Lectures and Events

SURREALIST BALL Celebrate New Year’s Eve with this benefit for the Fremont Arts Council. Features a Haute Trash Fahion Show, R&B from StingShark, art creations from a half-dozen artists, a “melting clock,” and, obviously, more. Essential Chocolate Factory, N. 34th St. and Phinney Ave. N. $20 adv./$25 door, 206-675-1208. 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Wed. Dec. 31.

IMAGES OF DEATH IN MEXICAN ART University of Washington art history prof Deborah Caplow explores the morbid tendencies of Mexican Artfrom traditional Dia De Los Muertos decorations to contemporary Mexican paintingin a lecture and slide show in tandem with the Burke’s “Reverent Remembrance” exhibit. 2 p.m. Sat. Jan 3., Burke Museum, UW campus, N. E. 45th St. and 17th Ave. N.E., 206-543-5590.

Openings

FRAME UP STUDIOS Photographs of daily life in Haiti by J.J. Gama-Lobo. Part of Fremont’s new Art Walk. Reception: 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Fri. Jan. 2. 3515 Fremont Ave. N., 206-547-4657. 10:30 a.m.-6:30 pm. daily.

PRICELESS WORKS “Urban Dwellers Part I”: work from eight artists on the theme of city living. Also part of Fremont’s Art Walk. Reception: 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Sat. Jan. 3. 619 N. 35th St., #100, 206-547-5656.

PITCAIRN SCOTT French artist Nathalie Harvey’s powerful, sanguinary figures seem to be the work of a protracted, bloody struggle upon the canvaseach of these large canvases (some of which are diptychs and triptychs) roughly portrays human figures in various states of violence or dislocation. Titles such as “Killer,” and “Where is Your Gun?” offer just the right touch of cheery sunshine. Reception: 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Fri. Jan. 2. 2207 Second Ave., 206-448-5380. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues.-Sat.

SECLUDED ALLEY WORKS What is nature, exactly? Squirrels and cedars and romantic walks on the beach? Discovery Channel lions chasing down hapless gazelle? Or is it something more? “Contra Natura,” (Against Nature), a show curated by local artists Kamala Dolphin-Kingsley and Mandy Greer, will explore and transgress (ah yes, artists are always transgressing) the boundaries between human and nature. On offer: Eve Cohen’s critters made from cast-off trash, Andrea Rogalski’s mixed-media sculptures, Jennifer Zwick’s Frankenstein bugs reassembled from various insects, Dolphin Kingsley’s paintings of peaceable kingdoms, and work by several other artists. Reception: 7 p.m.-11 p.m Fri. Jan. 2. 113 12th Ave. (at Yesler), 206-839-0880. Noon-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun.

CAFFE ZINGARO Photos of Irish landscapes from Doug Plummer. Opens Sat. Jan. 3. 127 Mercer St., 206-352-2861. 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Wed., 7 a.m.-11:30 p.m., Thurs.-Sat., 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun.

BLUEBOTTLE Montage paintings that draw from pop culture of the past from Stephen Schildbach. Reception: 7 p.m.-11 p.m. Sat. Jan. 3. 1506 415 E. Pine St., 206-325-1592. 1 p.m.-7 p.m. Thus.-Fri., noon-6 p.m. Sat. and Sun.

1506 PROJECTS “Work on paper” from gallery artists Ted Galadday, Sarah Bergmann, Neal Bashor, Dianna Molzan, and Juliet Jacobson at this new experimental Cap Hill space. Reception: 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Sat. Jan. 3. 1506 E. Olive Way, 206-860-4197. 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Mon. and Wed. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. and Sun.

Last Chance

ATELIER 31 Etruscan-inspired sculpture that verges on pastiche by Seattle artist Karen Kargianis, alongside jazz-inspired portraits by Carole d’Inverno. 2500 First Ave., 206-448-5250. 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Tues.; 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Wed.-Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun. Ends Sun. Jan. 4.

D’ADAMO/WOLTZ Local artist Nick Kosciuk’s painted studies of adolescent orphans (whom he works with in Belarus). 303/307 Occidental S., 206-652-4414. 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. Ends Tues. Jan 6.

FRANCINE SEDERS Seattle native Elizabeth Sandvig has been exhibiting paintings in the area since 1960, which is probably enough to confer upon her the title of Northwest “master.” In a new solo show, “The Peaceable Kingdom,” Sandvig’s intentionally naïve, color-saturated fauvist paintings and monoprints depict all manner of wild creatures lying down together in peace. 6701 Greenwood Ave. N., 206-782-0355. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.- Sat, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sun. Ends Sun. Jan. 4.

