i visited soil yesterday following the opening of a three…read moreperson show that intrigued me. despite it being mother's day and a sunday, i was happy to see the soil was open and adhering to their posted hours. unlike other more pretentious galleries in the sodo/pioneer square area, this is a small space that may not be able to exhibit a huge quantity of large pieces but what they managed to hang was plenty to get a sense of the artists highlighted in this more recent exhibition. each artist had an "area" with a posted artist bio and multiple pieces. because each of the artists in this specific exhibition define themselves as latinx or chicano, i was particularly interested in how their stated ethnicities would provide perspective with which they would portray their chosen subject matter and for two of them three of them, i was far from disappointed! their works were incredibly interesting in terms of style, color, perspective and media they chose to work in. because soil small, whatever you're going to see is t going to require a long visit. i could see making soil a stop on a first thursday gallery walk. there were two people there when we arrived and they were great about greeting us but letting us look at the art without feeling monitored or pressured. depending on how you decide to get to soil, parking could be an issue. light rail would certainly bring you walking distance close, as would the metro bus. we took the water taxi from west seattle and then walked up from coleman dock which was super easy. there is on street parking in the vicinity but you may be hard pressed to find it on certain days or during certain hours. all in all a good experience and nice to know soil is artist-run. i will track other exhibits they have in the future and hope they manage to stick around for those of us who enjoy seeing art in non-aggressive gallery settings.

Came here for an event listed on their website, the stranger, Facebook, etc.. Not only was the…read moreevent not happening, doors were shut and locked during posted business hours. There were a few people inside who just stared at me as I tried the door and did nothing as I stood outside the door calling the phone number, which is just a recording telling you to email them. I finally had to repeatedly knock on the glass door to get even one of them to pantomime they were closed. Next time I see something at Soil, just going to assume it's not actually happening, skip getting harassed by the homeless folk outside the gallery, skip being treated like garbage by the folk inside the gallery, and find a friendlier more reliable gallery. I suggest you do the same.

What can I say but wow! Besides this being the best idea ever (and well-executed at that!), the…read moreowner is super nice and has tons of great ideas ready to go. Her kids were there as well and were wonderful! Check out especially the splatter room. Seriously, the best. We don't live close enough to come every day, but we will be back every time we are down this way.

Great place to let your imagination take over. With little limitations and a bag of popcorn. You…read morecan have a party or just drop in. 10$ a hour. You walk in and sign in and pay when you leave. My sister and I came with her three year old son and I was super impressed. Some much painting and crafting for your kids. The owners are super sweet and down to earth. There are different rooms to different crafts. Check out the picture you and your kids with have a blast. Great place to have a party or play date.

Removable Wallpaper!…read more SITREP I was passing through, guiding on a shopping spree with my friend Jenner, and we popped in here to pick up some art pieces. THE SETUP As a stop for beautiful art, the novelty in this instance was the gorgeous *removable wallpaper*, something I have never encountered before. THE LOWDOWN Definitely worth stopping in to check out the wide variety of art and novel kinds mediums.

This place is the best. I've been a fan of Ghost Gallery since it used to be on Capitol Hill. The…read moreowner is wonderful. Here are some highlights: Fabulous art, cards, candles, tarot, and jewelry to buy. If you are looking for a gift (for someone else or yourself) and don't know what to buy, you can pre-order one of their curated boxes (or get a subscription for one). You won't be disappointed. Beautiful contents that are beautifully wrapped. I look forward to their mini art show each year, and they tend to feature various artists throughout the year. It is definitely worth stopping by.

I can't say enough great things about this place. The space,…read morethe people, the care, the competence, the generosity. It's a gem for anybody that is into ceramic work. It's a diamond for anybody that appreciates good people. Love you all.

Such a vibrant and welcoming studio! I took the 6-week Intro to Wheel course and had a great time…read morelearning the foundational techniques of wheel throwing. Lily was an incredible instructor - so patient, encouraging, and knowledgeable about the craft. The studio itself is nicely curated, with bright natural light, pops of color, and thoughtfully arranged ceramics that spark inspiration the moment you walk in. I can't wait to take another class!

We wandered into Swoon Books as part of the Ballard Book Crawl (incredible event, 10/10, highly…read morerecommend) and oh, what a lovely find. The store is so aesthetic and thoughtfully curated, it's like the kind of bookshop that makes you want to read every book on the shelves. The LGBTQ+ selection was excellent and very visible, not tucked in a corner, which immediately made the space feel welcoming and intentional. The vibe overall is just really pleasant and warm, you can tell it's a place that actually loves books and the people who love books. Left very happy with my finds and already thinking about going back.

This place is so cute! I love that they have a nice mix of books and merch. The staff was helpful…read moreand they offered to provide recommendations or order when I inquired about a book they didn't end up having in store. The value is pretty typical for books (no notable mark ups) but I love the vibes of shopping here. They also appear to be dog friendly which is a huge plus to me. Highly recommend! I joined their rewards program so I'll def be back!

I've picked up 3 pieces of art here throughout multiple first Thursday art walks. It is a print…read moreshop so they will have the original painting along with reasonable prints for purchase. They rotate their main gallery pretty frequently too. Lots of different art styles, but all very beautiful. One of our favorite galleries that we always make time for.

What a beautiful space. The gallery is in the heart of Pioneer Square reminding me of busy first…read moreThursdays circa late 90's and early 2000's. I heard the space was once a bar and the countertop is beautifully placed. I remember this bar and a mini antique mall within the building before the owners took over. Dale and Phil, the owners are amazing and very knowledgeable about art and Seattle contemporary artists. If you're in the neighborhood, I encourage you to look up to see the beautiful brick architecture and look below to catch a glimpse of Seattle's underground. Grab a coffee at Cherry Street or Zeitgeist and head to Chatwin Arts. I promise you you won't be disappointment. So much of Pioneer Square has changed. The grand central bakery used to have amazing bookstores and metal workers and galleries. E Smith mercantile was on that block. At Chatwin you will get a sense of that nostalgia if you haven't been down there in a while.

If you get a chance to see this, you need to go and see it…read more The preparation and planning and choice of creatures was unbelievable. I almost can't believe that only 5% was touched up because everything was so vibrant and unbelievably positioned. If it wasn't for my one year-old daughter, we probably would've spent more time in there looking around. I wouldn't skip this exhibit.

This was an absolutely fantastic exhibit! I loved the art more than I expected and am still in awe…read moreof it weeks later. The exhibit takes probably between 45mins-2hrs depending on how through your group it, but there is loads to look at! I thought it was well worth the price as the art is so unique and stunning. There was a bathroom in the middle of the exhibit which i thought was great! The docents were friendly and helpful. I would recommend a million times over!

Very very happy this institution has a home in Seattle. We are all better for it…read more There is exhibit space and artist work areas as well. I bought a pair of earrings from one artist there that are breathtaking!

I regularly attend the Georgetown Art Attack on second Saturdays. In recent visits, this space has…read morebecome my favorite stop. It's got a little bit of everything. Every inch of space is filled with art, and the artists are around and glad to engage. Since a lot of artists are showing, no doubt some of the art sucks...but I've also seen some of the best stuff on display here lately. Fun, unpretentious, a bit rambunctious -- I recommend it.