The late Northwest artist Jay Steensma (1941-1994) died somewhat prematurely in a career also clouded by manic depression. Thus, there is a tendency to diagnose this small selection of his work, most from the early ’90s, as being dark or cheerful. His larger drip paintings do have a gloomy palette, and they’re often collaged with small inset images (e.g., photos of Hammering Man being installed at SAM, a woodcut by Michael Spafford). These inlays are often defaced or scratched out–including a Polaroid of the artist himself. There seems to be anger or frustration at work, as in a painting inscribed, “I wish I could love America as much as Geo. Washington.” By contrast, his small quick sketches and landscape details (tree, house, Mt. Rainier) convey uncomplicated pleasure of daubing paint and capturing a scene. The whole portfolio seems divided, but that may speak more to method than mental illness. Also on view, whimsical, unschooled cats and small clay figures by his surviving life partner, Ree Brown. BRIAN MILLER

Tuesdays-Thursdays, 4-11 p.m.; Fridays, Saturdays, 4 p.m.-1 a.m.; Sundays, 4-10 p.m. Starts: March 11. Continues through April 25, 2010