ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC ABOUT SEATTLE’S FUTURE?

“Yes. Seattle has been in transition for a while now, but our proximity to nature has ensured that regardless of the scale of the city, we will always have access to the tran- quility of nature. Additionally, thanks to the foundational industries in the Puget Sound area, we have an amazing, inspiring pool of creative and technical talent which can be advantageous in shaping our future.” —Dave Hull

“Hope fades. Actions last forever. Art inspires the ones who take action. So, as long as we're an art city, the future feels less freaky.”

—Chain Plate

“I feel optimistic about Seattle and the Cascadia region beyond. I don't think a lot of people understand how well-po- sitioned we are when it comes to the changing climate. We have some extraor- dinary struggles ahead as a result of this, of course, but I have hope we can face these struggles with compassion, resil- ience, and love.”

—Ruben David Rodriguez

WHAT EXCITES YOU MOST ABOUT TAKING PART IN THIS EXHIBIT?

“It's no secret that there is a lack of resources and stability for artists in Seattle, and there's no concrete solution. But there is a lot of chatter about occupy- ing vacant spaces, working through the perceived rift between art and tech, and working for more than just “exposure.” This project proves that someone is not only listening but putting in the work to find solutions.”

—Mary Anne Carter

“I am excited about being able to show- case my work alongside other Seattle creatives and be part of the conversation about the future of cities, our place in it, and how we as artists can influence the direction and vision of the future.” —Sylwia Tur

“I love that it’s taking place in the ghost of one of my old haunts from the before times (RPlace). I sketched out my first- ever public art proposal at the downstairs bar in 2016. I'm still hoping I'll find the jacket I left behind a sofa on the second floor in 2018.

—Ruben David Rodriguez

For me, it's all about building a commu- nity of collaborative creatives who have a really forward-thinking and activist view of the role of art in helping to shape our future. I am also very grateful for the creative team, including Brad Traynoff, our lead designer and builder behind the maze who thinks BIG, and Jeffrey Larson, our design guru.”

—Shelly Farnham

BEYOND THE OBVIOUS (BASED ON THE TITLE "SEATTLE: CITY OF THE FUTURE"), WHAT INSPIRED YOUR INSTALLATION IN THIS SHOW?

“I wanted to explore creating videos using the loading feature of Google Tiltbrush. In Tiltbrush, each brush stroke is loaded in order of creation, and this animation can be recorded from within the VR space using a virtual camera.”

—Nathan DiPietro

“I wanted to make something my younger self would think was magic.”
—Bailey Ambrose

“I was inspired by my community, by
my friends, by queer, trans, and gender non-conforming individuals who unapol- ogetically take up space in Seattle.” —Heidi Grace Acuña

“I make art that speaks to environmental concerns. Here, in the Pacific Northwest, settlers have only had 150 years to destroy the environment, so there is still much left to protect and celebrate.” —Jean Bradbury

WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOUR WORK CONVEYS TO THE VIEWER?

“Just because a computer states some- thing confidently does not make it true. We tend to grant special license to tech- nologies we don't understand, but that often grants it unwarranted power over our lives.”

—Seattle Design Nerds

“I'm interested in the ways in which sys- tems of capture and disruption shape our world. My work is an attempt to visualize these systems and explore their implica- tions. I want to create work that invites people to think critically about the world around them.”

—Jeff Brice

“We hope to convey that anyone can be part of the conversation and a participant in shaping the world around us.”
—Lesley Bain

“I know my work in this show conveys a very dark idea of what the Seattle of the future could be, but I deeply believe that by presenting such a stark and hopeless future to people in a tongue-in-cheek way, we might inspire people to re-eval- uate and push against policies that would make that vision a reality.”

—Griff Tucker

WHAT MATERIALS DID YOU USE TO CREATE YOUR VISION OF SEATTLE'S FUTURE?

“Salt and wood”

—Casey Curren

“The installation uses a large screen display, a dedicated computer, a USB keypad, and a Leap Motion Controller. The custom software was created with TouchDesigner.”

—J. Adam Brinson

“I built my robot using aluminum, laser- cut wood, 3d printed parts, motors, pneumatics, and chemical X.”
—Bailey Ambrose

“Upcycled honeycomb cardboard is the main component of my installation.” —Duane Georges

“16mm film, homemade soy milk, recy- cled tubing, wires and PLA plastic.” —Sepia Katsoolis

“3D printed plastic, EVA foam, plywood, electronics, paint, and projectors.” —James Robinson

“Blown Glass, 24K gold, Silver, Mirror, Light.”
—Julie Conway

“This digital sculpture was created using architectural models, lidar scans, and virtual reality painting.”
—Nathan DiPietro

“Inflatable: Ripstop Nylon. Dias: velvet, gold fringe, gold trim, upcycled furniture parts. Digital Projection.”
—Seattle Design Nerds

“For the first time in my art career, I’ve used Artificial Intelligence as a tool. It was simultaneously exhilarating and terrifying.”
—Ruben David Rodriguez

WHY DO YOU FEEL IT IS IMPORTANT FOR SEATTLE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO BUY A TICKET FOR THIS SHOW?

“Beyond the simple need to support the people that help create a vibrant city, you're going to experience some wild shiz.”

—Casey Curran

“This event is unique to our community (not just another chain of immersive exhibits). The artists demonstrate an extreme range from sculptors, designers, technologists, and more. The work is highly engaging, not just static images, and in many cases, it is fully immersive or interactive.”

—David Hull

“This exhibition is shaping up to be an inspiring art experience that explores many diverse artistic visions. Missing this experience would create a gap in one’s understanding of what many creatives in Seattle are up to. If you are serious about co-creating with us, and want to support the city you live in, you will see it.” —Sylwia Tur

WHOM WOULD YOU RECOMMEND SEEING THIS EXHIBIT?

“There is no better way to pull even the most hesitant art viewer into the expe- rience than an immersive installation. And there is no better way to empower people to have a dialogue about art than a group show, which gives everyone

the right to love and loathe parts of the show. The fact that this is a group show of immersive installations promises that there will truly be something for every- one and an opportunity for conversation across a wide audience. I think it is a great opportunity for seasoned art viewers and newbies to brush shoulders in a labyrinth of art made by real artists living and work- ing in our community.”

—Mary Anne Carter

“Local and regional political and commu- nity leaders.”
—J. Adam Brinson

“Weirdos. Freaks. The outsiders. Appreciators of Avant Garde.” —Chain Plate

“Anyone that enjoys the exploration of art and technology.”
—Andrew Cole

“Everyone!”

—Carolyn Hitt, Maryann B. Cole, Dylan M.R. Davis, Sylwia Tur, Anouk Rawkson, Kerstin Graudins, Jordan Christianson, Joseph Gray, and Lesley Bain