Seattle Art Museum

“I like to imagine who might have used this rug. Whose faith in the greater good is marked in the wears and tears of this rug, despite all the hardships of fragile life. From ancient Gordion to present-day Seattle, I am connected to the humanity of all those who prayed.” Today is Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the celebratory end of the holy month of Ramadan. In honor of Eid, Raziah Ahmad, Curatorial Division Coordinator, examines the Ghiordes Pattern Prayer Rug in SAM’s collection, exploring her relationship to the object, holiday, and community. Read her insightful reflection on our blog #SAMStories: https://lnkd.in/g6kudcEN [??: Ghiordes pattern prayer rug, late 19th-early 20th century, Islamic, Anatolia, Ghiordes (modern western Turkiye), Seattle Art Museum, 62.169.]

??? “The show, his largest ever in the U.S., will also be one of the first to spotlight his early works.…‘We all have a beginning,’ he says. ‘The beginning is always pretty clumsy and unprepared. But if you keep working, you may reach some unknown.’” T Magazine, The New York Times Style Magazine, visited Ai Weiwei in his Berlin studio earlier this spring in advance of the opening of “Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei.” Read all about it: https://lnkd.in/gEsjYx2N [??: Kathrin Tschirner]

???With April just around the corner, we’re wrapping up our #WomensHistoryMonth series with a spotlight on the late artist Laura Aguilar. (Pssst: Though March is almost over, don’t worry–we have no plans to stop celebrating women artists on our feed.) As a Chicana and lesbian photographer, Aguilar broke barriers by making herself and her community visible in the art world. Sometimes she did this by physically inserting herself into her artwork, as in “Stillness #15.” This 1999 photograph features Aguilar and another woman perched on rocky terrain, slouched over their naked bodies. Often in the history of art, nude women with idealized thin, white bodies represent mythological figures or sexual objects. Aguilar complicated these norms by depicting herself and her models in unexpected poses and obscuring their faces. In this black-and-white image, the women become part of the environment—their curves, creases, and textures echo the rocks around them.? “Stillness #15” focuses on both the body and the mind. Aguilar explained that this series stemmed from her experience as a caretaker for her dying father; during this time, she began contemplating spirituality. Aguilar’s use of the female nude is not about beauty or ideals—it’s about reckoning with grief, mortality, and self-exploration. Sadly, Aguilar passed away in 2018, but her powerful contribution to the art world lives on. Head to our blog #SAMStories to see all of our Women’s History Month artist spotlights! https://lnkd.in/gwKnU_qW #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenArtists #LauraAguilar #SAM #SeattleArtMuseum [??“Stillness #15,” 1999, Laura Aguilar, 2021.39.1. ? Laura Aguilar, Photo: Scott Leen.]

Contemporary sculptor Thaddeus Mosley is known for his innovative concept of “weight in space,” in which sculptural forms appear to defy gravity. Immerse yourself in the weightless environment of “Following Space,” where 17 of Mosley’s dynamic wooden sculptures straddle the line of levitation and stability. “Following Space: Thaddeus Mosley & Alexander Calder” is on view at the Seattle Art Museum through June 1–grab tickets at visitsam.org/calder

??Hold up—did we hear that right? There’s still tickets to SAM Remix? On Friday, March 28, from 7 to 11 pm? Music to our ears … Seattle Art Museum’s famed after-hours extravaganza is full of art, music, fashion, and comedy. The “rebel” theme is inspired by Ai Weiwei, the globally renowned artist and activist with 130+ works now on view at SAM. Dress in punk chic attire, and leave your expectations at the door. Don’t miss your chance to party with us at this 21+ event. Only a few spots left—get yours at visitsam.org/remix. ?[??Nick Shively]

