Chinatown International District launches an art walk

For the first time, the Chinatown International District will roll out the red carpet for a free night of art.

The downtown Seattle neighborhood's inaugural art walk is tonight, when 20 venues in the area will showcase a wide range of exhibits, representing different cultures and backgrounds. Coordinated by the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority, the night will features all kinds of mixed-media pieces, like brightly colored animal sculptures, glittery abstract pieces and wire bird sculptures in flight.

"We in the ID are working hard to bring our community into the general public's awareness that we offer more than a good, cheap meal," said Lei Ann Shiramizu, owner of the MoMo store in the ID.

Restaurants — such as Fortuna Café, Henry's Bento, J Sushi, Kau Kau BBQ, Pacific Café-Hong Kong Kitchen and Phnom Penh Noodle House — are also participating, with specials for $5 and less. And the popular Skillet food trailer will be parked at Sixth and King, selling gourmet treats like the Kobe burger with bacon jam.

Some recommendations for the first ID Art Walk:

Canoe Social Club, 409 Seventh Ave. S., Seattle (www.counsellangley.com).

Port Townsend artist Counsel Langley showcases her abstract work. One set includes smatterings of paint with dousings of glitter to symbolize weather, water, clouds and smoke. The second set utilizes detailed lines, circles and dots to denote structures.

Theatre Off Jackson, 409 Seventh Ave. S., Seattle (www.cookiesforsalefilm.com).

The theater will show Wes Kim's film "Cookies for Sale," starring "Karate Kid, Part II" star Yuji Okumoto. The short film, commissioned by the Northwest Film Forum, is a whimsical comedy, sans dialogue.

Wing Luke Asian Museum, 719 S. King St., Seattle (www.wingluke.org).

There are two exhibits. "Parallel Lines" displays the work of eight contemporary Seattle artists. One of them, Jason Huff, whose work in mixed media and ceramics draws inspiration from pop culture and his African-American and Japanese background, used to create his own iconography (demonstrated by his pieces of a Don King pin cushion and himself in a cat suit).

The second exhibit, "Across the Spectrum: Stories from Queer Asian Pacific America," explores journeys of that segment of the Asian Pacific American community through portraits and oral histories.

KOBO Gallery at Higo, 602-608 S. Jackson St., Seattle (www.koboseattle.com).

Several pieces are on display, ranging from print, etchings and porcelain work.

MoMo, 600 S. Jackson St., Seattle (shellimarkee.com).

Wallingford artist Shelli Markee displays her wire sculptures of suspended birds in flight and miniatures in silver and resin jewelry.

Former Uwajimaya facility, 519 Sixth Ave S., Seattle (www.studiobeni.com).

Seattle artist Beni O'Donnell showcases beautiful oil paintings inspired by her background. The Chinese native studied art in Osaka, Japan, and merges Western styles with Eastern subjects, such as koi fish and porcelain bowls.

Jackson Building on Jackson, at the intersection of South Jackson and Maynard Avenue, Seattle (artbymonicapieratt.blogspot.com).

A collection of artists such as West Seattle artist Monica Rodriguez Pieratt, who overlays animal sculptures with bright color paper mosaic. "I bring it to life, like it's a party or event, and they are dressed to go to a Latin party," said Pieratt.

New Central Building, 608 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle (www.artxchange.org).

ArtXchange Gallery features contemporary Vietnamese artists (Hai & Thanh, Tuan Hiep, Bui Cong Khanh and Tuy Duy), whose works explore past and present with tradition and modernity.

Marian Liu: 206-464-3825 or mliu@seattletimes.com