Artwork copyright Fred Birchman. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Double Fugue 01.31.00, 2000

Fred Birchman
American (born 1952)

Location: Benjamin Franklin Elementary, Vancouver

About the Artwork

Artist Fred Birchman created Double Fugue 01.31.00 in response to the tragic crash of an Alaska Airlines Flight 261 in January 2000. He created the composition through a layered process of drawing and erasing until his forms emerged. He notes, "I'm almost surprised when the marks and rubbings take a particular shape and start forming a dialogue. The shapes in this series of work are mostly of buildings or walls in different states of construction or deconstruction. The goings on behind the walls is basically left to the minds of the viewer. Maybe therein resides an intimate conversation?"

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Vancouver Public Schools.

About the Artist

Fred Birchman is a Seattle-based artist. He creates drawings and mixed media works on paper, as well as sculpture and photographs. Born in Vancouver, Southwestern Washington, he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Western Washington University in Bellingham in 1977.