Artwork copyright Richard C. Elliott. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Richard C. Elliott. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Richard C. Elliott. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Richard C. Elliott. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Richard C. Elliott. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Circle of Light, 1992

Richard C. Elliott
(American, born 1945, died 2008)

Location: Yakima Valley SunDome, Yakima

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Late artist Richard C. "Dick" Elliott’s Circle of Light uses geometric patterns to encircle the outside edge of the Yakima Valley SunDome roof, in Central Washington. There are twenty-four different panels and patterns. Six of the designs draw inspiration from local, traditional Yakama Native American basketry patterns. Elliott used over 48,000 3-inch industrial highway reflectors to create the detailed patterns. Each reflector catches the Yakima sunshine. Together they create a beautiful monument to light and color.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Yakima County Commission.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Late artist Richard C. "Dick" Elliott is most known for creating large-scale, sculptural installations using industrial highway reflectors. Composed of intricate and symbolic geometric patterns, his works are celebrated for showing variations of light and dynamic interactions between colors.
Dick Elliott earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in art from Central Washington University in Ellensburg in 1971. He joined the AmeriCorps VISTA program and served in an Alaska Native community in Pilot Station, Alaska (1966-67), and with the Makah Tribe in Neah Bay, Washington (1968-69). These years were very important to him and he notes that "My art keeps coming back to the fundamental forces of nature and man's basic relationship to them." He was honored with a Washington State Governor's Arts and Heritage Award in 2007. Most of his work and life was based in Ellensburg, and he was an important contributor to the visual arts community there.