ArtSci Roundup: June 2026

“Come curious. Leave inspired. The UW offers an exciting lineup of in-person and online events. From thought-provoking art and music to conversations on culture, history, and science, the UW community invites you to explore, learn, and connect across disciplines throughout the University. And you don’t have to wait until June: Take a look at everything still happening in May . Sign up to receive a monthly notice when the ArtSci Roundup has been published . ArtSci On Your Own Time: Through July 24 – Book Club | The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (UW Alumni Association) Readers’ Choice! Bundle up for an historical mystery set in 18th-century Maine. The body of a local man is found in the frozen Kennebeck River. Martha Ballard, the local midwife, suspects that this death is not an accident — and her detailed diaries of local life are full of clues. Will she weather the scandals unleashed by her pursuit of the truth? Inspired by historic events! Free. Podcast | Indigenous Planetary Health: What Side Are You On? A Tohono O’odham Life Across Borders (Comparative History of Ideas) Dr. Hōkūlani Aikau is joined by guest co-host and podcast research assistant Melialani Hamilton, a new PhD student in IGOV. Together, they interview Michael Wilson a Tohono O’odham human rights activist, U.S. military retiree, and documentary filmmaker and Dr. José Antonio “Tony” Lucero, Professor and Chair of the Comparative History of Ideas Department at the University of Washington, Seattle. They are co-authors of, What Side Are You On? A Tohono O’odham Life Across Borders , a powerful memoir tracing Mike’s life journey and the experiences that led him to the controversial and courageous humanitarian work of placing water stations for migrants along the U.S.–Mexico border. The book captures the tension between Mike’s moral obligation to prevent death and the political stance of a nation committed to non-interference. Throughout the narrative, Tony “hyperlinks” Mike’s personal story to broader histories and global struggles, illuminating how one life resonates far beyond the borderlands. Free. EXHIBITIONS: Through June 5 | Ways of Becoming: BA in Art Graduation Exhibition (School of Art + Art History + Design) Celebrate the graduating seniors across the art programs: 3D4M, Photo/Media, Painting + Drawing, and Interdisciplinary Visual Art (IVA) during the 2026 BA in Art Graduation Exhibitions at the Jacob Lawrence Gallery. Opening nights: Group 1 – April 28, Group 2 – May 12, Honors – May 26. Free. Through June 14 | 2026 University of Washington MFA + MDes Thesis Exhibition (School of Art + Art History + Design) The Henry is pleased to present the University of Washington’s School of Art + Art History + Design Master of Fine Arts and Master of Design Thesis Exhibition. Throughout their programs, fine arts and design students work with advisers and other artists to develop advanced techniques, expand concepts, discuss critical issues, and emerge with a vision and direction for their own work. Henry staff conduct studio visits and work closely with the students to facilitate their projects and prepare them for exhibition at the museum. A digital publication will be produced in conjunction with the exhibition to highlight the students’ artistic endeavors and the Henry’s commitment to this exciting and important step in the students’ development as practicing artists and designers . The Public Reception: 2026 MFA + MDes Thesis Exhibition is on June 5 . Related article: Chave Pichardo: Spaces of care . Free. June 10 – 26 | 2026 Design Show (School of Art + Art History + Design) Friends + Family Night will be on June 12. Free. Eric-Paul Riege: ojo|-|ólǫ́ [Installation view, Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle. 2026]. Photo: Jueqian Fang. Exhibition | Eric-Paul Riege: ojo|-|ólǫ́ (Henry Art Gallery) ojo|-|ólǫ́ (pronounced oh-ho hol-ohn) is an exhibition of recent and newly commissioned work by Diné artist Eric-Paul Riege (b. 1994, Na’nízhoozhí [Gallup, New Mexico]) that includes sculpture, textile, collage, and video, activated by moments of performance. Across this work, Riege combines customary Diné practices of weaving, silversmithing, and beading with contemporary cultural forms, exploring Diné cosmology, the history of Euro-American trading posts in and adjacent to the Navajo Nation, and the notion of “authenticity” as a value