Dr. James W. Washington Jr. was a phenom in his time and today. A Noted Artist, Sculptor, Poet, Community Activist, whose life is a living time capsule full and revealing a treasure trove of art, collections, and books and opportunities for community engagement.
This Sat., February 26 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, the Dr. James W. Washington, Jr. & Mrs. Janie Rogella Washington Foundation along with Lake Union Partners, LLC, will gather the new Midtown Square on 23 & Union, the site of the old post office in the Central District, to belatedly celebrate the 112th Birthday of James Washington.
Washington was a key player in the Seattle’s arts scene five decades prior to his death in 2000. A contemporary of Jacob Lawrence, Mark Tobey, Wing Luke, Josep Scaylea, and others, his reach and influences extend well beyond Seattle’s Central District. He not only has work in the public sector here, including The Seattle Convention Center, the downtown Seattle Sheraton Hotel, Seattle Center, the historic Mount Zion Baptist Church, Meany Middle School, Safeco Plaza, Odessa Brown, and in many private collections, to name only a few, but has works nationwide including Rotunda of Achievement (Philadelphia), University of Oregon, the Smithsonian, the Shomburg in New York. His resume includes honors, recognition, and exhibitions too extensive to list.
The evening’s celebration will be in the outside public square with music by DJ SummerSoft, food catered by Ms Helen’s Soul Bistro, poetry, prose, and presentations.
This is an all-important event and appropriate that Washington is celebrated by his Seattle beloved community; a community that celebrates creativity in a place where creativity will celebrate community. The only remorse is that Washington and wife, Janie, cannot be here to witness this historic occasion. They both passed away in 2000 just months apart.
Vivian Phillips will beh the Mistress of Ceremonies for the event.
