Day 2 - Free Museums!

In Seattle, the first Thursday of each month is Free Museum Day. So although my original plan was to rest and relax after a day of travel, I decided I needed to take advantage of this opportunity. So, "Hop on the bus, Gus!"

My first stop: SAM, Seattle Art Museum. Check this out!

Old Ford Taurus' hanging from the ceiling...and with light sticks shooting out of them in sequence.

The piece is called "Inopportune: Stage One" (2004) and the artist is Cai Guo-Qiang.

There was Australian Aboriginal art that was amazing! "Leaves" by Gloria Tamerr Petyarr

Up close: every brush stroke, a leaf.

I love the colors in "Kurtal" by Ngilpirr Spider Snell. The center is a  jila, a cool desert spring or "living water." And below is Kurtal, the potent snake spirit.

One more of the aboriginal paintings that really caught me was "Anooralya" (Wild Yam Dreaming) 1995 by Emily Kam Kngwarray. "We are observing a network of yams that wind their way through the deep red sands of the artist's homeland." The artist was the chief custodian of the knowledge of where these yams would proliferate.

A couple of other art pieces, very different mediums but similar theme, also caught my attention. Here is "The Rumor" by Ebba Rapp sculpted in terracotta, 1946-52. These guys make me laugh!

And here's the back of their heads!

And now "The Visitation" by Phillippe de Champaigne, ca. 1643.

Elizabeth and Mary look almost alive whispering their baby secrets!

And one more to share, though I could share 20 more, is this banner art and accompanying story from the Puyallyup people, an ancient Northwest coast culture. "Song for the Moon" 2002 by Shaun Peterson (Qwalsius).

Here's the story: "The Origin of the Moon"

"Long ago there were two sisters who marveled at the stars in the Sky World at night and they talked about how they would both marry a star. One day while they were in the forest collecting cedar bark, they came upon an extraordinarily large cedar tree. The tree was so tall that it reached into the Sky World. They began climbing until they reached the Sky World. The sister who marveled at the white star found him to be an old man but she loved him anyway. The younger sister saw that her choice, the red star, was a strong, young man.

After being in the Sky World for a while the younger sister discovered she was with child. They longed to be back in their home village but the tall cedar had been cut down. Since the Sky World had its own forest, the girls made a long rope from the bark and climbed down.

The younger sister and her child born of the red star possessed supernatural powers. He could change things with his hands and with songs. He was duk-w-but, the Changer. After spending much time with his mother's people he went back to the Sky World.

Before his journey, duk-w-but met with the Chief of the Wolf People who promised that his people would look after the Puyallup. Satisfied, duk-w-but returned to the Sky World and became the moon so that he could watch over his mother's people, the Puyallup. And when he is not in sight, the Wolf People watch for him. When the moon returns, the Wolf communicates to duk-w-but what the People have been doing through his song."

I am so grateful to all these artists, contemporary and ancient, and all story tellers too. I am enriched by your loving work. Thank you!

I also took in the MOHAI, Museum of History and Industry, but was getting tired. It was packed with people because of Free Day, so I didn't try to take any pictures. Still, another great place to visit if you are in Seattle.