marker of Indigenous art and craft. Free. Week of June 1 Online – June 1 | The World (Cup) Comes To Seattle 2026 Lecture Series: Egypt Comes to Seattle (Jackson School of International Studies) Presented by Abdullah Al-Arian, Associate Professor of History, Georgetown University in Qatar. The World (Cup) Comes To Seattle 2026 Lecture Series is an online series of talks and discussions hosted by the Global Sport Lab, featuring local and global experts to discuss the geopolitical, local, and sporting implications of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Seattle. Free. June 1 | UW Gospel Choir (School of Music) Phyllis Byrdwell leads the 100-voice Gospel Choir in songs from the Gospel tradition. June 2 | Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band: Emblems (School of Music) The Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band (Erin Bodnar, director) present “Emblems,” featuring music by Aaron Copland, Wim Bex, Kevin Day, Dwayne Milburn, John Mackey and others. With Eden Garza, bass trombone. June 2 | Author Talk: Seattle Field Guide (Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture) Nature writers Kathryn True and Maria Dolan discuss their new book Seattle Field Guide: Explore Nature in the City, a guide to 38 outdoor adventures across the greater Seattle area. They will deliver a presentation featuring natural phenomena you can visit yourself around the city. Seattle Field Guide is a fun, accessible, and inspiring guide to 38 nature-filled outings across the greater Seattle area — perfect for all ages and experience levels. Whether you have a free afternoon or a full day to explore, Dolan and True offer seasonal adventures that reveal the wild wonders hidden in the city’s parks, shorelines, greenways, and neighborhoods. June 2 | Lecture: Simone Stirner, “Haunting, Quilting, Melting: Shapes of Queer Memory” (Simpson Center for the Humanities) What happens to our understanding of relational memory when viewed through queer histories? In this talk, Stirner examines memory art dedicated to often neglected queer and trans histories after National Socialism, from translucent quilts to an installation that melts a concentration camp gate and rewelds it into new forms. Beyond arguing for the inclusion of queer histories in relational frameworks of remembrance, the talk proposes that attending to the distinct shapes and textures of queer relationality reshapes the concept itself, showing how queer memory practices expand and transform what it means to think memory relationally. Simone Stirner (Assistant Professor, Germanic Languages & Literatures, Harvard University) works on poetry and poetics, memory studies, and the intersections of critical and creative practices. Stirner’s first book Poetic Grief: Form and Remembrance after National Socialism (Fordham University Press, forthcoming) develops a new framework for understanding the relationship between reading poetry and the affective experience of grief by studying how poems in the enduring aftermath of National Socialism and the Holocaust make space for an encounter with the uncontainable dimensions of loss—on and off the page. Free. June 3 | First Wednesday Concert Series: Students of the UW School of Music (School of Music) A free lunchtime performance featuring UW School of Music students in the North Allen Library lobby. Presented in partnership with UW Libraries. Free. June 3 | Studio Jazz Ensemble and Modern Band (School of Music) The Studio Jazz Ensemble and Modern Ensemble present a shared program of repertory selections, original music, and inspired arrangements. June 4 | UW Industrial Design Junior Show (School of Art + Art History + Design) A one-night exhibition of furniture, lighting, soft goods, electronics, and experimental work by UW junior industrial design students. Free. June 4 | First Free Thursday at the Burke (Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture) Admission to the Burke Museum is FREE and the museum is open until 8 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month. Get closer to the daily work happening in the Burke Museum’s visible collections storage, labs and workrooms during Free First Thursday. Free. June 4 | 2026 Labor Studies Spring Celebration (Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies) This celebration honors all the Building A Movement interns and 2026 graduating Labor students! June 5 | UW Symphony