Artwork copyright Frank Samuelson. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Frank Samuelson. Photo courtesy of the artist (left side).

Artwork copyright Frank Samuelson. Photo courtesy of the artist (right side).

Artwork copyright Frank Samuelson. Photo courtesy of the artist (detail).

Artwork copyright Frank Samuelson. Photo courtesy of the artist (detail).

Artwork copyright Frank Samuelson. Photo courtesy of the artist (detail).

Artwork copyright Frank Samuelson. Photo courtesy of the artist (detail).

Artwork copyright Frank Samuelson. Photo courtesy of the artist (detail).

Artwork copyright Frank Samuelson. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Love this Beautiful Land, 2010

Frank Samuelson
American (born 1949)

Location: Shuksan Middle School, Bellingham

About the Artwork

Artist Frank Samuelson created this panoramic painting Love this Beautiful Land for Shuksan Middle School. It is a symbolic landscape of the area between Bellingham Bay and Mount Shuksan in Northwestern Washington. The artist notes, "There is an animal element that lives with us. They are from the ever present old days where no one owned the land. We shared it. The flora is to remind us that we do live in a garden of sorts and we should appreciate it. It’s not a patch of weeds in our way to the next Bellis Faire Mall. In short, it’s pretty much enjoy it while you can, you won’t be here all that long."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Bellingham School District.

About the Artist

Samuelson received Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Central Washington University in Ellensburg. He received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Washington State University in Pullman, Eastern Washington, in 1976. He lives and works in Port Townsend, on the Olympic Peninsula in Northwest Washington.