Far more art is produced in a place like Seattle that is seen by the general public, in venues like galleries, museums, and art fairs. Who decides which art goes on display, and which work remains in the maker's studio? A panel of art world experts discussed the often behind-the-scenes process that selects certain artists while sidelining others, and whether the current structure encourages or suppresses diversity, and where there is room for improvement. Elisheba Johnson is a conceptual artist and curator for Wa Na Wari. She was previously a public art manager for Seattle's Office of Arts and Culture and the owner of Faire Gallery Cafe. In 2018, Elisheba started a public art practice with her collaborator Kristen Ramirez. She is currently a member of the Americans for the Arts Emerging Leaders Network advisory council and has won four Americans for the Arts Public Art Year in Review Awards for her work. Judith Rinehart launched J. Rinehart Gallery in 2019 after more than a decade of working in Seattle galleries. As an arts advocate, she served for three years as treasurer of the Seattle Art Dealers Association, was the curator and panelist at the Seattle Emerging Arts Fair in 2018 and was the lead organizer of the Seattle Deconstructed Art Fair in 2020 & 2021. She is also one of the founders of Art + Culture Week, an initiative to celebrate Seattle's visual arts, performing arts, and cultural communities. Rock Hushka is the former Deputy Director and Chief Curator at Tacoma Art Museum, curating more than 50 exhibitions and 25 publications. While at TAM, Hushka received two National Endowment for the Arts Access to Artistic Excellence grants, an Andy Warhol Foundation for the Arts Curatorial Fellowship, and a Getty Leadership Institute Fellowship. He recently transitioned careers, seeking to bridge the experiential learning of museum exhibitions to graphic design and educational technology. Presented by Town Hall Seattle and Gage Academy of Art.

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