The postmodern facade by Robert Venturi is clumsy and dated, but the once-cramped gallery spaces have been redesigned, expanded, and reconfigured, making a visit to the Seattle Art Museum a real pleasure. Outside, Jonathan Borofsky’s giant kinetic sculpture Hammering Man pays homage to Seattle’s manual-labor workforce. The entrance lobby showcases a big, eye-catching, but rather intellectually shallow installation called Inopportune: Stage One by Chinese artist Cai Quo-Qiang with several full-size cars suspended in a topsy-turvy sequence across the ceiling with colored lights shooting out of their sides. There is usually a first-rate exhibition or traveling show to be seen here, but the permanent collections are definitely worth your time. One is devoted to painting, furniture, sculpture, and decorative arts from the Pacific Northwest, with historic gems like the mid–19th-century painting Astoria Harbor, its ships bathed in golden light, by Cleveland Rockwell. Even more impressive is the sizeable collection of Northwest Coast Native American art, which includes totem poles, masks, wood carvings, and many other treasures. Also worthwhile is the African Art collection and the Northwest Contemporary Art Collection, the latter featuring works by the so-called Big Four (or "mystic") artists (Guy Anderson, Kenneth Callahan, Morris Graves, Mark Tobey) active in and around Seattle and La Conner, Washington (where there's also a museum dedicated to their work in the 1930s and 1940s).
Seattle› Attraction
Seattle Art Museum (SAM)
1300 First Ave
Our Rating
Hours
Weds–Sun 10am–5pm (Thurs until 9pm)
Phone
206/854-3100
Prices
$20 adults, $18 seniors, $13 students/teens, free 12 and under; Free admisión first Thurs-Fri every month.
Web site
Seattle Art Museum (SAM)
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Map
1300 First Ave SeattleNote: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.