Artwork copyright Alan Moen. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Alan Moen. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Park Bench Series #5, 1979

Alan Moen
American (born 1948)

Location: North Tapps Middle School, Lake Tapps

About the Artwork

Artist Alan Moen created Park Bench Series #5 using white colored pencil on black paper. He calls this drawing process "working backwards" from black to white. He states, "I find new possibilities in the depiction of light and in the creation of form and texture." This piece is part of a series of artworks inspired by the artist's observations of ten random park benches around Seattle. He developed a collection of photos, debris and rubbings of the benches over the course of a year. He based this piece on material collected from a bench in Lincoln Park.

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

About the Artist

Northwest artist Alan Moen creates figurative paintings and drawings. Born in Seattle, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree and teaching certification from Seattle Pacific University in 1971. He received a Master of Arts degree in drawing and painting from Central Washington University in Ellensburg in 1974. He has served as an artist in Washington public schools, and as an instructor for Bellevue Art Museum School, among other institutions.