Chase Gallery

The mission of the Chase Gallery is to exhibit works that engage the public, bring people to a new outlook on contemporary issues, feature innovative artwork, and provide space for people of all backgrounds to share their perspective through art. The gallery showcases rotating exhibitions throughout the year, championing local Spokane artists and their work.

The Chase Gallery, located inside Spokane’s City Hall, is currently open for visitors whenever City Hall is open to the public and for First Friday receptions. Stop by and see the gallery Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (gallery access may be limited Tuesday mornings) and the First Friday of each month from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Personal Landscapes – All Abilities, Seen and Unseen

MARCH’S FIRST FRIDAY OPENING RECEPTION: MARCH 6 | 5:00 – 7:00 PM

(Enter City Hall through the sliding doors on N. Post St.. Chase Gallery is on the lower level)

City Hall, lower level
808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.
Dates: Mar. 6 – Mar. 27, 2026.
Open and free to the Public. Hours 9am – 5pm, M-F

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT

The Unseen Ocean Collective brings together art, science, and community to explore and illuminate the hidden wonders of the deep sea. Through exhibitions, outreach events, and creative projects, we invite people to experience these ecosystems not just as scientific frontiers, but as spaces rich with ethical, cultural, and generational questions.

OUR STORY

In 2023, NOAA Ocean Exploration filmed stunning coral and sponge gardens in the Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Islands, regions known for their rich biodiversity and unique deep-sea ecosystems. These breathtaking deep-sea gardens were teeming with previously undiscovered life, and are documented in 170+ hours of video footage detailing a vibrant deep ocean habitat filled with color, texture and form, all living in absolute darkness. Lara Beckmann, PhD researcher at the University of Gothenburg, analyzed this incredible footage and documented visually stunning underwater “forests” of corals, sponges and an endless list of associate organisms living in and around the garden. Motivated to share these discoveries beyond academia, Lara began collaborating with artists to create visual narratives inspired by her research. During 2024 fieldwork in Juneau, Alaska, she partnered with local artist Kierstin Keller, whose figurative work draws from Alaska’s landscapes. Through the UN Ocean Decade initiative, Lara connected with Spokane-based
artist Meghan Jones, known for vibrant, modern impressionist depictions of the deep sea. Meghan then introduced sculptor Nilanjana Das, a Corvallis-based PhD student whose delicate sculptural forms explore microscopic marine life.
Together, these collaborations grew into the Unseen Ocean Collective, creating exhibitions and community programs that bring deep-sea science to new audiences. Our work aims to inspire curiosity, awareness, and stewardship of fragile ecosystems often hidden from public view. Join us as we bring these hidden ecosystems to the light, and embrace the beauty of the deep-sea which few will ever visit but can be loved and enjoyed by all through the power of art and storytelling.