Under the Surface

As we transition into winter, the streets of Seattle may look grey and uninviting. It’s tempting to stay at home binge-watching shows you know you like. But look again: there’s a world of thought-provoking and entertaining art under the surface of Seattle’s November gloom, and this month, we want to highlight the events you might pass over at first glance.

Bellevue Arts Museum’s exhibition Hidden In Plain Sight explores how old materials can be made new through art. Similarly, a new exhibition at the Henry Art Gallery with the almost-identical title In Plain Sight, relates to this theme as well. Seeking to explore narratives of racial marginalization, class, and ethnicity repressed and overlooked due to systems of oppression, the Henry showcases visual art and photography to question dominant American cultural narratives.

Beauty may only be skin-deep, but Wing Luke’s interrogation of our cultural perceptions of desirability brings new meaning to “under the surface.” In the museum’s new exhibit, Where Beauty Lies, Asian-Pacific Islander voices explore the complicated cultural politics and narratives about beauty that inform psyches, industries, and relationships.

While many teens snub what seems marketed towards younger kids, Seattle Children’s Theatre has a lot to offer young adults and young children alike. This winter’s show, Corduroy promises a re-imagined take on the classic picture book. Think that stuffed bear is just going to sit on the department store shelf? Look again!

For most Americans, October is all about Halloween. Less acknowledged and celebrated in mainstream American culture is the Mexican holiday of Día de los Muertos, dedicated to remembering dead relatives and community members with food, artwork, and celebration. We’ll be covering Sugar Skull at Tacoma Arts Live, a Día de los Muertos musical following a young girl and an animate skeleton made of sugar.

SIFF’s Let Me Introduce You to Sofia tells a story about a father who covers up his daughter’s existence to avoid driving away a child-hating new girlfriend. While obviously not best practices to deny the existence of your actual child for the sake of a new boo, the paternity our protagonist hides “under the surface” is the tension driving this whacky romantic comedy.

This month’s editorial picks cover a range of visual art, film, and theatre, all of which warrant a second look, not to mention braving the rain.

Lead photo by David Marcu on Unsplash.

The TeenTix Newsroom is a group of teen writers led by the Teen Editorial Staff. For each review, Newsroom writers work individually with a teen editor to polish their writing for publication. The Teen Editorial Staff is made up of 6 teens who curate the review portion of the TeenTix blog. More information about the Teen Editorial Staff can be found HERE.

The TeenTix Press Corps promotes critical thinking, communication, and information literacy through criticism and journalism practice for teens. For more information about the Press Corps program see HERE.