Artwork copyright Patty Haag. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Balancing Act, 1993

Patty Haag
American (born 1948)

Location: Mount Baker Middle School, Auburn

About the Artwork

Balancing Act is a colorful and playful painting by artist Patty Haag. The composition features many recognizable objects and images, like a slide projector, a clothesline, and a telephone. Haag notes, "The painting tells the story of a person who struggles to balance passion for life with everyday commitments." The objects symbolize the duties and pressures of our jobs, families, desires, and dreams. She patterned the frame with symbols inspired by the Zapotec archeological ruin of Mitla in Oaxaca, Mexico. She notes that the spiral is "an ancient and universal symbol of life force."

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

About the Artist

Patty Haag is a Spokane-based artist. Her colorful paintings are influenced by her travels and childhood observing the play of color and light in the sky.
Haag received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Dakota. She moved to British Columbia and received a teaching certificate from the University of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. She taught art at the high school level for several years. She then retured to graduate school at Eastern Washington University in Cheney and received a Master of Arts degree. She has taught art at Spokane Falls Community College in Spokane, Eastern Washington, since 1980.