April is a big month for Seattle’s Roq La Rue Gallery, with three shows all opening tonight. In their main room, Peter Ferguson presents a new collection of rust-hued paintings set sometime in the 19th century for his solo show, “Prime Meridian.” In this series, anachronistic villagers and city dwellers encounter increasingly more surreal characters than previously seen in his past work. Monsters invade old-fashioned pubs, schools, and manors — perhaps pointing to the monstrosities of the colonial period, the real-world context his work can’t escape.
Also on view in the main gallery, “Uchronia” is a small group show featuring artists that have long been on Roq La Rue’s roster, as well as some new additions. Femke Hiemstra, Lindsey Carr, Scott Musgrove, Jessica McCourt, Derek Knobbs, Syd Bee, and Olivia Knapp were invited to imagine alternative histories for real-life events or existing tales, resulting in many works with magical realist elements. In the project room, Amanda Manitach also has her show, “Whiskey Helps,” a collection of quirky illustrations with bittersweet messages. Check out a preview for “Uchronia” and “Prime Meridian” below.
Peter Ferguson, “Prime Meridian”:
“Uchronia” group show:
Scott Musgrove
Olivia Knapp
Femke Hiemstra
Lindsey Carr
The transition from one year into the next inspires us to shed our old attitudes, outlooks, and approaches and start anew. It's no coincidence that many Pagan rituals around the time of Winter Solstice center around the theme of rebirth and regeneration. Seattle's 
We can only imagine what early explorers venturing off into the new world must have felt. Medieval maps and encyclopedic bestiaries give us some idea of the strange lands they expected to encounter, inhabited by mysterious figures and loathsome, fictitious beasts. Montreal, Canada based painter 
Travis Louie