Dates subject to change. Call ahead to verify.
ONGOING
RODIN AT WHATCOM A writhing array of over 30 bronze sculptures by Auguste Rodin from Stanford University’s Cantor collection has made it to Bellingham, along with the French artist’s many writings. See what drove Camille Claudel over the edge. Worth the trip.Whatcom Museum, 121 Prospect St., Bellingham, 360-676-6981, www.whatcommuseum.org. Free. Ends Dec. 10.
SEPTEMBER
7 KATRINA-LAND A group of photographers, including Chris Jordan, known for his incisive portraits of American excess, turn their lenses on the post-Katrina devastation in New Orleans. It’s a heartbreaking reminder of a catastrophe of weather and government failure we shouldn’t forget.G. Gibson Gallery, 300 S. Washington St., 206-587-4033, www.gibsongallery.com. Ends Sept. 30.
8 XIAOZE XIE The MoMA library is the latest subject of the Chinese-born artist’s elegantly realistic oil paintings of stacks of books. Davidson Contemporary, 310 S. Washington St., 206-624-7684, www.davidsongalleries.com. Ends Sept. 30.
11 LOT’S TRIBE Gage Academy instructor/artist Michael Macgrath places full-scale sculptures of Iraqi torture victims made of salt in Occidental Park. A striking comment on recent news realities, their fate will be left to the elements. Ends with the first big rain.
16 TRANSPARENTLY BUILT A group show explores the properties of glass in site- specific installations. Museum of Glass, 1801 E. Dock St., Tacoma, 253-284-4750, www.museumofglass.org. Ends May 27, 2007.
16 INTO BLACK The fall show plays with shadow and light, in work by Jason Dodge (“Into Black,” photo paper exposed to the sun on the vernal equinox at various places across the globe), Olafur Eliasson, Spencer Finch (“The Light at Lascaux,” a large fluorescent light installation), Neil Goldberg (“Three or Four Steps Through a Shadow,” a video installation), Hadley+ Maxwell, Euan Macdonald, and Paul Morrison. Western Bridge, 3412 Fourth Ave. S., 206-838-7444, www.westernbridge.org. Ends Dec. 16.
21 DIEM CHAU The latest work from the Cornish alum and artist who recently created tiny sculptures from Crayolas. Cornish Main Gallery, 1000 Lenora St., First Fl., 206-726-5011, www.cornish.edu. Ends Oct. 21.
22 LITTLE WOMEN, LITTLE MEN: FOLK ART PORTRAITS FROM THE FENIMORE ART MUSEUM The depiction of children in the 19th century is the unifying theme of this collection of paintings, primarily by New England artists from that era.Frye Art Museum, 704 Terry Ave., 206-622-9250, www.fryemuseum.org. Free. Ends Feb. 4, 2007.
26 TRIMPIN CONLONINPURPLE The innovative sound sculptor concludes his yearlong local retrospective with a large five-octave instrument at TAM. Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-272-4258, wwwtacomaartmuseum.org. Ends Jan. 14, 2007.
OCTOBER
5 KERRY SKARBAKKAThe daredevil New York photographer captures himself falling from high buildings and other precarious perches and submerges himself underwater in “Struggle to Right Oneself” and “Fluid.” Lawrimore Project, 831 Airport Way S., 206-501-1231, www.lawrimoreproject.com. Ends Nov. 11.
7 ERIC CARLE The beautiful collages of the beloved children’s illustrator and author (The Very Hungry Caterpillar; Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?) are on display.Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-272-4258, www.tacomaartmuseum.org. Ends Jan. 21, 2007.
19 MURMURS Starlings swarm to the Rome suburb of EUR in winter, the site where Mussolini planned his unrealized homage to fascism, the Universal Exhibition. Alex Schweder, Charles Mason, and Richard Barnes capture this beautiful and eerie phenomenon collaboratively in video, audio, and photographs. Howard House, 604 Second Ave., 206-256-6399, www.howardhouse.net. Ends Nov. 25.
NOVEMBER
9 VIK MUNIZ: “REFLEX” A 20-year survey of work by the acclaimed avant-garde Brazilian photographer is represented by 100 photos. Using unusual materials like dirt, peanut butter, cigarette butts, and hole-punch remnants, the 45-year-old artist re-creates famous images from current events and art history in richly tactile and detailed collages. Seattle Asian Art Museum, Volunteer Park, 1400 E. Prospect St., 206-654-3100, www.seattleartmuseum.org. Ends Jan. 15, 2007.
11 CONTRASTS: A GLASS PRIMER An intro- duction to the art of glass via more than 50 classic and modern works. Museum of Glass, 1801 E. Dock St., Tacoma, 253-284-4750, www.museumofglass.org. Ends Nov., 2009.
16 CLAUDIA FITCH Bright and creepy sculptures and paintings by the local artist whose large commissioned heads adorn Qwest Field. Greg Kucera Gallery, 212 Third Ave. S., 206-624-0770, www.gregkucera.com. Ends Dec. 30.
17Local artist (and 2004 Seattle Weekly readers’ Best of Seattle fave) GAIL GRINNELL employs paper, fabric, and graphite in her intricate abstract collages. Francine Seders Gallery, 6701 Greenwood Ave. N., 206-782-0355, www.sedersgallery.com. Ends Dec. 24.
DECEMBER
12 ALINE SMITHSON The L.A. photographer pays her wry respects to Whistler in a series of fun and poignant portraits of her obliging elderly mom in various incongruous settings in “Arrangement in Green & Black.” Wall Space, 600 First Ave. #322, 206-749-9133, www.wallspaceseattle.com. Ends Jan. 13, 2007.
