the mask brings a dark and violent feeling to the scene with red eyes and fire across the face. Even the hair attached to the mask covers some of the original figure’s hair, leaving just the hanging cloth; yet through the changes and face coverage, the pearl earring remains clearly visible, untouched by the violence from the mask.

Marks used their modified famous painting to make a place for Northwest Coast art into the “great art” of art history. In the alluded painting, the young woman gazes gracefully, but the masculine mask steals the focus from her. Marks uses this coverage to reference “the male gaze present in many famous paintings of women” [artist statement by Alison Marks].

Wat’sa with a Pearl Earring by Alison Marks / The Evergreen Echo

Wat’sa with a Pearl Earring can be enjoyed sitting around one the many tables throughout the small Northwest Coast art gallery amid other pieces including sculpture, graphic, and paint. The Ethnic Heritage Gallery is just one of the many public galleries found throughout Seattle. While this gallery is not included in your standard fourth Friday downtown art walk, the outside display is an easy addition to your stroll down 4th and 5th Avenue where most galleries sit. It is not certain when this piece will be taken down, but it’s certainly worth a visit.