On last week's May First Thursday, ArtXchange hosted a calligraphy workshop with Chiyo Sanada and live music by the amazing Duo En. Gallery visitors were treated to the soothing sounds of the koto and shakuhachi flute while browsing the "What Does Compassion Look Like?" exhibition and trying their hands at the ancient art of calligraphy.

Thank you to Chiyo, John and Elizabeth, and all the visitors who joined us that night. Duo En can be seen regularly Sunday afternoons at the Seattle Japanese Garden. More of Chiyo Sanada's original calligraphic paintings can be seen in "What Does Compassion Look Like?" at ArtXchange.

The Seeds of Compassion Gathering is over, but there are still many ways to explore Compassion in May. ArtXchange offers two upcoming Saturday afternoon events featuring artists from our "What Does Compassion Look Like?" exhibition. Both events are informal, FREE, and open to the public. An RSVP to ArtXchange (206-839-0377) is appreciated but not required.

Saturday, May 10 - From 1-3 pm, join ArtXchange for an in-depth look at "What Does Compassion Look Like?" Participating artists Mike Naylor and Deborah Kapoor will give brief lectures on their unique works in the exhibition and gallery curators will give a walk-through tour, providing deeper insight into the 30+ artists whose work is exhibited. Q&A with artists will follow the lectures.

Mike Naylor's work "Commemoration Wall" consists of meditation and compassion expressed in the form of individual coffin shaped pieces of wood created daily over a period of 7 months. The finished work is serious, playful, somber, and humorous and encourages the viewer to consider the benefits of a deeply examined daily life. In Deborah Kapoor's mixed-media work "Rangoli," the artist observed the life situations of 14 individuals and created a work of art/poetry for each, offering her prayer of compassion to relieve their suffering or embrace their dreams.

Saturday, May 17 - From 1-3 pm, learn more about the Little Stars School in Varanasi, India from Teri Akin, photographer, whose works appear in "What Does Compassion Look Like?TM" The Little Stars School, founded by Asha Pandey in 1996, is a free school in a city of 2 million and serves 450 disadvantaged and orphaned children on a budget of only $2000 a month. Within the school building is a hostel for 20 orphan girls, which is the focus of Teri's current project. Teri's photographs also show life in Varanasi, one of the oldest cities in the world and one of the holiest in India.

The grand opening gala and artist reception for ArtXchange's newest exhibition "What Does Compassion Look Like?" was a smashing success! The gallery was packed from open to close and ArtXchange thanks everyone, artists and art viewers alike, who joined us on April 11th! We also want to thank everyone who packed the gallery on April 12th, after the Seeds of Compassion gathering at Qwest field featuring His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

"What Does Compassion Look Like?" features over 30 artists from Seattle to New York to Israel who are exploring the power of Compassion through art. This multidisciplinary show includes painting, photography, works on paper, mixed media, sculpture, installation, video, and internet-art. Click here to view the entire exhibition online. "What Does Compassion Look Like?" runs through May 30.

Click below for more opening night photos and to see more of the exhibition.

ArtXchange is currently presenting a wide selection of handmade cards by Olympia photographer Janine Gates featuring her photographic studies of Turkey and Jordan. Janine uses her work to promote education and understanding about this region of the world and to spread peace and goodwill.

Janine's cards are blank on the inside, making them perfect for any occasion. Make sure to look for them during your next visit to ArtXchange!

ArtXchange hosted a big crowd last night for our "Stitched, Woven, Sewn" opening celebration and the new exhibition, which features textile art from around the world, looks fantastic. The exhibition includes contemporary and traditional silk weavings from Laos, beautiful wool/alpaca weavings from Peru, ikat sarongs from Indonesia, gorgeous Thai Golden Silk scarves, as well as rugs, camel trappings, and more from nomadic weaving tribes of Central Asia. The show is 'touch-friendly' and we hope that viewers are able to leave with a new appreciation for one of the world's oldest art forms.

"Stitched, Woven, Sewn" ends March 28, 2008.

In October of 2007, ArtXchange director Cora Edmonds made a trip to Nepal to pursue a personal dream: to search for the young subject of her Namaste photograph. For many years, Cora's hope was to find the boy and give something back to him and his family for the inspiration his image has provided so many people. Read on for Cora's first hand account of her return to the Humla Region of Nepal.

On Friday the 25th, ArtXchange and Liv Browning celebrated her newest show "Drink Me, Eat Me," currently hanging at The Teacup. Congratulations Liv! And thanks to everybody who came to Queen Anne to view and support Liv's work.