Artwork copyright Marita Dingus. Photo courtesy of the artist, 2007.

Artwork copyright Marita Dingus. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017 (detail).

Artwork copyright Marita Dingus. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017 (detail).

Artwork copyright Marita Dingus. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Light Bulb Base and Pink Fabric Wall Hanging, 2005

Marita Dingus
(American, born 1956)

Location: Lake Washington Institute of Technology, Kirkland

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Artist Marita Dingus creates her art using recycled and discarded materials. The flowers in this artwork are made from light bulb bottoms which she has been collecting since 1995. Dingus notes, "The piece is a metal quilt. Quilting is an American and an African American tradition. . . The design of the flowers is based on the quilts and the metal work that I saw in cities like Charleston and New Orleans. This metal work was done by African American artists. That impressed me and made me want to make similar work."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Lake Washington Technical College.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Northwest artist Marita Dingus is an African American feminist and environmental artist. She is a mixed media sculptor who uses discarded and recycled materials. In her own words, “My approach to producing art is environmentally and politically infused: neither waste humanity nor the gifts of nature . . . The discarded materials represent how people of African descent were used during the institution of slavery and colonialism then discarded, but who found ways to repurpose themselves and thrive in a hostile world.”

Dingus received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia and both a Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts from San Jose State University in California. She grew up in Auburn, Western Washington, and still lives and works there. She received the 2018 Twining Humber Award for lifetime artistic achievement.