Seattle Asian Art Museum

The Seattle Art Museum is a city landmark now, with its signature Hammering Man, 48 feet tall, poised to greet you at the entrance. It houses a permanent collection of some 23,000 pieces representing a wide range of art, from ancient Egyptian reliefs to contemporary American installations using photography and video. Of particular note are its collections of Asian, African, and Northwest Coast Native American art, as well as its European paintings. The complete collection actually resides in two separate locations. The majority of it is located in downtown Seattle (100 University Street) in the contemporary building we’ve been talking about; but if you are especially appreciative of Asian art, you shouldn’t miss the impressive collection on Capitol Hill in Volunteer Park (1400 E. Prospect Street). Housed in a building designed in 1933 by Seattle architect, Carl Gould, and known as the Seattle Asian Art Museum, this collection is credited as one of the top ten of its kind in the entire U.S., with an eclectic assortment of art from Japan, China, Korea, India, the Himalayas, and Southeast Asia. (Seattle Art Museum hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, except Thursday from 10 am to 9 pm; 206-654-3255. Asian Art Museum hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm, except Thursday from 10 am to 9 pm; 206-654-3206. Web address for both museums: www.seattleartmuseum.org.)