Gerard Tsutakawa: SJIMA Generations Exhibit, Summer, 2024
A short video accompanying the 2024 exhibit @ SJIMA of Artworks by Gerard Tsutakawa.
Every day, thousands of people interact with artworks by a Tsutakawa, one of the most prolific and influential artist families in the Pacific Northwest. The exhibit in the summer of 2024 explored the iconic and interconnected works of George Tsutakawa, Gerard Tsutakawa, and Kenzan Tsutakawa-Chinn. From public fountains, sculptures, and lighting displays to intimate pieces in private settings, the works of these three artists evoke harmony, movement, and presence with unifying themes of water, form, and light.
Gerard, George's son, first apprenticed with his father and went on to develop his own unique sculptural language. Gerard describes his work, “My process leads to form. Each of my sculptures are meticulously crafted by hand. Through daily engagement with my tools and materials, new forms emerge with an energy that is uniquely my own.” Gerard’s Tonbi Fountain is the centerpiece of the plaza outside Amazon’s headquarters in downtown Seattle. Other public works include The Mitt at T-Mobile Park and SeaWave at Climate Pledge Arena.
Look for other short videos of George, the father, a pioneer in the arts of the Northwest with global influence and Kenzan, the grandson, who is exploring new ways of transforming space through sculptural form and light. This is the first time all three artists have been featured in the same exhibition.