The Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA) is a non-profit located in Seattle, Washington. CoCA was founded in 1980 by a group of artists, art patrons and arts activists. Since its inaugural exhibition (James Turrell's "Four Light Installations", 1982, at the Lippy Building in Pioneer Square), CoCA has provided continuous programming that presents work by both established and emerging artists. CoCA originally existed without a permanent gallery space, and the organization has since inhabited numerous locations in Seattle. Its most recent location, as of September 2016, is the Tashiro Kaplan Building in historic Pioneer Square, CoCA estimates that it has exhibited over 2,000 artists in approximately 200 shows. This includes artists such as R. Crumb and Peter Bagge in Misfit Lit: Contemporary Comic Art, collectives such as Neue Slowenische Kunst, authors such as William S. Burroughs, and performers such as Karen Finley. Today, CoCA "serves the Pacific Northwest as a catalyst and forum for the advancement, development, and understanding of Contemporary Art", a mission achieved through exhibitions, artist residencies, publications and discussions.
Members, staff, donors and volunteers work to exhibit international, national and local artists in a gallery setting, create events and host annual programs. CoCA launched their Archives Project in 2013 as a way to preserve, catalog and share the printed materials, slides, video and other materials gathered over the organization's history.
CoCA is a tax-exempt non-profit run by a working Board of Directors. As of August 2016, its president is Miguel Edwards. The vice president is Sara Everett. The chair is Tina Gonsalves; vice chair is Lorrie Cardoso. The treasurer is Dan Hawkins. The secretary is Talia Silveri Wright. The director and curator is Joseph Roberts. Directors are Joseph Bisacca, Kalindi Kunis, Todd Lawson, Travis Monroe, Michele Osgood, David Ruggiero, Jackie Schultz and Kate Vrijmoet. On the Advisory Board, Ray C. Freeman III acts as advisor and publisher, and David Francis acts as advisor and curator at large. As of August 2016, Nichole DeMent is CoCA's Executive Director, and Caroline Parry is Administrative and Program Associate. As of August 2016, the Archives Project is headed by Anna R. Hurwitz as Project Director and Joel Irving as Lead Archivist.
Annual programs include the Northwest Annual, the 24-Hour Painting Marathon and Auction, and the Annual Members' Show. The Northwest Annual was originally under the Seattle Art Museum until CoCA took over the program in 1989. The group exhibition showcases current work by local artists of various mediums selected by a juror. Past Northwest Annual jurors include visual artists Leon Golub and Nancy Spero in 1989, painter and sculptor Kerry James Marshall in 1999, and Canadian visual artist Ken Lum in 2004. At the 24-Hour Painting Marathon & Auction, originally titled "They Shoot Painters, Don't They?", CoCA invites artists to create work in one day, then auctions the artworks. CoCA also founded and produced Heaven & Earth, a group show of outdoor, temporary installations in Carkeek Park inaugurated in 2009 until the exhibit went independent in 2015.
