James Washington, Jr.

James W. Washington, Jr.: Many Hats, One Spirit

Many Hats, One Spirit is a retrospective exhibition that highlights the life and work of Dr. James W. Washington, Jr. (1908 – 2000). The title references “many hats,” paying homage to this multifaceted man who was a visual artist, poet, gardener, community builder, civil rights activist, and spiritual person. Included are stone carvings for which he is best known, plus drawings, paintings, prints, and collage work loaned from numerous public and private collections. 

Also on view are poetry, ephemera from his life, and items from the Civil Rights Era from Washington’s personal collection. At the top of the museum’s grand staircase are re-creations of his home and studio, to provide context for his life and the art of stone carving.

BIMA reflects Washington’s “living legacy” by including the work of more than twenty five former Artists-in-Residence from the Dr. James and Janie Washington Cultural Center in Seattle. These artists pursued diverse media such as stone carving, painting, printmaking, mixed media work, poetry, and writing in Washington’s former studio, home, and garden for selected periods of time. Some artworks were generated during these residencies, and others reflect more current endeavors.

Deloris Tarzan Ament, a prominent arts writer, noted, “The eminent African American sculptor and painter James Washington Jr. was a leading member of the Northwest School. He grew up in Mississippi. After working as a WPA artist, he came to the Puget Sound region in 1944 to work in the Bremerton Naval Yard as a journeyman electrician. He found exhibition space at Frederick & Nelson’s Little Gallery and through that venue met Mark Tobey (1890-1976) and other Northwest artists. He places his visionary paintings and sculptures in the service of religious faith. They express the unity of God, humankind, and nature, with symbols derived from freemasonry and from the animal world.”

For more information:

https://jameswashingtonculturalcenter.com/

 

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Dr. James W. Washington, Jr. & Mrs. Janie Rogella Washington Foundation.

When

Jul 4 – Sep 17, 2025

Where

Feferman Gallery
Beacon Gallery
Beacon Window Gallery

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Participating Artists-in-Residence:

Jite Agbro

Ellen Berdinner

Romson Bustillo

MalPina Chan

Mary Coss

Marita Dingus

Martha L. Dunham

Joe Max Emminger

Esther Ervin

Christian French

Seth Friedman

Cyra Jane

Kimberly Lakes

John Lucas

Tamara Madison

Christen Mattis

Squeak Ursa Meisel

Iolanda Palmer

Charles Parrish

Terri Rau

Christina Reed

Heather Marie Scholl

June Sekiguchi

Erin Shigaki

Ursula Stuart

Meghan Thréinfhir

Carletta Carrington Wilson

Stewart Wong

Special thanks to:

AlphaGraphics Seattle

Artech

Arts/WA (Washington State Arts Commission)

Greg Kucera Gallery

Seattle Art Museum

Tacoma Art Museum

Dr. James W. Washington, Jr. & Mrs. Janie Rogella Washington Foundation

Woodside/Braseth Gallery

And, several Private Collectors, Donors, Volunteers, and Advisors for their support of this major retrospective.