Suite 100 Gallery to Move Next to Roq La Rue

Suite 100 Gallery is moving 1 block north and next to Roq La Rue Gallery, in the space lately vacated by BLVD Gallery. The first show in the new space will open January 9th, as part of the monthly Belltown artwalk.

Even though it is only a one block move, it's a good one. No longer will we need to weave our way through clusters of smokers and clumps of pan handlers which gather on the sidewalk one block south -- a block with Mama's Mexican Kitchen, Lava Lounge, Bad Juju Bar, Noodle Ranch, Shorty's, and Buddha Bar between Roq La Rue and the starter location for the Suite 100 gallery.

The new gallery space is two to three times larger in square footage than the old Suite 100 space, so curators will need to step up their game to use it to their advantage. I hope they consider creating a few dividers to break up the wide open space; the BLVD gallery always felt a little too open. (Picture a large living room where all the furniture is anchored against a wall. Would you want to stay very long? )

The first show in the new space looks promising. "Local Aesthetic" will feature artwork from three local artists: Greg Boudreau, Ryan Molenkamp and Troy Gua.

Starter location, buh-bye


New space, hello-o-o-o

(Not a great picture, but the only exterior shot I have.)

Friday gallery openings: toys, Parskid and birds

Hooray! New shows open on Friday March 14th at the trio of hip galleries on 2nd Avenue in Belltown.

Roq La Rue Gallery is featuring a series from Robert Burdon (San Francisco) titled "Toybox." His inspiration for the series was the discovery of a box of toys he had owned as a child. His paintings are of those toys, or of other toys he very much wanted to own. "These large canvases are covered in baroque-like patterning and gilt framing, and a small box containing the actual toy accompanies each piece (referred to by Robert as a "reliquary" of sorts.)"[#]

BLVD Gallery (next door to the Roq) is featuring the urban contemporary works of Parskid (Seattle) and Chip7 (New Jersey). I am looking forward to checking out what Parskid's been working on. His contribution to The Belmont was quite amusing. (right) This show at the BLVD received early press from Juxtapoz mag online.

And third, the Suite 100 Gallery brings together artists from Seattle and Portland, showing works with a common theme of "Feathered Friends." The Suite 100 Gallery is located a block south of Blvd and the Roq.

Its been three months since I last hit the opening nights for the three galleries. Two galleries took January off and I was out of town for the Feburary openings. (But I did make it down to see Roq's and Blvd's Feb shows a couple of weeks ago.)

I am so looking forward making the rounds on Friday!