Performance by Laurie AndersonLecture series with speakers Robert Irwin, Germano Celant, Kathy Halbreich and Jo-Anne Birnie-DanzkerFour Light Installations, James Turrell"CoCA presents a Saturday afternoon of something like nothing you've ever seen before" sponsored by Anne Gould Hauberg, Linda Farris, Anne Gerber, Cathy Hillenbrand and Chuck RyndMolissa Fenley: Eureka, Voyager, Molissa FenleyPublic Comments with Terry Allen, Lauren Ewing, Edward Kienholz, Nancy Reddin Kienholz, Komar and Melamid, Tad Savinar, Peter Shelton and Krzysztof WodiczkoPerformance by Jim PomeroyLecture series with speakers John Torreano, Martha Schwartz, Susan Larsen Stelarc and Howard FoxFour Windows: A Peekshow with curator Barbara Noah and artists Linda Beaumont, C.T. Chew, Alan Lande, ArtofficialsCoCA Folio with artists William T. Wiley, Richard Posner, Nancy Spero and Elaine ReicheckNeo York/SeattlePorn in the U.S.A. panel discussion with moderator Robert Costa and panelists Lydia Lunch, Linda Jordan, Cathy Hillenbrand, Ena Swansea, Selma Waldman, John CopoulosUnderground SeattleSurvival Research Laboratories with performers Mark Pauline, Matt Heckhert, Eric WernerSouvenirs, performance by The Girl Artists (Char Breshgold, Kathy Clark, Christina DeGennaro, Susan Martin, Lisa Siegel)Feminists & Misogynists Together At Last with curator Robert Costa and performers Lydia Lunch and Clint RuinConcert by Einsturzende NeubautenResidency and exhibition by Donald LipskiCoCA CabanaCalifornia Needs Foods with curator Martha Winans and artist Judith BarryVideo Babies and the Mountain with curator Martha Winans and artist Nam June PaikSeattle: Before and AfterMichael Tracy: Terminal Privileges with curator Edward Leffingwell and artist Michael TracySt. Eom in Pasaquan with curator Tom Patterson and artist Eddie Owens MartinAt-The-Edge with curator and panelist Beth Sellars; panelist Roger Manley; artists Joseph Schneider, Clarice Dreyer, Russell RosanderReading and panel lunch with author William S. Burroughs; host Stephen Bernstein; panelists Tom Patterson, Roger Manley, Beth Sellars, Mia McEldowney, Ed Wicklander, Merrilee TompkinsStations ov Thee Cross : A Dematerialisation ov Easter with curator of local video shorts Bruce Pavitt and performer Psychic TVNorthwest Annual juried by Leon Golub and Nancy SperoCoCA Cabana, California SushiRe/Search: Modern Primitives with hosts/curators V. Vale and Andrea Juno, host/artist Leslie Gladsjo, and performers Madame Lazonga and Captain DonCounterfeit Masterpieces of Twentieth Century ArtNorthwest Annual juried by Benny AndrewsLow Technology: Artists Made MachinesSound VisionA Carnival of Misplaced Devotion with Survival Research LaboratoriesArt Asylum Party hosted by Linda Lu Cannon and Elizabeth DunnPuppetry, Warner BlakeNot Funded by the NEA/Piercing Visions in the Shadows with performers Lamar Van Dyke, Leslie Gladsjo, V. Vale, Andrea Juno, Annie Sprinkle and David WojnarowiczIn/Site with curator Mary Ann Peters and artists Beliz Brother, Connie Zehr and Guadalupe GarciaMisfit Lit: Contemporary Comic ArtNatural Selection with curator Nancy Weekly and artist Christy RuppUrbanscrape with artist John StametsIn Public with artists Daniel Martinez and Cris Bruch, and The Night Gallery curated by Larry ReidCoCA Cabana, Performance Cabaret with performers Ann Magnuson, Harry Kipper, Iconoclast, Mark Pauline, Susy Schneider and Sky Cries MaryNorthwest Annual juried by Paula CooperPerformance by Taylor MeadVernacular Photography with curator Rod Slemmons and artists Kenda North and Mark BarnesCarnival Culture and CoCA Museum StoreDecolonizing the Mind: End of a 500 Year Era with curator Joe Feddersen and artists Gail Tremblay, Elizabeth Woody, Ernie Pepion, James Lavadour, Susie Bevins, Truman Lowe and Juane Quick–to–See SmithFrom Media to Metaphor: Art About AIDS curated by Independent Curators International (local component curated by Carl Smool) with artists Ross Bleckner, Kathe Burkhart, Nancy Burson, Steven Evans, General Idea, Félix González-Torres, Gran Fury, Keith Haring, Adrian Kellard, Peter Kunz-Opfersei, Rudy Lemcke, Robert Mapplethorpe, Paul Marcus, Duane