Artwork copyright Stuart Nakamura. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Going to the Water, 1988

Stuart Nakamura
(American, born 1953)

Location: Voyager Elementary, Gig Harbor

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Going to the Water is a painted relief sculpture by artist Stuart Nakamura. He used several different types of wood for the different elements of the composition. He made the base from birch, while he cut and carved the rock formation, waves, fish, and girl figure from basswood. He based the imagery on childhood memories playing in the water and the sand at the beach. He notes, "The sculpture is an attempt to find a design unity between the rocks on the shore and the shape of the crashing waves. Much of this unity is stylized as jagged lines and shapes. The presence of the little girl in the center panel was derived from the notion that humans are very small relative to the forces of nature and that we do not differ very much in importance than the fish flopping around the sand on the lower left hand corner."

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

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Artist Stuart Nakamura creates sculptural, site-specific artworks inspired by the cultural history, location, and character of each setting. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting from the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland in 1977. He lives and works in Seattle, Washington.