Have you ever left a show or exhibit so awestruck that your eyeballs literally melt onto the floor? I know I have. Today. After seeing the Chuck Close exhibit. Ocular whiplash aside, this particular series at the Schack Art Center is among the most extensive and just plain cool exhibits to grace Everett this year.

Here are the top five reasons you have got to visit this exhibit:

#1: Chuck Close is from Everett.

You heard it, folks: Chuck Close hails from our very own Puget Paradise, Everett Washington! He attended Everett High School for two years before enrolling at Everett Community College as an art major, and then went on to the University of Washington to continue his education.

You’ve probably walked at least some of the same halls he did at some point; I know I have!

#2: His prints are incredible. 

Chuck Close is a firm believer of producing art “the old-fashioned way” – by hand! Every one of his prints are produced entirely by hand through a collaborative process involving both the artist and a team of professional printers.

A single print can take anywhere from a month to a year to complete, depending on the complexity, media used, and sheer size of the image being produced. Many of Close’s prints are massive photorealistic images of human heads, some reaching up to ten feet tall!

After witnessing these pieces up-close (hehe, get it?), I’m still blown away by the amount of work that must have gone into carving out all the details. SUCH TINY DETAILS!

#3: It’s a relatable experience.

Close’s near-exclusive subject matter is human faces and heads, painted and reproduced from photos he’s taken of friends, family, sitters and even himself. I think this is particularly amazing because Close suffers from a rare neurological condition known as “face-blindness”; he would often struggle to remember a model’s face even after a single day, or forget them entirely.

As I walked the gallery, I began to pick up on the nature and emotional state of both artist and subject through “visual roadmaps” – the rich detail in one’s face, the composition of the print (wild colors, bizarre shapes, etc.), or simply the passage of years made evident through self-portraits produced across a lifetime.

#4: There’s a TON to see.

For a measly $10, you get unlimited access to one of the most extensive print collections in the world, including a 45-minute long optional documentary and second floor level with a terrace!

The gallery contains works produced across Close’s entire artistic career, even showcasing some of his most recent work. It would be downright silly not to take advantage of this opportunity to experience some famous Everett culture.

#5: The gallery ends soon!

That’s right, friends: You only have until September 5th to get in on this action. Seriously, it’s worth it. I promise. Your eyeballs will thank you later.

Cheers,

-Sierra Rozario