The sleeping giant of Seattle's art walk scene

There's perhaps no better place to start exploring Seattle's arts scene than at any of the city's art walks, spread throughout town.

"There's an excitement that I always get in knowing that I'm going to get up close and see something without a velvet rope, or without a security guard telling me to stand back a little bit. I think you're supposed to get up close and look at it," Seattleite Tommy Gregory said on the inaugural episode of KUOW's "Meet Me Here."

Check out KUOW's new arts podcast "Meet Me Here"

Gregory should know. He's an artist himself — and the Port of Seattle's art manager. If you've seen an art display at Sea-Tac Airport, he likely put it there. And he is an art walk fanatic.

Wherever you are in Seattle, chances are you are very close to an art walk. There's the first Thursday art walk in Pioneer Square, and the second Thursday event in West Seattle. Third Thursday art walks are in Hillman City, Uptown, and White Center. And those are just the Thursdays. There are more art walks that happen on Fridays and Saturdays.

"There's a true honesty in everybody going out together, spreading out, looking at things, sharing ideas, and asking questions. I love that," Gregory said. "It makes life way more interesting."

If there is a sleeping giant of an art walk in Seattle, it's Capitol Hill's event on the second Thursday of the month, between 5 to 8 p.m.-ish. Gregory described it as edgy and funky, adding that and it always delivers a surprise. Yet, it's not uncommon for Gregory to run into folks around town who are unaware of it.

"I've talked to certain Seattleites who have been here for years and years — more than me — and I'm like, 'I'm going to second Thursday in Capitol Hill,' and they're like, 'There's an art walk there?'" he said.

"It's a different vibe. You're walking by a lot more visual distractions, great neon signs that will draw you in to get a drink that you didn't plan on. Places like Steve Gilbert Studio, The Factory, and Vermillion, which is more known as a music venue and bar, but they definitely show pretty strong pieces."

Gregory expanded on tips and tricks for navigating Seattle's art walk scene, and even discussed one particular art walk that the city says is both the first and the oldest art walk in the United States. Hear the full conversation with him on the first episode of "Meet Me Here."

"Meet Me Here" is KUOW's newest podcast focusing on the Seattle region's thriving arts and culture scene. Each week, a different host takes on arts events, books, and the pop culture happening around us. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app or listen on the KUOW app.