Artwork copyright Cappy Thompson. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Cappy Thompson. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, by Stacey McRae.

Artwork copyright Cappy Thompson. Photo courtesy of the artist (detail).

Artwork copyright Cappy Thompson. Photo courtesy of the artist (detail).

Artwork copyright Cappy Thompson. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Cappy Thompson. Photo courtesy of the artist (detail).

Artwork copyright Cappy Thompson. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Cappy Thompson. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, by Stacey McRae.

Artwork copyright Cappy Thompson. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Cappy Thompson. Photo courtesy of the artist (detail).

I Imagine Us as a Holy Family Engaging in the Great Work of Increasing the Light, 2006

Cappy Thompson
(American, born 1952)

Location: The Evergreen State College, Olympia

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

This painted and stained glass artwork by internationally recognized artist Cappy Thompson represents the college and its library as a "Temple of Wisdom" and a “Garden of Paradise.” The people and scenes are inspired by folk tales and cultures from around the world.

On the left side, a “Temple of Wisdom” represents the college and its library. Inside the arched doorways are important scholars from past world cultures: the Buddha, bringing the wisdom of True Nature; Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), a medieval European visionary artist and theologian; Socrates (470-399 BC), the Greek philosopher and teacher; Chief Sealth (1786-1866), a Pacific Northwest spiritual elder and advocate for Native American rights and environmental values; Ganesha, the Hindu god known as the Obstacle Remover and Lord of Beginnings; and Hafez (1315-1390), the Persian Sufi poet.

On the right side, is a “Garden of Paradise” which is the artist’s symbol for “the world as we set out from the Temple of Wisdom to enter life.” The garden has the traditional elements of paradise: flowing water, a Fountain of Knowledge, and fruit trees. In the garden, we can see the wisdom figure of the Sphinx, a Cosmic Tree that connects the earth to both the heavens and the underworld, spirit animals, and much more. The people in the garden are reading, drinking from the Fountain of Knowledge, taking care of and enjoying the land, and making music. In the far upper-right corner, the artist has placed herself as a Muse in the sky, holding a banner with the title of the artwork.

The artwork spans twenty-nine windows in a corner of the library of The Evergreen State College. Cappy Thompson is an Evergreen alumnus.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with The Evergreen State College.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Celebrated Seattle-based glass artist Cappy Thompson creates rich "mytho-poetic narratives" in her vibrant and animated stained-glass artworks. Her site-specific installations draw imagery from myths, poetry, and personal expression.
To create her vivid and detailed scenes, Thompson often uses a glass painting technique called "grisaille" where black line drawings are painted on glass, which is then fired in a kiln to make the line drawings permanent. Grisaille has existed since medieval times (approximately 450-1450) and is what you often see in stained glass windows in European churches.
Thompson received a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Western Washington in 1976. She has taught at art and glass programs around the world from Mexico to Australia to Germany, as well as locally at Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Northwestern Washington, and Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle.