Henry Art Gallery

One hundred and fifty kneeling aluminum foil figures, a room filled with rows of slanted wooden boxes and a display of empty plastic bags — all are the product of French-Algerian artist Kader Attia’s month-long residence at the Henry Art Gallery. Attia, who was born to Algerian immigrant parents and grew up in suburbs, or “banlieues,” of Paris draws much of his artistic inspiration from the industrial design of his childhood neighborhood and the French government’s oppressive treatment of its immigrant groups. Attia’s exhibition, Kader Attia: New Work, includes video, photographs and drawings, in addition to three large-scale sculptural installations.

All of Attia’s works displayed in the Henry Art Gallery utilize industrial products, such as aluminum foil, dry wall and plastic bags, representing the French consumerist society he grew up in, but which gallery chief curator Elizabeth Brown called “relevant to all first world societies.” “Rochers Carrés” is one such display, consisting of rows of slanted boxes constructed from wood and drywall. This installation was inspired by a beach in Algiers surrounded by giant concrete blocks and apartment buildings, typical of the French banlieues’ oppressive architecture. “Rochers Carrés,” like much of Attia’s work, is simple in construction, a defining characteristic of his art. “As important as his personal history is his legacy of minimalist sculpture,” Brown said.

Attia’s minimalist approach is further apparent in the exhibit’s two other major structural installations “Ghost,” consisting of the faceless figures constructed from aluminum foil, and “Untitled (Empty Plastic Bags),” a display of stretched and distorted plastic bags. These pieces also illustrate the industrial design of the Paris suburbs and its architecture. “Despite [his work’s] simplicity, it carries a lot of emotional weight,” Brown said. Kader Attia: New Work will be showing at the Henry through May 25.

The Henry Art Gallery has two other exhibits currently showing, both in the North Gallery. Photographer Jean-Luc Mylane’s self-titled exhibit consists of 23 photographs of bluebirds taken in the area around Fort Davis, Texas. These photos, which bring to mind the landscape seen in the Coen brothers’ “No Country for Old Men,” were taken with extreme patience by Mylane, as he often spent days or weeks allowing the birds to acclimate to his presence.

Also on display in the North Gallery is Dawn Cerny’s “We’re all going to die (except for you).” This exhibit, which includes a full-scale waiting room and taxidermy owls, is a collection of Cerny’s work as well as pieces borrowed from local galleries and private lenders. All of the various works included in the display are representative of the diverse perspectives on death and memorialization present in American culture. Jean-Luc Mylane and Dawn Cerny: “We’re all going to die (except for you)” will be on display through April 27.

This month, the Henry Art Gallery welcomes two new exhibits. “Someday,” which opened Tuesday, features 19-and-20th century portrait photography from the collection of Joseph and Elaine Monsen. Glass blower Joseph McElheny’s “The Last Scattering Surface” opens Saturday and will feature pieces exploring themes of modernity, industrial design and science. Each of these exhibits will be on display throughout spring quarter.

Jacob Lawrence Gallery

The date — Nov. 9, 1966 — and the cameraman’s name flash one word at a time on the screen followed by a drawn-out shot of a single eye blink. The clip, lasting no more than a minute, is a flux film by Yoko Ono on display at the Frye Art Museum as part of the Fluxfilm Anthology: 1962 to 1970 exhibit. The exhibit, located on two screens in the Museum’s foyer, includes 37 short films ranging in length from 10 seconds to 10 minutes. The inconspicuous display seems to go unnoticed by many visitors, although it is well worth viewing. The collection of films includes the work of many artists and serves as a chronicle of the 1960s Fluxus Movement. Fluxus (from the Latin word meaning “to flow”) was an international art movement that emphasized the experimental blending of artistic disciplines and the creation of art in nontraditional locations outside galleries and theatres. Artists instrumental to the Fluxus Movement featured in Fluxfilm Anthology include George Maciunas, Yoko Ono and Wolf Vostell. The 37 films on display feature both the documentation of performing arts, as well as films created as art. Most of the films are simple and seemingly random, created in opposition to the seriousness of modern art. The collection of short films included in Fluxfilm Anthology offers a look at an interesting and influential art movement. The exhibit runs through April 27.

Also showing at the Frye, “R. Crumb’s Underground” features a collection of work by comic book artist Robert “R.” Crumb. Crumb played a key role in the underground comics movement and is considered one of the most influential figures in the development of the comic book industry. A related event, “Bootlegging: The Alternative Underground from the Bottom-Up,” will take place this Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. it will feature various comic workshops, appearances by Seattle comic artists Greg Stump, David Lasky and Jessica Gomes, and a performance by Seattle-based “Slide Rule Comic Strip Slideshow Players,” in which the members will mix music and video with hand-drawn comics. R. Crumb’s Underground runs through April 27.

Frye Art Museum

The Jacob Lawrence Gallery, located on the first floor of the Art Building, provides a venue for UW undergraduate and graduate art students to share their work with the rest of the campus community. The pieces on display represent a wide range of media, and include photography, paintings, drawings, sculptures and industrial design. During spring quarter the gallery will present a series of three exhibits featuring the work of students receiving Bachelor of Fine Arts in various artistic disciplines.

“The exhibits are about highlighting the graduating seniors’ work as a capstone of their education,” said Kris Anderson , a graduate art history student and gallery staff member.

Students receiving their degrees in photography and ceramics will be featured from April 16 through May 3. Students completing their BFA in painting, drawing, sculpture, fiber and metal works will be on display from May 14 to May 31. The final exhibit will feature industrial design and visual communications design students and will run from June 11 to June 21. After having featured prominent Mexican artists in last quarter’s Spirit of Mexico exhibit, the Jake has shifted its focus back to the students for spring quarter.

“They have put so much time and effort into their work. It’s really all about showcasing them,” Anderson said.

Each exhibit will be preceded by an opening reception honoring the participating students.

[Reach reporter Joseph Darda at arts@thedaily.washington.edu.]