Michals, Donald Moffett, Frank Moore, Ellen B. Neipris, Diane Neumaier, Nicholas Nixon, Bebe Nixon, Gypsy Ray, Rod Rhodes, Jane Rosett, John Sapp, Dui Seid, John Shane, Rosalind Solomon, Masami Teraoka, Doug (Bruno) Hammett, Max Torque, Kathy Vargas, Brian Weil, David Wojnarowicz, Thomas Woodruff, Juan Alonso, Fried Birchman, Tom Cantwell, Cheryl Comstock, Marita Dingus, Michael Ehle, Kevin Harvey, David Hartz, Sylvain Klause, Mary Molyneaux, Nancy Morrow, Barbara Quah, Grego Rachko, Kathy Ross, Harriet Sandowicz, Tom Schworer, T. Ellen Sollod, Tom Thein, David Wickland, Peter Toliver, Mike Walsh, Alice WheelerCoCA Cabana, A Tropical CabaretNeue Slovenische Kunst with curator Larry Reid and artists IRWIN, Laibach and Red Pilot Theater GroupOff CourseUrgent NostalgiaNorthwest Annual juried by Joel-Peter WitkinKustom Culture with curators C.R. Stecyk and Bolton Coburn, and artists Ed Roth, Kenny Howard, Robert Williams, Mike Kelly; event: Kustom Kulture Klimax with the Mono Men & The Del LagunasRandom Access - curators Jane & Edward Galore; artists: Patrice Caire, Clair Colquitt, Mark & John Bain, James Acord, David Galbraith, Teresa Seemann, Kurt & Debla Geissel, Joel Kollin, Holly BineCult Rapture - curator Adam Parfrey; artists: Dr Jack Kevorkian, Joe Coleman, Paul Loffoley, Robert N. Taylor, Rodney Vanworth, Dick Kramer, George Highman, Leilah Wendell, Charles Manson, Rex Diablos Church, Charles Krafft, Jeffrey Dixon, Unarius, Partridge Family Temple, Universal Order, Christian PatriotsCOCA/KCMU Halloween Dance Party and Costume BallGrand Opening Gala Party and Preview of CoCA Holiday StoreSpy By Night — Adventures in International Espionage"They Shoot Painters, Don't They?" 2nd Painting Marathon & Auction - artists: Lisa Buchanan, Ed Fotheringham, Ken Kelly, David Kane, Charles Krafft, Bill Elston, Doug Parry, Drake Deknatal, Bill TurnerNorthwest Annual - juror: Laura TrippiKunstkabinette - curator: Sean Eldwood; artists: Portia Munson, Connie Catch, Jeffry Mitchel, Nole Giulini, Marita Dingus, Dan Eskanzi, Fred Gibbons, David IrelandHome Remedies and Magnificent Obsessions - curator: Susan Purves; artists: Thomas O'Day, Wilbur Hathaway, Juniper Tedhams, Janice Kerbel, Jeanne Voltura, Germaine Koh, Raymond Materson, Scott MacGregorFolie a Deux - curator: Susan Purves; 86 artists from around the nationThey Shoot Painters, Don't They? (3rd) - Lisa Buchanan, Lauri Chambers, Shawn Ferris, Mr. Fotheringham, Rolon Bert Garner, Jef Gunn, Victoria Haven, Harold Hollingsworth, David C. Kane, Marc Lindsay, Dave McGranagham, Joe Park, Doug Parry, Colin Schutz, Jason Starkie, Friese UndineFolie Fini SoireeThe Garden of Virtue and Vice - artist: Timothy SicilianoCoCA Museum StoreSquare Painting / Plane Painting - curators: Lauri Chambers, Rhonda Howard; artists: Barnett Jacqueline, Berthot Jake, Borysewicz Alfonse, Dunn John, Frecon Suzan, Hara Keiko, Henry Mary, Denzil Hurley, Jones C.Roberts. May E. Dan, Mogensen Paul, Nozkowski ThomasThe Project Room - performers: David Nechak, DustThe Project Room - performers: Sarah Chase, CakeThe Critics ambaraass [sic?] themselves! performance event- hostess: Susy Schneider; critics: Greg Burkman, Jim Demetre, Roger Downey, Sheila Farr, Eric Fredericksen, Gillian Gaar, Cyd Gillis, Regina Hackett, Clark Humprey, Matthew Kangas, Tom McTaggart, Matthew Richter, Michael Romano, Anna WoolvertonJ. Steensma - A Retrospective - guest curator: Matthew Kangas; artist: J. SteensmaThey Came Here First - curator: David C. Kane; performers: Randy Jones, Roland Baker, Wally Shoup, Rob Angus, Jeff Greinke, Lesli Dalaba, Dennis Rea; projections: George SolerMan in Black ball opening partyBurningpoint - curator: Astrid