Big, 1988

Barbara Noah
(American, born 1949)

Location: Washington State Arts Commission, Olympia

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Big is a print by artist Barbara Noah, composed by mixing and matching different photographic images. It is part of a body of artworks that simulate human faces. She notes, "Whenever we see two dots with a third centered below, we see a face. This phenomenon is called the face recognition reflex. In this artwork, the mouth is a galaxy, the eyes an aged piece of driftwood with two holes in it, and the hair is the eruption of Mount St. Helens. These images can be interpreted as metaphors for human emotion."

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

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Seattle-based mixed-media artist Barbara Noah creates conceptual artworks, including photographs, sculptures and paintings.
Noah has taught art at national colleges and universities, including Cornish College of the Arts and the University of Washington, both in Seattle. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Art from Mills College in Oakland, California and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. Noah received the 2011 Twining Humber Award for lifetime artistic achievement.

ARTWORK DETAILS
Material CategoryWork on paper - print
MediumEtching on paper
Dimensions29 1/4 in x 17 1/2 in (overall)
ID NumberWSAC1992.115.000
Acquisition MethodDirect purchase
Artist LocationWashington, United States
Location Information
AgencyWashington State Arts Commission
Artwork LocationWashington State Arts Commission
Not on display. At ArtsWA pending conservation, framing, re-siting, or return to site.
WA CountyThurston
PlacementInterior
Site TypeState Agency
Address711 Capitol Way S., Suite 600
Olympia, WA 98504
Geo. Coordinates47.041975, -122.901474
Before VisitingSome artworks may be located in areas not accessible to the general public (especially in K-12 public schools). Consider contacting the site prior to a visit to ensure access.
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