Artwork copyright Angie Dixon. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Bass Player, 1994

Angie Dixon
(American, born 1953)

Location: Manitou Elementary, Tacoma

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Bass Player is part of artist Angie Dixon’s group of artworks about the performing arts. She created this piece using traditional ink painting techniques and rice paper. She added watercolors and gouache for rich color, in vibrant harmony with the black Japanese sumi ink. She notes, “In this piece the bass player is completely lost and absorbed in his music. Written on the painting are the words ‘He played for himself and for those drawn to the music.’ Animals approach from the edges of the piece to listen to him.”

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

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Angie Dixon depicts her love of the Pacific Northwest in sumi paintings using traditional East Asian brush and ink techniques. Her interest in sumi ink painting began as an art student at the University of Washington in Seattle in 1975. She pursued graduate studies in fine art and art history in Hangzhou, China in 1984. She is based on Whidbey Island, in Northwestern Washington.