The Henry Art Gallery is showcasing the period when Seattle artists played a big role in the radical revisions of what constituted ceramics and ceramic art, including the then hotly-contested issues of the purity of clay, the integrity of the vessel, and the validity of ceramic sculpture. This exhibition, on view in the North Galleries, is drawn primarily from the Henry’s permanent collection.

Aljoya Thornton Place, 450 NE 100 St. in North Seattle, opens a show featuring the works of  Z.Z. Wei and Alfredo Arreguin on February 23 with a reception from 4:30pm – 6:30pm. The title of the show, “The New American Experience: Color, Composition & Unique Vision,” reflects the fact that though one artist is from China and the other from Mexico, both are first generation Americans (not to mention well-known artists)  who tell their uniquely American story through their art. The exhibit runs through June 26. Call 206.306.7920 for reservations. Shown: Palouse Shadow by Z.Z. Wei.

February 25

H’Arts 30th Annual Art Auction. Snohomish County’s largest art auction to benefit the arts. in Everett. Visit www.schack.org/events/ for more information. Held at the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center at the Comcast Arena, 2000 Hewitt Avenue (corner of Hewitt and Broadway.) Tickets are $85 per person until February 21st when the ticket price increases to $100. The event begins at 5:00pm with three silent auctions followed by dinner at 7:00pm and the live auction with auctioneer Mark Schenfeld at 7:30pm. Please call 425-259-5050 or go to www.schack.org to purchase tickets.

Artist Trust’s Silver Anniversary Benefit Art Auction takes place at the Fisher Pavillion at the Seattle Center starting at 5pm. Auction artwork by esteemed Washington artists including Whiting Tennis; Patti Warashina; legendary sound and music artist John Cage; Arts Innovator Award winner Margie Livingston; glass artists Ethan Stern and Doug Randall; and over 200 more.  Arts Experiences including a private tour of Sculpture Woods on Lummi Island, luncheon and studio visit with Northwest bronze sculptor Ann Morris; a creative retreat at the beach in Seabrook, WA; a week in Puerto Vallarta’s “Old Town” – and much more. Proceeds from the auction help enable  supporting art at its source: the creative individual artists throughout Washington.

James Caudle and Amanda Michele Dellinger are sponsoring “Ahh Nuts! | Art Against Allergies,” a benefit for a little boy named Lincoln Caudle who has life-threatening allergies and is in need of financial help. The benefit will feature live music by the Velvet Richmond Division, Life in a Blender and, a Tom Waits cover band, the Ol’ 55′s. Twenty works of art will be displayed for silent auction by local artists. The benefit is scheduled to begin at 6pm at the Georgetown Arts & Cultural Center, 5511 1/2 Airport Way S. in Seattle.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Spend Your Mid-Winter Break at SAM!
- Extended Hours and Activities

Time: 10 am-9 pm; Location: SAM
 Entire Building

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

ACCESS SAM Tour
- Theaster Gates: The Listening Room

Time: 11 am-12:30 pm; Location: SAM
 Brotman Forum

Gauguin & Polynesia Lecture with Pam McClusky

Time: noon-1 pm; Location: Seattle Central Library
 Brotman Forum

Members Art History Lecture Series: New Perspectives with Patricia Junker
- Mark Tobey, White Writing

Time: 7-9 pm; Location: SAM
 Plestcheeff Auditorium

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Forever Young: The Films of François Truffaut
- Two English Girls

Time: 7:30-10 pm; Location: SAM
 Plestcheeff Auditorium

Friday, February 24, 2012

SAM Remix

Time: 7:30 pm-12:30 am; Location: SAM
 Entire Building

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Saturday University–The Future of Asia’s Cities: Design, Environment, Health
- Greening Cities: Possibilities and Practices in Indonesia and China, Abidin Kusno & Lisa Hoffman

Time: 9:30-11 am; Location: SAAM
 Stimson Auditorium