Looking For Spokane: The MAC, Jundt

Since I returned to Spokane almost two months ago I have made it a point to have a more positive view of the city than when I left a year ago. I’m not sure how much is Spokane and how much is me, but I do appreciate Spokane more than when I departed last October. A part of that is effort. Travel helped me realize better that it is necessary to seek in order to find. As we traveled we explored every place we went, mostly on foot. In retrospect, I realize I had not put the same effort into discovering Spokane before we left. That has changed, although I realize I still could put more effort into discovering Spokane.

When I moved here in 2004 one of my profound disappointments was the MAC, Spokane’s Museum of Arts and Culture. I have been a member off and on throughout the years. I admit, my disappointment played a part in my not even visiting some years even though I was a member. My best memories of the museum are of the restaurant that was an integral part of the MAC experience thanks to our dear departed friend Victor Azar. It has been closed for many years and attempts to open another restaurant have quickly failed.  The other fond recollection is of the monthly evening opening that at one time was a grand social experience. That proved to be unsustainable. Very few exhibits, through the years inspired me. I am happy to say that there was an excellent Samurai exhibit when we returned for a month in April, and a week ago another excellent exhibit opened.

Raven and the Box of Daylight is the current exhibition that I highly recommend. It is a multi media event, lights, art objects, sound, original music and a story. One of the strengths of the MAC has been its exhibitions presenting Pacific northwest cultural art. This presentation is an immersion in Tlingit culture of Alaska and Canada. Oral traditions are commonplace in Native American cultures and this exhibit tells the story of the origin of the stars, moon, and sun on earth. It is the story of the white raven, see the picture of the placard at the beginning of this post.

Preston Singletary is a Native American glass artist inspired by Tlingit design principles. His blown and sand carved glass sculptures in the exhibit represent elements of the natural world and are used to tell the Tlingit story of the Raven and the bringing of light to the world. The museum is transformed into theater that is atmospheric, both visually and sonically. Placards on the walls tell the story in words.

Below you can see several views of this immersive educational exhibit.

After the MAC we decided to make it a museum day and went to the Jundt Gallery at Gonzaga University. The art there was interesting but I did not find it striking. Still it is always nice to sit in the big open lounge area filled with glass pieces by Dale Chihuly, a Washington state artist. He is world renowned and has spent over 50 years working with glass to create glass sculptures. His work has been featured in over 200 museums worldwide. It is vibrant, organic work and there is much much more than the red piece pictured below. If you like what you see at the Jundt it is possible to visit his Seattle museum. Included below are the lawn sculptures on the east side of the Jundt.