Gallery events and hours

McLeod Residence Art Gallery and Lounge

Gallery: noon-6 p.m., Thursday-Saturday. Lounge: 6 p.m.-2-a.m. Tuesday-Sunday.

2209 Second Ave., Seattle (206-441-3314 or www.mcleodresidence.com).

On view through Sept. 27: "A Matter of Meaning: Local Artists Explore Memory, Matter and Materials."

Founders: Lele McLeod and Buster McLeod. Business partner Kindra Meyer.

No, the McLeods aren't married. And they aren't brother and sister. Lele and Buster, both 32 and friends since grade school in California, changed their names to McLeod before opening their Belltown venue, just part of their creative approach to living. Lele, the force behind the art gallery, studied art and art history at the University of Washington and worked at Traver Gallery, Vetri, and Foster/White Gallery, as well as the now-defunct Emerald City Fine Arts.

The McLeod Residence galleries opened with an eclectic mix of vintage Northwest and contemporary art, but the older art didn't go over as well. Now Lele describes McLeod Residence as "an overall home for creativity" that hosts contemporary-art shows along with music performances, readings, film. They've hosted "speed-life-coaching" and one night a month bring in a stylist to do haircuts. Lele says: "There are times I look around and it's exactly what I wanted, and I'm so happy."

Grey Gallery and Lounge

Gallery: 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday. Lounge: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. 1512 11th Ave., Seattle (206-325-5204 or www.greygalleryandlounge.com).

Currently on view: "Modern Convenience," kinetic sculpture by Chris McMullen, through Sept. 6, and "Bad Desire," by Allison Manch, through Oct. 3.

Founder: Erik Guttridge.

As an artist and glassblower, with lots of experience working at professional galleries — Traver, Friesen, Winston Wächter — Guttridge, 35, knows that the success of any gallery depends on the excitement generated by the art that's shown there.

He's been watching a new crop of artists develop and knows what he wants to show. Eventually, he hopes to offer artists not just exhibition space, but full representation.

"Not yet," Guttridge says. "But that's the plan. I want to wait six months to see how this works out. ... I want to be established enough to offer them what I want, when I can."

And at some point that means expanding his business to include an annex that will be strictly exhibition space. The lounge, for now, is his cash cow. "It's the only way I could see bringing emerging artists into a really good location. Rents are huge in Seattle. Part of the idea is to take more risks and do site-specific installations — for art's sake."

The Hideout

4 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Friday, 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday-Sunday.

1005 Boren Ave., Seattle (206-903-8480 or www.hideoutseattle.com).

On view: A changing salon-style onslaught of local artists' work.

Founders: Greg Lundgren and Jeff Scott.

Artist/entrepreneur Lundgren, 38, sees his bar The Hideout as a way of perpetuating his former gallery, Vital 5, torn down for development in the South Lake Union neighborhood.

Lundgren wanted a place where he could have a separate gallery and lounge, figuring "the alcohol would support the project." When he couldn't find the right space, he went for a "hybrid." Now, Scott oversees the bar and Lundgren hangs the art, incites the theater events, edits the zine and keeps the robotic art dispenser stocked. He says: "I think the Hideout has found its identity as a quirky neighborhood bar that does a lot of unusual, unexpected things."

Vermillion

3-11 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. 1508 11th Ave., Seattle (206-709-9797 or www.vermillionseattle.com).

On view through Aug. 31: "Passage To Bangkok: The Sensationalized Poster Art of Thai Cinema."

Founder: Diana Adams.

Adams quietly opened Vermillion in August 2007, showing a selection of illustrators and pop surrealists, then shut down in January for extensive renovations. In mid-June, Vermillion reopened a storefront gallery space with a wine bar in the back, just down the block from Grey Gallery. "We hadn't met before, but we had parallel ideas," Adams says of Guttridge and his business. "We're supporters of each other."

A New York native, Adams, 41, is a photographer and filmmaker who's also worked as a cook and waitress. With a show of Thai movie posters on the walls, she is now in the process of booking shows for 2009.

On the third Friday of each month, it's movie night at the gallery. "I'm trying to narrow down and the find the perfect niche," she says.

Sheila Farr: sfarr@seattletimes.com