Seattle/ Arts & Culture
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Published on October 02, 2024
Seattle Welcomes "Please Touch" Exhibition, A Groundbreaking Approach to Art at ARTS at King Street StationSource: Art Beat, Office of Arts & Culture

In an unprecedented move that invites art lovers to engage with contemporary works through touch, the "Please Touch" exhibition is now poised to challenge the established 'look-don't-touch' rule in galleries. Open from today through January 4, 2025, at ARTS at King Street Station, this event turns the tables on traditional perceptions of art presentation and audience interaction. Artbeat Seattle reports that the show features contributions from a consortium including A/NT Gallery, 5th Avenue Theater, and Seattle Opera, among others.

Barbara Oswald, an artist who also advocates for disability rights, spearheaded the curation alongside Jessica Ong Carbaugh, Cole Devoy, Laura Ferri, and Susan Springer; their collective initiative indeed opens new avenues for inclusivity in art. "Through our sensory lens of tactile delight, Please Touch enhances our appreciation of the real world," Barbara Oswald explained to Artbeat Seattle, emphasizing the collaborative effort to stretch creative boundaries and offer a welcoming space that deconstructs years of ableism, and artistry tends to be confined in untouchable grandeur, yet this assembly of artists dared to differ, sharing their tactile creations with the public.

Mark your calendars for a multi-sensory experience as the exhibit also coincides with local festivities. The Station Space neighbors are set to enhance the opening on First Thursday with a block party, complete with music programs and interactive projects. According to the details provided by Artbeat Seattle, expect live performances from The Jackson Street Music Program, Red Eagle Soaring, The Rhapsody Project, and Totem Star amidst artful explorations from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

ARTS at King Street Station invites the public to this fee-free cultural engagement at 303 S. Jackson Street, Top Floor, Seattle, WA 98104. Operating hours are Wednesday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., and until 8 p.m. on First Thursdays, but more than a venue with open doors, it represents a growing movement toward accessibility in the arts—it's also your last chance to catch the youth-curated exhibition FRESSSSSH! before it wraps up on October 5. Attendees are encouraged to experience a shift in the paradigm how art is appreciated where delicate brushwork and bold sculptures transform into something you can actually feel, transcending the typical static visual relationship, to create a dynamic connection with the art. Do not miss making this exposition a stop on your regular Pioneer Square Art Walk itinerary which promises to be anything but ordinary.