??? Next up in our #WomensHistoryMonth series: painter Honoré Sharrer. Sharrer marched to the beat of her own drum throughout her 75-year career. Tucked away in her rural upstate New York studio, she bucked trending art styles and sometimes spent years on a single painting. Known for her satirical work, Sharrer loved poking fun at female stereotypes and creating alternate realities. She was also drawn to the craft, themes, and metaphors of Northern Renaissance art. Her 1981 oil painting “Susanna and the Eldest” is based a tale from the Old Testament about sexual violence. In the story, two men spy on a woman while she is bathing and attempt to force her into having sex, then blackmailing her when she refuses. Eventually, their lies are exposed. In her reimagining, Sharrer gives Susanna unabridged agency. Instead of the demure victim, as she has been depicted throughout art history, Susanna splays out naked on the floor and stares directly at the viewer. An odd assortment of objects surround her to cultivate a dream-like state in the colorful room. This includes a skeleton in a top hat set upon a plinth that hovers above Susanna—a monument of death upon the leering men of her past? Check out our blog #SAMStories at https://lnkd.in/gkcHPv8D to read about all of our featured artists! #WomensHistoryMonth #FemaleArtists #HonoreSharrer #SusannaAndTheEldest #SAM #SeattleArtMuseum [??“Susanna and the Eldest,” 1981, Honoré Sharrer, 2012.16.1, ? Adam Zagorin]

?? Exciting news: Ai Weiwei’s “Water Lilies” is now on view at the Seattle Asian Art Museum! Nearly 50 feet in length and made from 650,000 LEGO blocks, this is Ai Weiwei’s largest and most ambitious LEGO work to date. This striking reinterpretation of Claude Monet’s iconic work merges the lush beauty of Monet’s water lilies with Ai’s personal history. Displayed in one long panel on a single wall, “Water Lilies” offers an intimate gallery experience you won’t want to miss. Visit the Seattle Asian Art Museum today to witness the magic for yourself. Entry to “Water Lilies” is included with admission—tickets available at https://lnkd.in/gkqtyGH6! #AiWeiwei #AiRebel #WaterLilies #SeattleAsianArtMuseum

?? Museums are essential: they foster creativity, build community, and drive economic activity. Now, a new Executive Order threatens the future of The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which is the only federal agency committed to supporting museums like ours. At the Seattle Art Museum, we are dedicated to creating opportunities for everyone to experience art in all forms, from eye-opening exhibitions to hands-on workshops. Agencies like IMLS make that work possible. It’s time to stand up for art, creativity, and community. The American Alliance of Museums has put together a guide to help you advocate for IMLS and the museum field. Visit aam-us.org/advocacy to find all links and step-by-step-instructions. Make your voice heard!

??Are you ready to rebel? SAM Remix, Seattle's favorite after-hours museum event, returns to the Seattle Art Museum on Friday, March 28. Not only can you experience “Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei,” the exhibition everyone is talking about, but we’ve got a lineup of boundary-pushing artistic experiences in store, including: ?? Hardcore pop artist TeZATalks ?? Punk-pop from King Sheim ?? DJ Kadeejah Streets ??Eclectic beats of Nick Carroll chosen by False Prophet ?? DJ set by SAM CEO Scott Stulen (!) ?? Drag performance by BeautyBoiz ?? Runway show from Dan McLean ?? Stand-up comedy with The Southeast Asian Comedy Collective ?? Gallery tours with SAM curators FOONG Ping & José Carlos Diaz ?? Temporary tattoos by Ink by Bailee ?? SAM member lounge ?? Zinemaking ?? Photobooth ?? Low-sensory gameroom If you haven’t grabbed your tickets already, what are you waiting for? Head to visitsam.org/remix before they are GONE.

?? TOMORROW: Try your hand—and eyes—at ekphrastic poetry! Ekphrastic poems are those written about works of art. This spring, poet and writer Luther Hughes (they/them) leads a series of three workshops on the form, taking the exhibition “Following Space: Thaddeus Mosely and Alexander Calder” as inspiration. On three Sundays in March, April, and May, attendees will take in the large-scale wood sculptures of Mosley and the lofty works of Calder, discuss contemporary poems, and write their own ekphrastic poetry. Let’s get vivid with language about art! “SAM Creates: Vivid Description Poetry Workshop with Luther Hughes” takes place on March 16, April 13, and May 18; register for all three for a discount! More info at visitsam.org/events [??: Installation view of “Following Space: Thaddeus Mosley & Alexander Calder” at Seattle Art Museum, 2024, photo: Natali Wiseman. Photo: Courtesy of Luther Hughes]