It's not every day you hear an art gallery owner say they were inspired by Eddie Murphy's comedy "Beverly Hills Cop," but that's exactly what happened to Judith Rinehart, owner of J. Rinehart Gallery in Seattle's Pioneer Square. The inspiration came from a profanity-laden scene that pokes fun at the art world, featuring gallery worker Serge, played by Bronson Pinchot, and Axel Foley, played by Eddie Murphy, in a high-end Los Angeles gallery.
Rinehart first saw the movie as a teenager growing up in the suburbs of Salt Lake City, where she says young women had limited career paths to choose from. What captivated her was the mystery surrounding Serge's profession – she found herself wondering, "What is this person's job?" The film planted a seed that art and art history were subjects she could study and eventually pursue professionally, while the idea of selling expensive art to collectors also sounded appealing.
Today, as an established gallery owner, Rinehart still gets excited watching that particular scene. "I feel like this is the perfect scene for how one could go into an art gallery and feel like you could ask the question of, 'How much is this thing?'" Rinehart explained. "And my job is to be welcoming and tell you. And, not judge." She acknowledges that not everyone can collect art at the high levels depicted in the film – like Axel Foley, she was stunned when Serge mentioned selling a piece for $130,000.
However, Rinehart firmly believes that expensive price tags don't make art galleries exclusive or unwelcoming spaces. "I think art galleries can be for everyone," she told Meet Me Here host Jeannie Yandel. "They are one of the few spaces anybody is allowed to come in. You can look at what's on the wall. You can like it or not. You can have an opinion about it or not. Maybe you just want to come in and take a look, see what's even out there, and find the thing you like."
Rinehart's commitment to making Seattle's arts scene accessible goes beyond words. She helped create Art & Culture Week, running September 20-27, which features an entire week of visual art events and performance collaborations. More than 50 galleries are participating this year, offering events every single day. Almost all events take place in local art galleries, and everything is either free or heavily discounted.
For those unsure where to start, Rinehart and host Jeannie Yandel offer several recommendations. Rinehart suggests the First Thursday Art Walk in Pioneer Square, which she notes is the oldest art walk in the country. Other highlights include the Art & Culture Week Kick-off Party from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on September 19 at King Street Station, and the Whim W'Him Fall '25 Choreography Shindig from 8 to 11 p.m. on September 20 at Erickson Theatre.
Additional events include Campfire Tales with artist Chris Sheridan from 6 to 8 p.m. on September 23 at J. Rinehart Gallery, and Resonant Light, a unique collaboration between neon sculptor Kelsey Fernkopf and Baroque violinist Tekla Cunningham, running from 3 to 6 p.m. on September 26 at Foster/White Gallery. Yandel recommends the "walk don't run 3k" event from 12 to 6 p.m. on September 20, traveling from Pioneer Square to Belltown, as well as discounted tickets to the Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Asian Art Museum, and George Balanchine's "Jewels" at Pacific Northwest Ballet.
The week also features other notable events and venues mentioned in the podcast episode, including Greg Kucera Gallery's "Past Perfect Future Tense" by Holly Ballard Martz, and a Costume Sale at Seattle Opera running from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on September 27. Through initiatives like Art & Culture Week, Rinehart continues to demonstrate her belief that Seattle's rich arts and culture scene should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their purchasing power.
