Common OBJECTS is expanding into the adjacent storefront for a retrospective of longtime Seattle painter Mike Hascall. 

“An Artist's Legacy Housecleaning and Retrospective” opens June 13 for Belltown Art Walk. Each piece of the 150 collection is up for auction with bids starting at $10 and topping out at $100, with all proceeds going to CAM to help support a new generation of artists.

This retrospective reflects 50 years of work — a winding exhibit organized chronologically in the space — peering into Hascall’s process and growth. An artist working through and revisiting images and themes. He describes his work as “recombinant landscape — abstract composites of the world.” And the work ranges from abstract to figurative, large acrylic paintings and graphite sketches. 

Preparing for this show is the first time Hascall has looked through his work as a whole. He said he’s generating new work out of old, unfinished ideas he found in his archives.

He hopes that people find work that speaks to them, and if not, that the parts can be of use to artists in other ways. For him, it’s cleaning house, getting decades of work out of his studio to “get it out into the world, do what you want with it.”

“I say, ‘artists, take this. Cut up the stretcher bars. Reuse the canvas or throw it away. Buy a piece for the frame so I get it out in the world.’”

This exhibit is also a homecoming of sorts. Common OBJECTS — occupies the space formerly home to Artech, an art handling company that Hascall was a part of since its beginning in the 70s. In 1981, he was part of the group of employees that purchased it from the art nonprofit and/or. 

“There is history here and I’m glad to see it re-used and be available to people, to artists,” Hascall said.

Auction opens May 30. Click here to visit the auction site, view the pieces and place a bid.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been following and supporting the El Rey Project. Your energy, encouragement, and advocacy are keeping this vision alive.

We’ve been overwhelmed - in the best way - by the continued outpouring of support. Hundreds of new signatures have poured in for our open letter, and together, we’re sending a powerful message to the City of Seattle:
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