True, people buy tickets many months in advance to see the
Seattle Opera perform true masterworks such as Wagner’s “Ring.” Yes, the city’s beloved
Intiman Theatre counts a Pulitzer Prize-winning play and multiple Tony Awards among its associated honors. And there’s no doubt that the
Seattle Art Museum has launched the city into a new era of arts and culture. In fact, the famed Musee National Picasso in Paris selected SAM to premier a worldwide tour of the museum’s collection (Oct. 8, 2010–Jan. 17, 2011). But while Seattle can boast sophistication with the best of them, the city’s arts scene also reveals its quirky side.
Seattle’s public art takes “public” to another level — and seems to be open game for Seattleites to add their own flair. In the
Fremont neighborhood, locals regularly adorn the six cast aluminum figures of “Waiting for the Interurban” with hats, scarves, ties and sunglasses. Near the
University District, paper cranes often drape over a Peace Park statue memorializing a Japanese girl who survived the Hiroshima bombing.
Art is integrated almost everywhere you look. Supported by award-winning public art programs, artists design everything from building components to manhole covers.
“It seems like more spaces than ever are showing art,” says comic artist David Lasky, quoted in The Artists’ Guide to Seattle. “I’ve had countless shows in cafes, restaurants, bars and shops. Shows like that create a social opportunity in which to see art.”
And Seattle’s love for the alternative isn’t limited to visual art. After all, this was the home of Nirvana and Pearl Jam, trailblazers of the grunge rock era whose influences spread to nearly every music genre. Even the 105-year-old
Seattle Symphony Orchestra stays hip. In addition to performing the classics, it purposefully creates programs featuring popular groups such as vintage-chic Pink Martini, whose multilingual vocals and retro jazz have led to conga lines in even the most sophisticated concert halls.
For those who think ballet is “old school,” consider the
Pacific Northwest Ballet. Long acclaimed for its outstanding Balanchine repertoire, PNB is equally noted for its contemporary work.
Fringe theater — a term used to describe small-scale, experimental shows — has become an integral part of Seattle’s arts scene. Local theater service group
Theatre Puget Sound counts more than 140 producing theater companies in its membership.
Overall, Seattle’s arts scene mirrors its inhabitants. For every traditionalist, there’s a non-traditionalist; for every serious piece of art, there’s something to make you chuckle. Some say it’s the coffee culture. Others say it’s the weather. It could just be that Seattle is the cultural center of the Northwest, and its citizens are happy to celebrate. Whatever it is, there’s no doubt that things are fun and a little quirky, too.