Artwork copyright Etsuko Ichikawa. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, by Seth Charles Gwinn, 2021.

Artwork copyright Etsuko Ichikawa. The artist Etsuko Ichikawa with her artwork. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2021.

Artwork copyright Etsuko Ichikawa. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, by Seth Charles Gwinn, 2021.

Artwork copyright Etsuko Ichikawa. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, by Seth Charles Gwinn, 2021 (detail).

Artwork copyright Etsuko Ichikawa. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, by Seth Charles Gwinn, 2021.

Artwork copyright Etsuko Ichikawa. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, by Seth Charles Gwinn, 2021.

Artwork copyright Etsuko Ichikawa. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, by Seth Charles Gwinn, 2021.

Artwork copyright Etsuko Ichikawa. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, by Seth Charles Gwinn, 2021.

Flowering Diversity, 2021

Etsuko Ichikawa
(Japanese, born 1963)

Location: Foster High School, Tukwila

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Flowering Diversity by Etsuko Ichikawa is a free-standing circular bench at Foster High School in Tukwila, Western Washington. Ichikawa's main idea is to celebrate the cultural diversity of Foster High School and its surrounding communities, as well as a sense of harmony and fostering. Its imagery includes a yin and yang pattern with colorful dots and a flower of life pattern in black and white. The flowers, circles, and swirls suggest harmony, freedom, and growth. Ichikawa hopes the artwork is welcoming to everyone, and is a place for people to gather. She also sees it as connecting the past, present, and future of Tukwila.

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

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Artist Etsuko Ichikawa creates conceptual sculptures, site-specific installations, performance art, and mixed-media artworks. She is known for her "glass pyrograph" abstract drawings made with fire by scorching paper with molten glass. She is also a filmmaker, and activist.
Ichikawa was born in Tokyo, Japan and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Tokyo Zokei University. She moved to Washington State in 1993 to attend Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Northwestern Washington. She worked as a studio assistant for Dale Chihuly for eight years. Ichikawa has worked as an independent, full-time artist since 2003. She now resides in Hawaii.