Larsen; artists: Wise Fool, Steve Rife, Magenta, Pryodesiacs, Fire Drake, Peter Toms, Kitty Center, Toby & Doug HaireThey Shoot The Painters, Don't They? (5th)- artists: Joshua Abrams, Trio of Jac Chartier, Carol Bolt and Martha Parish, Susan Dorey, Mia Dovi, Joan Englemeyer, Shawn Ferris, Mr. Fatheringham, Geoff Garza, Jeff Gunn, Gail Grinell, Harold Hollingsworth, Marc Lindsay, Darcy McGrath, Jason Starkie, David Tupper, Freise Undine, Dan WebbThe People's Choice, Seattle's Most Wanted Painting - artists: Komar & MelamidReverse Archaelogy - artists: Featuring RIGGA (collective): Ean Eldred, James Harrison, John Kashiwabara, Peter NylenThe 1997 Northwest Annual - jurors: Komar & MelamidCoCA Museum StoreLove at the End of the Tunnel, or the Beginning of a Smart New Day: New Art - from L.A. curator: Marilu Knode; artists: Maura Bendett, Andrea Bowers, Sally Elesby, Chris Finley, Terri Friedman, Michael Gonzalez, Doug Hammet, Joyce Lightbody, Carlos Mollura, Patrick Nickell, Michael Pierzynski, Kenneth Riddle, George Stoll, Pae WhiteSurvival System Train and Other Sculpture - curator: Renny Pritkin (Chief Curator at Yerba Buena Center for Arts); artist: Kenji YanobeStick Bladder by Jet Construction - preparator: Annie Walker; artists: Jet Construction—Cam Schoepp (sculptor), Mark and Peter Anderson (architects), Crispin Spaeth Dance Group, Susie KozawaThe New Prometheans - curator: Astrid Larsen; artists: Warner and Consorten (Warner van Wely), David Hall, Bill Fitzgibbons, John Surbert, Ted Batchelor, Kain Karawahn, Bruce Hall, John Roloff, Pepe OzanThey Shoot Artist, Don't They? (6th) - artists: Kevin Kent, Parris Broderick, Kris Caldwell, Susan Dory, Shawn Ferris, Nina Frenkel, Geoff Garza, Jef Gunn, Kevin Hanson, Sean Hurley, David C. Kane, Marc Lindsay, Randy McCoy, D'Arcy Jane McGrath, Joe Park, Matthew Skendandore, T.K. Stephens, Bryon Tello, Whiting Tennis, David TupperAt the Threshold of the Visible: Minuscule and Small-Scale Art, 1964-1996 - guest curator: Ralph Rugoff; artists: Joel Shapiro, Chris Burden, Yoko Ono, Jeffrey Vallance, Hannah Wilke and othersThe Micro-Miniatures of Hagop Sandaljian - guest curator: Ralph RugoffCoCA's Best Ever Holiday StoreEvent - slide lecture: Kerry James Marshall1999
The Northwest Annual - juror: Kerry James Marshall; artists: Jaqueline Barnett, David Brody, James Jeffrey Burger, Donnabelle Casis, Sean Downey, Dick Elliot, Yvette Franz, Erik J. Geschke, Anthea Groves, Wendy Hanson, Patrick Holderfield, Richard Hutter, Elizabeth Jameson, John Jenkins III, Doug Keyes, Stefan Knorr, John Leavy, Damon Maxwell, Lyn McCracken, Nancy Morrow, Mike Shea, Sheila Sieb, Nicola Vruwink, Matt WainwrightFood Chain: Encounters Between Mates, Predators and Prey - curator: Michael L. Sand; artist: Catherine ChalmersLand/Use/Action - performers: Ruth Marie Tomlinson, Deborah LawrenceHere and There - artists: Harriet Sanderson, Ingrid Lahti, Mary Zeran, Erin Shie Palmer, Ruth Marie Tomlinson, Coleen Hayward, Deborah F. Lawrence, Rosemary Barile, Jennifer Dixon, Heather Dew OaksenCenter for Land Use InterpretationMan of the World - artists: Mark Alice Durant, Matthew WilsonRecent: Remote - artist: Marilyn ArsemBOY - artists: Harrell Fletcher, Jon RubinArtDetourCoCA's 7th Annual Painting Marathon and AuctionDusk - curators: Kim Collmer (Chicago), De Kwok (Milky World Gallery); video artists: Ryan Berg, Gretchen Bone, Veronika Bromova, Dame Darcy, Marit Folstad, John Gerrard, Iggy Green, Ryan Hobson, Maura Jasper, Vincent Johnson, Mike Kelley, Cameron Jaime, Sky Forest Hutchens, Mason Kittel, John KramerTo read about 2009-2016 exhibitions and events, visit the past exhibitions page at cocaseattle.org.
