Artwork copyright Pat De Caro. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Pat De Caro. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

In Search of Time, 1986

Pat De Caro
American (born 1951, died 2025)

Location: Ridgetop Middle School, Silverdale

About the Artwork

In Search of Time is a bold abstract painting by artist Pat De Caro. It is based on her memory of the landscapes she saw while traveling in Italy. She notes that the forests there were "maintained in neat rows with a measured space between the tree trunks. It is quite a harmonious sight to come upon, very repetitive in form. The image has always lingered with me. I got this idea of being lost in a forest of eternity… Think of time and what it means: the past, the present and the future and how events and actions are repetitive. Time repeats itself, we maintain patterns in our own lives."

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

About the Artist

Seattle-based artist Pat De Caro created paintings, drawings and prints that explore narrative imagery. She taught art at Bellevue College and has exhibited her work internationally.
Originally from Philadelphia, Pat De Caro has lived in the Northwest since 1980. She studied art at Temple University and the Tyler School of Art, both in Philadelphia. She earned a Master of Fine Arts in painting from the University of Washington in Seattle. She also taught art at Seattle University, Western Washington University, the University of Washington, and the Pratt Institute. She received the 2012 Twining Humber Award for lifetime artistic achievement.