George Tsutakawa
Encyclopedia
George Tsutakawa sculptor and painter
, was born in Seattle, Washington
. Tsutakawa spent much of his childhood in Okayama, Japan. He returned to Seattle at the age of 16, where he attended Broadway High School before earning a BFA
at the University of Washington
. One of his early mentors was sculptor Dudley Pratt
. Tsutakawa served in the U.S. Army during World War II
as a Japanese language
instructor at the Army's Military Intelligence School.
Following the war, Tsutakawa returned to Seattle to marry Ayame Kyotani and continue his studies. Tsutakawa earned an MFA
at the University of Washington and went on to join the faculty (teaching both in the School of Art and the Department of Architecture
) where he served until his retirement.
Tsutakawa's works include oil and Sumi-e paintings and over 75 bronze
fountains in public spaces in the United States
, Canada
and Japan
.
George and Ayame Tsutakawa had 4 children: Gerard
, Mayumi, Deems and Marcus
. Gerard Tsutakawa apprenticed under his father and is himself an accomplished sculptor.
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, was born in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. Tsutakawa spent much of his childhood in Okayama, Japan. He returned to Seattle at the age of 16, where he attended Broadway High School before earning a BFA
Bachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
. One of his early mentors was sculptor Dudley Pratt
Dudley Pratt
Dudley Pratt was an American sculptor. He was born in Paris to Boston sculptors Bela and Helen Pratt. His sculptural education included study under Charles Grafly, Émile Antoine Bourdelle, and Alexander Archipenko....
. Tsutakawa served in the U.S. Army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a Japanese language
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
instructor at the Army's Military Intelligence School.
Following the war, Tsutakawa returned to Seattle to marry Ayame Kyotani and continue his studies. Tsutakawa earned an MFA
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
at the University of Washington and went on to join the faculty (teaching both in the School of Art and the Department of Architecture
University of Washington College of Built Environments
The College of Built Environments or CBE at the University of Washington is the new name, as of January 1, 2009, of the college formerly called the College of Architecture and Urban Planning. The old name was adopted in 1957-58 when the college had only two departments, architecture and planning...
) where he served until his retirement.
Tsutakawa's works include oil and Sumi-e paintings and over 75 bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
fountains in public spaces in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
George and Ayame Tsutakawa had 4 children: Gerard
Gerard Tsutakawa
Gerard "Gerry" Tsutakawa, born 1947, son of artist George Tsutakawa, is an accomplished Pacific Northwest sculptor. Tsutakawa has had numerous public and private commissions, perhaps his best known being the 9' bronze sculpture titled "Mitt" outside of Seattle's Safeco Field...
, Mayumi, Deems and Marcus
Marcus Tsutakawa
Marcus Tsutakawa is the Music director at Garfield High School .Born in Seattle, Washington, Mr. Tsutakawa began his teaching career as a Japanese teacher, but became the Orchestra director in 1985. He is known to many by the nickname 'Tsut'...
. Gerard Tsutakawa apprenticed under his father and is himself an accomplished sculptor.
Awards and recognitions
- Honorary Doctorate from Whitman CollegeWhitman CollegeWhitman College is a private, co-educational, non-sectarian, residential undergraduate liberal arts college located in Walla Walla, Washington. Initially founded as a seminary by a territorial legislative charter in 1859, the school became a four year degree granting institution in 1883...
- Honorary Doctorate from Seattle UniversitySeattle UniversitySeattle University is a Jesuit Catholic university located in the First Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, USA.SU is the largest independent university in the Northwest US, with over 7,500 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs within eight schools, and is one of 28 member...
- Order of the Rising SunOrder of the Rising SunThe is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese Government, created on April 10, 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun...
Decoration from the Emperor of JapanEmperor of JapanThe Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
External links
- Smithsonian Oral History Interview.
- Tsutakawa, George (1910-1997) at HistoryLink.org