May Highlights for SAM Downtown, Seattle Asian Art Museum and Olympic Sculpture Park
Want to get updates on SAM program and events delivered to your inbox? Click here now to subscribe to SAM’s enewsletter. Here’s a message from SAM Director Derrick Cartwright from our May 2011 enewsletter highlighting some of the best SAM’s three sites have to offer.
Dear Friends,
We’ve come to the final month of our exhibition, Nick Cave: Meet Me at the Center of the Earth. The fact that so many of you have participated in this exhibition, and shared your positive responses with me, is a source of gratification and pride. Thank you. I am also pleased that so many more in our community have had the unique opportunity to view Nick Cave’s creations in public spaces throughout Seattle. We’ve called these performances “Invasions.” Young and old alike have been delighted by the whimsy and joy of these incredible and versatile sculptures. If you have not yet had the chance to view them, I encourage you to visit the museum over the next month. And if you wish to catch the last of the “Invasions,” get your ticket now to the June 3 Remix– there are scheduled “Invasions” at this event, which is sure to sell out. The exhibition closes on June 5, 2011.
SAM will participate in International Art Museum Day, an incredible world-wide day of free admission to art museums, on Wednesday, May 18. This day is sponsored by the International Council of Museums. Every year since 1977 International Museum Day has been organized worldwide around May 18. This day is an occasion to raise awareness on how important museums are in the development of society. From America to Oceania including Africa, Europe and Asia, this international event has grown in popularity. In recent years, International Museum Day has experienced its highest involution with almost 30,000 museums participating in more than 100 countries.
May also marks the opening of a very important exhibition at downtown SAM, done in partnership the Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs. On May 11, Seattle as Collector: Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs Turns 40 opens to the public in the free space on SAM’s 2nd level. This exhibition, showcasing over 100 pieces from the City of Seattle’ art collection, has been created to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the existence of this office. SAM has worked closely with the Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs since its inception and we’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate them on the great work they do for the city and arts community. I hope you will take some time to pursue this special installation at SAM; it will be up through October 23.
Now open this month are two installations at the Seattle Asian Art Museum: Artful Reproductions and Modern Elegance: The Art of Meiji Japan. Artful Reproductions features pairs and sets of similar objects that are a result of China’s tradition of fabrication. Modern Elegance showcases gorgeous screens and scrolls, among other treasures, from the Meiji period (1868-1912). Both are well worth your time, and I hope you will get a chance to view them.
This is also one of my favorite times of year to visit the Olympic Sculpture Park and Trenton Doyle Hancock’s pavilion installation “A Better Promise” is certainly worth visiting another time, if you have not seen it lately.
Thanks for your continued, essential support of SAM. I look forward to seeing you at our three sites soon!
Sincerely,
Derrick