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Artwork copyright Carl Chew. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artozoic Ocean, 1983

Carl Chew
American (born 1948)

Location: Park Orchard Elementary, Kent

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About the Artwork

Artozoic Ocean by Carl Chew is a two-part artwork that includes a painting of an underwater scene and a story. This part presents the story in the form of a school test about the painting. The photocopied test sheet asks for "appropriate names" of the primitive ocean organisms and for an essay on the topic of "If it were possible to simply make all of this nonsense up, how do you suppose it was done?" Chew enjoys pushing the boundaries of fiction and non-fiction, and he has written obvious and absurd answers. He finds "vicious scissors" and "creatures from Space Invaders" in the painting. In the essay, he writes that "it seems very unlikely that anyone would want to make up what we have learned this semester. Its complexity is too varied for any human to have concocted it, I think!” The title itself hints at a geologic era with the “zoic” word ending, but not one that comes from geology books.

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

About the Artist

Carl Chew creates artworks that tell stories in a variety of materials, including art "postage" stamps, wool rugs, prints, and more. His artworks are characterized by their pop style, humor, and bold colors. In his own words, "I like to come right up to that edge where you’re not sure if you’re seeing fiction or not-fiction." He calls himself "The World’s Most Famous Unknown Artist."

Chew earned a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology (1969) and a Master of Fine Arts degree (1975) in printmaking and video from the University of Washington in Seattle. From 1985-2000, he ran The Contemporary Carpet Center, a rug factory in Nepal that made rugs for himself and other artists. From 2001-2017, he taught middle school science for Seattle Public Schools. He is based in Seattle.

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