Artwork copyright Michael Dennis. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Artwork copyright Michael Dennis. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Artwork copyright Michael Dennis. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Artwork copyright Michael Dennis. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Artwork copyright Michael Dennis. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Artwork copyright Michael Dennis. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, by Colleen Chartier.

Artwork copyright Michael Dennis. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, by Colleen Chartier.

Artwork copyright Michael Dennis. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, by Colleen Chartier.

Artwork copyright Michael Dennis. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, by Colleen Chartier.

At Play, 1995

Michael Dennis
American Canadian (born 1941)

Location: TAF@Saghalie Junior High, Federal Way

About the Artwork

Artist Michael Dennis created the sculpture At Play for the students of Saghalie Junior High. He carved the five abstracted human figures from redcedar. Describing the figures, he notes, "In the joy of their play I hope to capture something of the energetic exhilaration of youth released from the confinement of school."

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

About the Artist

Born in Los Angeles, Michael Dennis earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Reed College in Portland, Oregon in 1963. He earned a PhD in neurophysiology from Stanford University in California in 1967. He served as a professor of neurophysiology at University College London (in England) and at the University of California Medical Center. In 1980, Dennis moved to Denman Island, part of the Gulf Islands of British Columbia, Canada, and dedicated himself to art.