Anderson Center exhibits DuPen

The Edmonds Arts Commission presents an exhibit of sculpture by Everett DuPen in the EAC display case at the Frances Anderson Center through May 2008.

Everett DuPen had a remarkable career as a sculptor and teacher spanning eight decades. His artwork includes beautiful figurative pieces in terra cotta, stone, wood and bronze. This special exhibit celebrates DuPen’s artistic legacy, highlighting some of his smaller sculptures from his family’s collection that illustrate his breadth of subject matter and style.

During his 38-year career at the University of Washington, DuPen played a major role in building the UW’s Sculpture Division into a nationally and internationally acclaimed group. Besides his popular sculpture courses he was well known for his life drawing classes. In retirement he continued to teach evening drawing classes and was a mentor in the NW Stone Carving Association. He taught, influenced and was a friend and mentor to generations of national and Seattle artists. At his death at age 92 he was “an elder” and Fellow of the prestigious National Sculpture Society and The National Academy of Design.

His sculpture can be found in many public parks and buildings as well as in museums and private collections. Among them are the “Fountain of Creation” installed at the Seattle Center in 1962 for the World’s Fair, and the fountain at the Joel Pritchard Building at the State Capitol. The City of Edmonds Arts Commission selected DuPen to create a sculpture for the Library Plaza in 1984. The first concept for “Vision,” called “Diver,” is included in the exhibit. The artist somewhat reluctantly added swim trunks to the originally nude figure.

A documentary recently shown on KCTS about DuPen, by B.J. Bullert, provides an intimate portrait of the artist. It includes interviews with DuPen’s wife, children and colleagues and the sculptor himself, recorded before his death in 2005. The documentary debuted at the 2007 Seattle International Film Festival.