Public invited to share sci-fi dreams at exhibit

Published 12:53 pm Thursday, June 19, 2008

Greetings, Earthlings. Prepare for an invasion.

Artists from all over the planet are landing at Lowell Art Works on Saturday with their out-of-this world creations to salute the world of science fiction.

Art show patrons will be treated to refreshments and are encouraged to come in costume as a favorite alien or monster to win cheesy prizes.

The opening reception starts at 4 p.m. at the gallery. The show runs through July 19.

The idea to salute science fiction sprung from the human brain of artist Jules Anslow, who shares studio space at Lowell Art Works.

“I’m a big sci-fi geek,” Anslow admitted.

As proof of that, Anslow said she created a sci-fi pig last year for Seattle’s Pike Place Market Pigs on Parade art event. The pig was totally Space Age: Godzilla-esque green fins down its back, scenes of aliens in flying saucers zooming down Interstellar-5, the Space Needle under siege by a giant space octopus.

For the Lowell Art Show, Anslow said she has created three or four new pieces and also will present the work of 30 to 40 other artists.

A table will be covered with paper markers and crayons so that everyone can draw their own sci-fi tributes.

“It’s going to be a blast. I can’t wait to see what people come up with,” Anslow said.

The popularity of robots, space travel and the world beyond seems to be hot lately, with exhibits popping up throughout Seattle and other local galleries and museums. That resurgence could be kicked up because of news about the Mars Polar Lander, Anslow suggested, though she said science-fiction has had a mass appeal since the 1950s.

“It was huge,” she said. “A lot of people were into Space Age design and it seemed that every kitchen appliance, everything that was made, had a spacey theme to it.”

Of course, it all starts with art.

“We realize the things we are capable of. We can dream there are flying cars,” Anslow said.

“It’s someone imagining and then drawing a picture of it and thinking about it and that’s what really makes what we thought was impossible, possible. And monsters and robots are fun, too.”