Artwork copyright Bill Frymire. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2025.

Bend But Not Break, 2025

Bill Frymire
(Canadian | Métis, born 1965)

Location: Sumas Elementary, Sumas

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Bend But Not Break by Bill Frymire presents an expansive tree that represents the network and community that supported and connected Sumas Elementary throughout a traumatic time. In 2021, the school was destroyed during an atmospheric river flood. The tree also represents growth, resilience, diversity, and learning. It reminds us that we are all connected.

Frymire visited the school and presented his idea of the tree artwork. Students and teachers had an art session where they drew and colored their hand prints, leaves, and some of their favorite things. Over 700 drawings were sent to Frymire, and he scanned all the drawings into a digital format to use in the tree design. The final artwork uses a grid of over 300 10-inch squares representing the roughly 300 students. One challenge was an emergency light in the middle of the main wall. Frymire decided to have the tree trunk bend around the light. This also represents the community’s resilient nature to adapting to and overcoming obstacles.

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

ABOUT THE ARTIST

British Columbia-based artist and illustrator William Frymire (Métis) creates installations for public spaces. Committed to environmental sustainability, he often utiilzes found objects and recycled materials in his work.

Frymire graduated from Langara College in Vancouver and Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops (both in British Columbia, Canada). He is a member of the Métis Nation, with heritage descended from First Nations peoples and Scottish settlers.