Io Palmer Bends Steel

The new Artist in Residence at the James & Janie Washington Foundation, Io Palmer, is bending steel and she likes it.  Palmer's newest series of sculptures incorporate steel.  This is a new material for the artist.  

The new sculptures will combine handmade dresses and metal structures meant to represent abstracted and elongated bustles.  The sculptures are on wheels and will be incorporated into a performance piece that will be staged sometime later this year.  

Teen Neighborhood Sculpture Tours

The Seattle Art Museum's Design Your Hood students came to the Washington House & Studio last week.  This Thursday a group from the Wing Luke Museum, named YouthCAN, will tour the Foundation.  This is all part of a Neighborhood Tour that the Foundation created to highlight some of James Washington's public sculpture that is located in the Central District.

The students walk through the streets of the CD from piece to piece following a map.  Information on a worksheet gives them history of the community and art.  They finish up at the Washington House & Studio for a tour and lunch.

James Washington standing next to his sculpture, My Testimony in Stone, in 1981.

Channel 7 show filmed at the Foundation

Deborah Horne hosted the show KIRO InColor from the Washington house and studio on Monday.  KIRO InColor is a public affairs show about the diversity of the Pacific Northwest. The show has been honored with four Emmy awards and received national recognition.  Since 1994, the show has explored issues important to the Northwest, specifically the region's minority communities. The series profiles a variety of fascinating people from artists to activists. 

  Ms. Horne interviewed Tim Detweiler, the Foundation's Executive Director, about James and Janie Washington and their role in the Central District. She also explored the property, narrating from the front porch, garden and the house and studio.  

The show aires on Sunday, July 12th at 5:30.  Don't miss it.

Joe and his Dog

Joe Max Emminger, Resident Artist Spring 2009, wrote us a nice note about his time in the Washington Studio.  Joe often brought his dog Lily along for company.  

James Washington had a dog named Shemp and it seemed that Lily was always looking to find him...

Joe's Letter:

James Washington House Thoughts

Joe Max Emminger

Spring 2009

I had a residency at the James Washington House for a month in spring 2009.

Mr. Washington was still there too. His garden is there, and his tools, his studio and his books. His clothes are in the closet, and the little bed he slept on for 50 years is still there. It was like he just stepped out for a cup of coffee and I stepped in.

It was a privilege to be there in the very same studio where he had worked for so many years. I am a painter and I don’t know much about sculpture. I tried something new at Washington House. Everyone was helpful and as a result I made four pieces of sculpture that I like. I started in a new direction. 

Thank-you for the opportunity – it was wonderful.

Sincerely,

Joe Max Emmiger

Joe

  

Lily

Artist in Residence 2009-2010

This year the Foundation put out a call to artists throughout Washington State.  We asked artists to propose a project that they would like to accomplish during their one month residency. 

We received a $5,000 gift from Artist Trust to host three artists from the State at James Washington's home and studio.  

The Foundation awarded the residencies to three artists from Pullman, Washington.  There will be more on these talented folks in the coming weeks...

Io Palmer

Garric Simonsen

Nickolus Meisel

Northwest African American Museum's Brian Carter

This is a great article about Northwest African American Museum's Brian Carter.  Brian has done a great job at the Museum.  His energy makes the Museum Hum.

University of Washington Alumni News

2009 Newsletter