Orchestra with UW Choirs, Giselle Wyers, Clara Osowski, and Soledad Mayorga-Maldonado (School of Music) The UW Symphony (David Alexander Rahbee, director) and combined UW Choirs (Giselle Wyers, director) team up for a year-end program featuring music by Ottorino Respighi, Nadia Boulanger, and Francis Poulenc. Mezzo-soprano Clara Osowski is featured soloist with the combined ensembles for works by Boulanger, orchestrated by David Alexander Rahbee. Soledad Mayorga-Maldonado is featured soloist for Francis Poulenc’s Gloria, with Giselle Wyers conducting. June 5 | Geography Undergraduate Research Symposium (Geography) The Geography Undergraduate Research Symposium spotlights innovative and compelling undergraduate work. Student researchers will share fresh ideas, sharp insights, and standout projects with the community. Free. June 5 | Public Reception: 2026 MFA + MDes Thesis Exhibition (School of Art + Art History + Design) Join the Henry and University of Washington’s School of Art + Art History + Design in celebration of the 2026 University of Washington MFA + MDes Thesis Exhibition. See the diverse work of this year’s graduate students and enjoy a no-host bar. Artists: Stephanie Alacon, Dahae Cheon, Li-Yuan Chiou, Jeff Jiang, Victoria Mackender, Alex Moni-Sauri, Oscar Pearson, Chave Pichardo, Andrew Roibal, and Ryan Walters. Related article: Chave Pichardo: Spaces of care . Free. June 6 | Composition Studio Concert (School of Music) Emerging and established composers explore unconventional sonic landscapes in this concert of music by students, faculty, alumni, and guests of the UW Composition program. Free. Week of June 8 Online – June 8 | The World (Cup) Comes To Seattle 2026 Lecture Series: The Pride Match and LGBTQ+ Rights at the World Cup (Jackson School of International Studies) Presented by Jen Barnes, Co-Chair of Pride+ Match Impact Committee SEA2026; Founder, CEO, Rough & Tumble Pub; Salmon Bay FC. The World (Cup) Comes To Seattle 2026 Lecture Series is an online series of talks and discussions hosted by the Global Sport Lab, featuring local and global experts to discuss the geopolitical, local, and sporting implications of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Seattle. Free. June 11 | 2026 Awards of Excellence Ceremony The UW is delighted to announce the recipients of the 56th annual University of Washington Awards of Excellence! The awards honor outstanding alumni, faculty, staff, students and retirees who contribute to the richness and diversity of our University community. The program includes a one-hour ceremony hosted by President Robert J. Jones and Provost Tricia Serio, followed by a reception with refreshments and community connection. Free. June 12 | Design Show 2026 – Friends + Family Night (School of Art + Art History + Design) Free. June 12 | Distinguished Alum Lecture (Speech & Hearing Sciences) Free. Online option – June 13 | University of Washington’s 151st Commencement Ceremony The University of Washington will honor the graduating class of 2026 at the University’s 151st Annual Commencement Exercises. Over 7,400 graduates will take the field at the magnificent Husky Stadium to the cheers and applause of 50,000 family members and friends. Free. June 25 | Lecture: Queer Ecology (Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture) Learn more about the incredible range and diversity of sex, sex-development, gender, and sexuality in the natural world and the many purposes of sex and sexuality for building strong and vibrant communities in the natural world. ArtSci Roundup goes monthly! The ArtSci Roundup is your guide to connecting with the UW—whether in person, on campus, or on your couch. Previously shared on a quarterly basis, those who sign up for the Roundup email will receive them monthly, delivering timely updates and engaging content wherever you are. Check the roundup regularly, as events are added throughout the month. Make sure to check out the ArtSci On Your Own Time section for everything from podcasts to videos to exhibitions that can be enjoyed when it works for you! In addition, if you like the ArtSci Roundup, sign up to receive a monthly notice when it’s been published. Sign up for the monthly ArtSci Roundup email here. Do you have an event that you would like to see featured in the ArtSci Roundup? Connect with Lauren Zondag (zondagld@uw.edu).uw.edu).

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