April 20-26, 2005


By Andrew Engelson

CoCA Seattle-based Born magazine, an online crucible where visual artists, writers, and computer programmers cross-pollinate their talents, is the inspiration for "Help Wanted," a smart and funny group show. Shawn Wolfe's Ballard and Ballard project creates a faux 1990s talk show hosted by two very scary pseudo-intellectuals. In The Estate of Beverly Thomas, playwright Tim Sanders, architect Brian McWatters, and others re-create the household knickknacks of a 90-year-old woman who lived in Everett. But best of show goes to Think Tank, the brainchild of artist Trimpin and computer programmer Cheb Sevrel. Plunk your quarter in, and in a few minutes the carousel of chicken-bobber toys and George W. Bush action figures generates a random assortment of snippets from Bush's speeches, much more cogent than the original material. 410 Dexter Ave. N., 206-728-1980. Noon-5 p.m. Wed.-Sun. Ends Sat. April 23.