Hello, Kitty
Bellevue Arts Museum herds 155 cats into a fortuitous new exhibit.
By Seattle Mag April 2, 2013
This article originally appeared in the March 2013 issue of Seattle magazine.
Those little waving kitties have become ubiquitous good luck trinkets in Seattle shops—but what exactly do their upraised paws tell us? With Maneki Neko: Japan’s Beckoning Cats—From Talisman to pop icon, Bellevue Arts Museum provides both context and cuteness, exhibiting 155 vintage cats made from ceramic, papier-mâché, wood and stone, as well as several contemporary takes on the form (such as those by Seattle artists Diem Chau and Patti Warashina).
Thought to have emerged in the 1600s, the cats are attributed to various Japanese folk tales that tell of how a clever cat saved someone from danger (poverty, a trap, lightning strike or snake bite, etc.). Ever since, the cats have laid claim to counters, promising good fortune—or at least fewer snake bites.
2/22–8/4. Times and prices vary. Bellevue Arts Museum, 510 Bellevue Way NE; 425.519.0770; bellevuearts.org
Follow Us
Go See Diné Artist Eric-Paul Riege’s Largest Show to Date at the Henry Art Gallery
With a mix of mediums, ojo|-|ólǫ́ examines questions surrounding the authenticity and ownership of Indigenous work.
It’s a phrase that’s been drilled into most of us since we were young children: When you’re visiting a gallery, please, do not touch the art. In many cases, it’s with good reason: the pieces on display are fragile, one-of-a-kind, or historic works that cannot be reproduced. It’s such an ingrained approach to the museum-going…
Rearview Mirror: Ballet’s Saddest Story, New Art in the Sculpture Park, and a Home-Grown Wine Label Promoting Social Justice
Things I did, saw, ate, learned, or read in the past week (or so).
Circular Thinking I am very lucky to live just a 12-minute walk away from Seattle Art Museum’s Olympic Sculpture Park. It’s a regular destination for my weekly walks and, aside from the world-class art, has one of the city’s best views of Puget Sound. Earlier this week, I went on a wet, windy walk and discovered…
Studio Sessions: Gabriel Stromberg
For his current show at studio e gallery, Gabriel Stromberg explores the challenges of working with clay.
Gabriel Stromberg has been a name about town for nearly two decades. As one of the cofounders of design firm Civilization (where he was the creative director and lead designer from 2008 to 2022), Stromberg worked on many award-winning projects, helped produce the wildly popular and always packed Design Lecture Series, and co-created and moderated…
Building Connection, by Design
How Angela Dunleavy’s new venture is reimagining experiential marketing—and Seattle spaces.
After two decades running restaurants, a nonprofit, and a large-scale catering operation, Angela Dunleavy reached a familiar midcareer inflection point. She had helped build Ethan Stowell Restaurants, led FareStart through the pandemic, and returned to the private sector as CEO of Gourmondo. But something still felt unfinished. “What is it that I really want to…