Look Up Here: 5 Years of NW Urban & Contemporary Art March 9, 2012

Look Up Here celebrates 5 years of exhibits at Bherd Studios Gallery and features 33 Pacific NW artists who have been an integral part of the gallery and the Seattle art scene. In addition to the exhibit, a book under the same title features all 33 artists with a book signing event in April. The belief that the Seattle art scene is ripe for recognition has been Bherd's main mission to promote the promising talents of local urban and contemporary artists. While the gallery has shown well over a hundred different artists throughout the last 5 years, these 33 artists have been especially productive within their own careers and have been involved within the art community through creating events and supporting other artists along the way. Many of these artists have also participated in multiple projects, exhibits, and curated shows at the gallery, which truly shows their passion for their work and for their peers.

“The range of media is extensive, from aerosol spray, acrylic, and oil paint, to stencil, pen & ink drawing, collage, sculpture, photography, encaustic, and street-based installation and performance. In just five years, Bherd has created a rich mixture of both lowbrow and highbrow that they bring together under the “urban and contemporary” umbrella. There’s also a fascinating hybrid or cyborg quality to much of the flora and fauna where organic shapes are grafted on to humans, machines, or robots. Nature also appears as a series of scientific specimens, and there’s a wonderful, collective take on the 19th century (Victorian period), with gothic horror, ornate frames, and steampunk paraphernalia.” David Francis (excerpted from Look Up Here, the book)

Featuring: 179, Carlos Aguilar, Michelle Anderst, Debbie Bianchi, Zach Bohnenkamp, Chris Brett, Jenn Brisson, Mike Capp, Cash, Duffy, Ego, Justin Kane Elder, Marty Gordon, Jeremiah Hammer (aka dear earthling), Justin Hillgrove, Ksera, Larkin, Jesse Link, ninjagrl, John Osgood, Augie Pagan, Kate Protage, Mat Savage, Chris Sheridan, Michelle Smith-Lewis, Kellie Talbot, Siolo Thompson, Sensei23, Solace, Urban Soule, Dan Voelker, Joe Vollan and Redd Walitzki.

Official Website: http://www.bherdstudios.com