It’s hard to make yourself stay inside when it’s sunny and clear outside, but just in case it rains–or you want some time in the shade–here’s what’s going on at local art museums.

The new SAM is open; there are still plenty of reasons to go even if you made it to the opening festivities as at long last SAM is a museum worth multiple visits.

Tacoma Art Museum continues Sparkle Then Fade through September; I haven’t seen the exhibit yet but I was there when the exhibit was being built and the few quick glances I got were enough to excite me.

Bellevue Arts Museum continues The Garden of Things, Passing the Torch, Women’s Tales and Native Species.

Henry Art Museum continues The Mexican Portfolio of Paul Strand, one of the greatest photographers ever, as well as Marie Jager’s The Purple Cloud & Other Stories. Opening are General Idea Editions (opens June 2), a complete retrospective of the pioneering art collective General Idea’s works. Later in the month on June 23 starts Mouth Open, Teeth Showing, a contemporary art collection built over the past dozen years by William and Ruth True that emphasizes younger artists, experimental formats, and new work.

Frye Art Museum closes Life After Death on June 3; the Art of Poetry, Sin and Frye Future all remain through the summer. Upcoming are Anxious Objects: Willie Cole’s Favorite Brands (transformations of everyday objects into original art) and David C Kane’s Fiat Mambo is a retrospective of the Northwest artist’s extensive body of work in paint, pen and print.