FRYE ART MUSEUM Frames! An exhibit of a large variety of frames, plus framing techniques through the ages. 704 Terry Ave., 206-622-9250. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun.; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thurs. Ends Sun. Jan. 4.

GALLERY 110 Rajaa Gharbi’s wispy, symbolic paintings influenced by Arabic calligraphy, alongside Deborah Walker’s slightly didactic paintings alluding to the extinction of species. 110 S. Washington St., 206-624-9336. Noon-5 p.m. Wed.-Sat. Ends Sat. Jan. 3.

GREG KUCERA “Images from the Inside,” a retrospective Bruce Davidson’s career, demonstrates why this photographer is acclaimed as one of the most influential of the past century. 212 Third Ave., 206-624-0770. 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat. Ends Sat. Jan. 3.

MARTIN-ZAMBITO Rare early-career works by twentieth century Northwest artists, including a nude study of artist Guy Anderson in the 1930s by Morris Graves. 721 E. Pike St., 206-726-9509. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue.-Sat. Ends Tues. Jan 6.

MUSEUM OF GLASS “Glass of the Avant Garde,” features selections from the Torsten Brohan collection of middle European twentieth-century art glass. 1801 East Dock St. Tacoma, 253-396-1768. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat., noon-5 p.m. Sun. Ends Sun. Jan. 4.

SEATTLE ART MUSEUM SAM’s ambitious “Baja to Vancouver” assesses the current state of West Coast art. 100 University St., 206-654-3100. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sun.; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thurs. Ends Sun. Jan. 4.

SOLOMON FINE ART In “Reserved,” eight Solomon artists eschew bombast for understatement and subtlety in both subject matter and execution. Featured artists include Mark Dombrosky and Chris St. Pierre. 1215 First Ave., 206-297-1400. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Sat. Ends Fri. Jan. 2.

WASHINGTON STATE CONVENTION & TRADE CENTER Works by 50 Cornish College alumni, including Jennifer McNeely, Rich Lehl, and Dan Webb (the 2003 winner of Seattle Art Museum’s annual Betty Bowen award.) 800 Convention Pl., 206-694-5000. 8 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. Ends Mon. Jan. 5.

WILLIAM TRAVER Big, glass-and-steel chandeliers and other glass objects by James Mongrain. 110 Union St., second floor, 206-587-6501. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun. Ends Sun. Jan. 4.

Museums

EXPERIENCE MUSIC PROJECT Annie Leibovitz’ “American Music” photos. 325 Fifth Ave. N., 206-367-5483. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun.-Thurs., 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Tues.-Sun; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thurs.

SEATTLE ART MUSEUM The second installment of SAM’s “International Abstraction: Making Painting Real:” offers superb examples of the post-World War II abstract expressionist and minimalist movements. 100 University St., 206-654-3100. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sun.; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thurs.

SEATTLE ASIAN ART MUSEUM “Discovering Buddhist Art: Seeking the Sublime, ” recycles Buddhist pieces from the museum’s permanent collection to highlight the diversity of Buddhist sacred art. Volunteer Park, 1400 E. Prospect Ave., 206-625-8900. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed.-Sun.; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thurs.

TACOMA ART MUSEUM The touring exhibit “A Transatlantic Avant-Garde: American Artists in Paris, 1918 – 1939” documents a particularly productive American exodus during the freewheeling, giddy cerebral party that was Paris in the twenties and thirties. More than a hundred artworks, including samplings from Alexander Calder, Stuart Davis, Charles Demuth, and Man Ray cover the gamut from abstraction to Dada. 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-272-4258. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat.; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thurs.; 12 p.m.-5 p.m. Sun.

WING LUKE ASIAN MUSEUM The exhibit “Through My Father’s Eyes” contains some 50 images of daily Filipino immigrant life in the 1940s and ’50s by photographer Ricardo Alvarado. This touring exhibit, sponsored by the Smithsonian’s Asian Pacific American Program, documents the everyday life and culture of Filipino agricultural laborers, shopkeepers, and families. 407 Seventh S., 206-623-5124. 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tues.-Fri.; noon-4 p.m. Sat.-Sun.

Send listings two weeks in advance to visualarts@seattleweekly.com.