The Seattle Art Museum has scheduled an entire summer season packed full of activities that combine visual art, green living and community. Throughout the season, Get Out! aims to be socially responsible and environmentally friendly.
On-site, the second summer exhibition at the park, brings together new sculptures by Gretchen Bennett, Nicholas Nyland and Carolina Silva starting June 5. The summer exhibition seeks to infuse newly commissioned works into the landscape. The artists have been invited by Marisa C. Sanchez, SAM’s assistant curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, to conceive of objects, often experimental in concept and execution, that respond to the context of the park environment. Their works will be sited between June 5 and October, 2011, providing new encounters with sculpture and encouraging fresh perspectives on permanent installations and the park environment.
On Thursday nights, visitors will be able to soak in the city and the views with food and beverages, the sunset and live music at “Picnic at the Park” between July 7 and August 25. A caravan of local food trucks will line the z-path, to pair with wine tastings and dinner fare by TASTE Restaurant between 5:30 and 8 pm. The cozy evenings will also include the popular SAM Performs series with live music, including Art of Jazz, from 5:30-7:30 pm, and a tour of the art at 6:30 pm. The City of Seattle’s popular Dancing ‘Til Dusk series will congregate at the park from 6-9 pm for three Thursdays in late summer: August 25, September 8 and September 15.
Saturdays are active days at the park, featuring yoga at 10 am between July 9 and August 27, zumba at 2 pm between July 9 to July 30, and drawing materials available for check-out during Saturday’s open hours. Sundays feature art tours at noon and 1 pm.
Special events are sprinkled throughout the regularly scheduled programming. The season kicks off with a two-part evening benefit for SAM on June 17; the first half is a dinner along the z path, “Set the Table for SAM”, which leads into the after party “Party in the Park” later that night. Families will enjoy the annual Salmon Return Family Festival on Saturday, September 10 from 10 am–3 pm, and the summer season would not be complete without a rocking SAM Remix on August 12 from 8 pm–midnight.
More details on special events throughout the summer:
Set the Table for SAM – Friday, June 17, 2011
6 pm
Join us for a party for the senses: Set the Table for SAM is a fun and creative dinner party with a twist along the Olympic Sculpture Park’s iconic Z-path. SAM provides a fabulous dinner prepared by a dozen of the area’s hottest chefs, cocktails, a stunning view, tables, chairs, plates and glasses, and guests provide the rest! Guests design and decorate their own tables for dinner – the more outrageous the better! Prizes categories include best table and all funds raised support the Seattle Art Museum’s artistic and outreach programs. Artist-created tables are also available, allowing guests to dine with their featured artist on their table-scape creation. Tickets start at $250 per person and include access to the after party, Party in the Park. For more information contact Andy Burgess at 206.654.3138 or [email protected].
Party in the Park – Friday, June 17, 2011
8 pm – midnight
Party in the Park is an energetic late-night party activating the Olympic Sculpture Park after dark. Guests will enjoy live music by Hey Marseilles, Dave Hernandez of The Shins, Curtains for You, performances and surprises throughout the evening. Ticket prices start at $75 and include late night food and drinks. All proceeds from Party in the Park benefit the Seattle Art Museum’s artistic and outreach programs. Party in the Park is 21+ only. Rain or shine. For more information contact Andy Burgess at 206.654.3138 or [email protected].
SAM Remix – Friday, August 12, 2011
8 pm – midnight
The Seattle Art Museum will keep the Olympic Sculpture Park open until midnight for a special, summer SAM Remix event on Friday, August 12. From 8 pm until midnight, attendees can dance to a lineup of internationally renowned DJs, experience the art on view through unconventional and highly opinionated tours of the park and enjoy art, performances and music in the dramatic setting of the Olympic Sculpture Park. Special “My Favorite Things: The Park After Dark” tours offer party-goers the chance to experience the park in new and unexpected ways. Tickets on sale later this summer at seattleartmuseum.org.
Salmon Return Family Festival – Saturday, September 10, 2011
10 am – 3 pm
Enjoy the annual Salmon Return Family Festival at the Olympic Sculpture Park. This family event with an environmental theme will feature tours of art from the park (including temporary summer installations), performances, art-making activities and music. Presented by Target. Free and open to the public.
Image: The Gates Amphitheater at the Olympic Sculpture Park
Up-to-date information can be found on the museum’s online calendar at www.seattleartmuseum.org, or by calling (206) 654-3100.
Olympic Sculpture Park
2901 Western Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121