Seattle - June 06, 2008

Walk Like an Egyptian

Cairo Gallery-Cum-Boutique Opens

Some couples (Brangelina, Pixar and Disney, Maria and Georg) work together like a well-oiled machine.

Add Joel Leshefka and Justine Ashbee to the list. The creative couple (he owns Ballard shop 20Twenty, she’s a RISD-trained artist) open Cairo, their art gallery-cum-retail store, this weekend.

The Capitol Hill space is business in the back (temporary residence for up-and-coming artists) and party in the front (gallery, boutique, and event space), while stunning sets of midcentury shelves hold funky, affordable, one-of-a-kind finds.

The first exhibit is a menage a trois of dreamy, blueprint-like drawings and wood-stain paintings from artist Aaron Osborn, hand-carved bone and vintage Bakelite jewelry from Chicago-based line Lulu, and clothing from new local label Civilian.

All in all, it’s an animated bunch.

Cairo, 507 East Mercer Street, at Summit Avenue East (206-453-4077 or cairocollectionseattle.com). Opening reception, Saturday, 6-10 p.m.

  Artsy