Closing
Many in Seattle, and beyond, were saddened in 2015 when co-founders Beth Sellars and George Suyama announced that Suyama Space would be closing in less than two years. It had become a well-known venue for artistic experimentation and large-scale installations. Among the board members were Anne Focke (BA 1967) and Greg Kucera (BFA 1980).
Articles about Suyama Space closing:
- The Stranger, November 17, 2015
- Vanguard Seattle, November 18, 2015
- Temporary Art Review, November 18, 2016
- The Seattle Times, November 21, 2016
Exhibitions
Between 1999 and 2014, thirteen School alums and one faculty member were involved in exhibitions at Suyama Space:
- Lauri Chambers (BFA 1986), Drawing Space, 1999
- Victoria Haven (BFA 1989), Drawing Space, 1999
- Robert C. Jones (Professor Emeritus), Drawing Space, 1999
- Robert Yoder (MFA 1987), Drawing Space, 1999
- Deborah Aschheim (MFA 1990), Evenflow, 2000
- Norie Sato (MFA 1974) with Heather Dew Oaksen, Pause, 2001
- Katy Stone (MFA 1994), Degrees of Appearance, 2003
- Brian Murphy (MFA 1999), Facing, 2004
- Dan Corson (MFA 1992), Grotesque Arabesque, 2009
- Claudia Fitch (BFA 1975), Floating Mechanism [Nightshade], 2010
- Eric Eley (MFA 2005), In Theater, 2011
- Gail Grinnell (BFA 1998), Ruffle, 2012
- Deborah Aschheim (MFA 1990), Threshold, 2013
- Tivon Rice (MFA 2006), Site Machines, 2014
- Ben Zamora (MFA 2005) with Etta Lilienthal, Never Finished, 2014
Book
In October of this year, a book titled Suyama Space 1998–2017 was released. It is a well-illustrated monograph that beautifully documents the exhibitions. It also includes numerous essays. Among the text contributors are several additional people with School connections:
- Suzanne Beal (MA 2008)
- Elizabeth Bryant (BFA 1987, MA 2006)
- Gayle Clemans (MA 2001, PhD 2011)
- Randy Gragg (MFA 1987)
- Kolya Rice (2017–2018 Lecturer Full-Time)
- Carrie E.A. Scott (MA 2006)
- Jake Seniuk (MFA 1983)
The book will be available in the UW Libraries as well as The Seattle Public Library and the King County Library System. It can also be purchased through Peter Miller.