Seattle’s Asian Art Museum

I don’t get out much, and truly, that’s my own damn fault. It’s not that I don’t like to get out, it’s that I’m solar powered and good god, is it dark. I’m content in bed between the flannel sheets with something good to read or an iPod crammed full of vintage radio. I can’t go to bed at 6, that is just ridiculous, so it’s handy there was something fun happening just over there from my house.

Day of the Dead Sand PaintingIt was Day of the Dead at SAM. There was Oaxacan band playing wierd music that’s a blend of oompah and cumbia (I don’t know my latin music genres – feel free to correct me) and little kids carrying around gliitering skull masks. There was big circular sand painting in the middle of the gallery and snacks down at the basement level. A man came through handing out orange carnations, a poem was read, the politics of Oaxaca were mentioned, the names of the dead recited. There was a nice mix of people and a festive atmosphere, but not quite enough to keep a person who’d rather be in bed there all night.

Good thing the galleries were open, because there’s a stunning piece of film art on display in up at SAM right now. There are two big screens on opposite ends of a dark room. I won’t tell you what the film shows, I will say that the photography is breathtaking with desaturated color and the figures all in black. The artist is Shirin Neshat, a woman born in Iran and displaced by the revolution. Her photos are amazing – there’s a photo essay here. I might need to go back and take a second look.

SAM is in Volunteer Park. The Shirin Neshat piece is on display until April 8th, but don’t wait until then to see it, because you may want to see it twice.

Cod ThursdayAnd Fish Wednesday delayed is better than none at all. I roasted the last tomatoes with olive oil and capers, added the fish to the pan until it was done, then dished it up over pasta and tossed some fresh basil on top. Yum.

Nerd’s Eye View got a gig. Thank you tech writing superfriends network.

[tags]Volunteer Park, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Day of the Dead, Shirin Neshat[/tags]

1 thought on “Seattle’s Asian Art Museum”

  1. You mean it’s WRONG to go to bed at 6:00?? (Hmmm….must adjust my post-Daylight Savings Time schedule…) I swear, I go through this every year when the time changes…once it’s dark, I’m ready for bed. What’s wrong with me? I just read in our paper last night that there’s a Beat Conference at an art gallery downtown tomorrow. (It’s all of 3-1/2 blocks from our house and I’ve never been there–how pathetic is that?) Might have to go get myself a little dose of art of this weekend. Congrats on the job!!

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