ArtSEA: “Fine and rare” finds at a new Pioneer Square bookshop

More things to do and see in Seattle

The Seattle International Film Festival ended last week, but this weekend brings a chance to see a past award winner on the big screen. Set and shot in Seattle, Know Your Place (SIFF Cinema Uptown, May 31 – June 2) had its world premiere at SIFF in 2022, where it won the Golden Space Needle for Best Film. 

Written and directed by Iranian American filmmaker Zia Mohajerjasbi, who grew up in South Seattle, Know Your Place is a pensive, gorgeously shot film that follows a frustrating day in the life of Eritrean American teenager Robel Haile (played by local actor Joseph Smith, who along with his co-star Natnael Mebrahtu were students at Garfield High during filming).

At the surface level, the plot concerns Robel’s struggle to get a large, overstuffed suitcase across town on a deadline despite endless obstacles. But the unwieldy luggage is merely a metaphor for the burdens carried by the young man, who has just lost his father, and whose immigrant family is struggling to make it in a swiftly gentrifying city.

Despite its somber tone, the film is awash in warm yellow hues: peach drapes, caramel prescription bottles, gold lamps, fall leaves, the mustard suitcase. “I call the film a love letter and a lament,” Mohajerjasbi said in a 2022 interview with Crosscut. (Read the full interview.) 

For another display of young local talent, check out the University of Washington’s MFA thesis exhibition. This year the show of graduate work will take place on the seventh floor of the RailSpur building in Pioneer Square (home to many satellite exhibits during Seattle Art Fair). The show of painting, sculpture and video by eight up-and-coming artists is called Another Day at the Orifice (May 30 – June 6) and explores “the orifice as aperture” and “mouth-making.”

We’re halfway through our artist reveals for Black Arts Legacies: Season 3! If you haven’t yet had the chance, check out the profiles of cellist Gretchen Yanover, radio pioneer Robert L. Scott, muralist Moses Sun, actor/director Tee Dennard and painter Gwendolyn Knight, each penned by BAL writer Jas Keimig. 

And tomorrow (May 31), we unveil the first of our BAL video profiles, directed by filmmaker Tifa Tomb. All five will be broadcast on Cascade PBS (formerly KCTS) on Fridays (May 31 – June 28) and streamable on BlackArtsLegacies.com. Thanks for tuning in!