The sand painting in the International Fountain Pavilion has six days left. "Traditions: Connecting Threads of Shared Humanity," a free visual art exhibit at Seattle Center featuring work by more than a dozen Pacific Northwest artists, closes Sunday, Aug. 16.

The exhibit's centerpiece is "A Pesar de Todo" (Despite Everything), a commissioned sand painting and wood sculpture by Fulgencio Lazo, an internationally recognized artist who splits time between Seattle and his hometown of Oaxaca, Mexico. The piece depicts more than a dozen figures holding hands in a circle around a central soccer ball, a nod to the FIFA World Cup matches Seattle hosted in June and July. Lazo has had more than 50 solo shows. He also creates annual tapetes for the Seattle Art Museum's Día de los Muertos celebrations, drawing on the traditions of Mexico's indigenous Zapotec people.

Also on display: "Legacy," a calligraphy piece by Seattle-based shodo artist Ritsuko Kashiba, on loan after appearing at the 2025 Japan Expo in Osaka. Kashiba has practiced Japanese calligraphy for more than 45 years and has participated in the Seattle Cherry Blossom Festival every year since 1978, according to Seattle Center's event listing.

The exhibit is part of Festál, Seattle Center's 29-year-old coalition of free cultural festivals. Heidi Jackson, managing artistic director of cultural programs at Seattle Center, told Seattle Magazine in February that the series' philosophy is simple: "Everyone eats. Everyone has music and dance and traditions. There's a common thread, people being humans and enjoying their culture together."

"Traditions" is open Wednesday through Sunday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., through its final day on Aug. 16. The National Endowment for the Arts helped fund the project. Admission is free.

Visitors on closing day can also catch BrasilFest, another free Festál event at Seattle Center on Sunday, Aug. 16. The next Festál program after that is Festival Sundiata Presents Black Arts Fest on Aug. 22–23.