Alternative Art

At the Red Dragonfly we're striving to build a niche as Port Townsend's premier "Alternative Art Space." We are an art gallery, but we are also much more than simply an art gallery.

But let's talk about art, for a moment.

What exactly is "alternative" art? What makes something "alternative?"

"A Flying Machine;" watercolour by Braden Duncan

Like most things artistic, the answer is pretty subjective. One good answer might be that it's art that "takes risks." At Red Dragonfly, you're not likely to find bucolic landscapes with grazing cows. Unless, of course, the cows are wearing unusual hats.

"Alternative" sometimes scares people because there's a suggestion that it by definition means weird... weird in the creepy sort of way that leaves you scratching your head when you see the art and you stand there considering what horrible nightmares and psychoses the artist might be wrestling with.

At Red Dragonfly, we don't believe that "alternative" necessarily means "sick and twisted." Take, for example, Braden Duncan's watercolour of her black kitten. Clearly, she knows and understands cats-- but instead of leaving it as "just a cat" or giving it more prosaic angel wings, she has added steampunk style wings.

That, to us, is one example of "alternative" art.

Alternative art can be many things. An unusual take on a popular subject (like kittens!); an unusual subject matter; any subject matter interpreted through an unusual lens of perception-- the possibilities are many and varied.

Of course, the best way to decide is to stop by Red Dragonfly yourself and make the determination-- we have plenty to look at!