ArtsWest

ArtsWest. West Seattle. 4711 California Ave SW.

Mostly known as a playhouse with an intimate theater holding 149 seats and world-renowned plays, ArtsWest ( www.artswest.org) also houses a rotating collection of art in it's foyer. I visited when Child’s Play was on display, a companion theme to the current play with works exhibited by three artists. Outshining the other artists with vibrant colors and humorous subjects was Jessica Dodge. She paints with acrylic in reverse on glass, and has long been a great community artist-- a woman who was also touring the gallery had worked in a booth next to Dodge’s at Bumbershoot a few years ago. 

In the exhibit, Dodge skillfully portrays simple scenes with depth, while still maintaining a sense of whimsy. For example, in Neither This Way Nor That, a fox is splayed out with roller skates on, a foot above the pavement and grimacing for the impending impact. In the other half of the frame, is a hedgehog riding a unicycle on a country road, looking over his shoulder and speaking into a megaphone. It certainly brightened my day walking into this gallery.