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Explore stories in Northwest history through highlights from MOHAI’s collections. Search by keyword below or browse the entire online collection by entering the asterisk symbol (*). Filter your search by type of materials.

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265 results for: Visual Arts

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Image of Norie Sato with unfinished artwork, Seattle, June 26, 1991
Photograph

Norie Sato with unfinished artwork, Seattle, June 26, 1991

Norie Sato (b. 1949) was born in northern Japan and moved to the United States at age four with her family. She moved to Seattle in 1972 and studied at the University of Washington, receiving a Master of Fine Arts in printmaking in 1974. Sato’s early work focused on printmaking, and she later incorporated glass and video elements as well.…
ID Number:2000.107.160.17.01
Date:1991
Image of Security guard near Chinese figure at Seattle Art Museum, October 1, 1991
Photograph

Security guard near Chinese figure at Seattle Art Museum, October 1, 1991

The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) opened in its new downtown building, designed by Robert Venturi, on December 5, 1991. This photo shows a guard keeping an eye on a Chinese figure in the main arcade, shortly before the museum opened to the public.
ID Number:2000.107.164.36.01
Date:1991
Image of Worker oiling motor for Hammering Man sculpture, Seattle, May 10, 1993
Photograph

Worker oiling motor for Hammering Man sculpture, Seattle, May 10, 1993

Hammering Man is a series of monumental kinetic sculptures designed by Jonathan Borofsky which have been installed in various cities around the world. Seattle's Hammering Man is a 48-foot-tall metal sculpture created for the entrance to the new Seattle Art Museum (SAM) at University Street and 1st Avenue. The piece features a motorized left arm which hammers four times a…
ID Number:2000.107.164.37.01
Date:1993
Image of Mother and child looking at Hammering Man in front of SAM, September 13, 1992
Photograph

Mother and child looking at Hammering Man in front of SAM, September 13, 1992

Hammering Man is a series of monumental kinetic sculptures designed by Jonathan Borofsky which have been installed in various cities around the world. Seattle's Hammering Man is a 48-foot-tall metal sculpture created for the entrance to the new Seattle Art Museum (SAM) at University Street and 1st Avenue. The piece features a motorized left arm which hammers four times a…
ID Number:2000.107.164.37.02
Date:1992
Image of Seattle Art Museum exterior, October 31, 1991
Photograph

Seattle Art Museum exterior, October 31, 1991

The new Seattle Art Museum (SAM) building at 1st Avenue and University Street opened on December 5, 1991. The 5-story building, designed by Robert Venturi, had four times the space of the old museum at Volunteer Park, with new galleries displaying African art, Northwest Native American art, modern art, photography, and Northwest artists. The Volunteer Park Museum was remodeled to…
ID Number:2000.107.164.37.03
Date:1991
Image of Maude Zerby Strong painting a mural, Seattle, May 5, 1937
Photograph

Maude Zerby Strong painting a mural, Seattle, May 5, 1937

Illinois-born artist Maude Zerby Strong (1896-1978) was a long-time resident of Seattle who also lived in San Francisco from about 1930-1945. Strong was noted for her miniatures as well as regional landscapes. She also worked as a color artist at a Asahel Curtis' photo studio in Seattle.In this image, Strong poses in front of a mural she is painting at…
ID Number:2000.107.165.14.01
Date:1937
Image of Man with Bumbershoot face paint, Seattle, September 3, 1988
Photograph

Man with Bumbershoot face paint, Seattle, September 3, 1988

Begun in 1971, Seattle's Bumbershoot is one of North America’s largest urban arts festivals, held annually over Labor Day weekend at the Seattle Center.In this image, Steve Irby shows his support on the opening day of Bumbershoot by painting his face to celebrate the festival. Caption information derived from captions written by Post-Intelligencer staff and attached to the back of…
ID Number:2000.107.168.07.01
Date:1988
Image of George Tsutakawa creating large metal sculpture, Seattle, February 27, 1972
Photograph

George Tsutakawa creating large metal sculpture, Seattle, February 27, 1972

Born in Seattle and raised there and in Japan, George Tsutakawa (1910-1997) was an internationally recognized painter and sculptor best known for his avant-garde fountain designs. Over the course of his career, he created more than 70 fountains for public places around the world. Tsutakawa studied sculpture at the University of Washington, and served in the US Army during World…
ID Number:2000.107.173.02.01
Date:1972
Image of Public sculpture with snowman, Seattle, January 6, 1982
Photograph

Public sculpture with snowman, Seattle, January 6, 1982

Sculptor Richard Beyer's (1925-2012) "People Waiting for the Interurban," one of the most popular works of art in Seattle, was commissioned by the Fremont Arts Council and dedicated in 1978. It is located on the southeast corner of N. 34th Street and Fremont Avenue N., and depicts six people and a dog waiting for the Seattle to Everett Interurban, a…
ID Number:2000.107.173.03.05
Date:1982
Image of Public sculpture decorated as nurses, Seattle, January 23, 1989
Photograph

Public sculpture decorated as nurses, Seattle, January 23, 1989

Sculptor Richard Beyer's (1925-2012) "People Waiting for the Interurban," one of the most popular works of art in Seattle, was commissioned by the Fremont Arts Council and dedicated in 1978. It is located on the southeast corner of N. 34th Street and Fremont Avenue N., and depicts six people and a dog waiting for the Seattle to Everett Interurban, a…
ID Number:2000.107.173.03.06
Date:1989
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