Artwork copyright David Smestad. Photo courtesy of the artist, 1985.

Election Year, 1983

David Smestad
American (born 1947)

Location: Office of the Governor, Olympia

About the Artwork

Artist David Smestad created the mixed media artwork Election Year as a commentary on our national politics. It is part of a series of artwork featuring an outline of the United States. He used found objects including puzzle pieces, pegs, and small plastic rings as a reference to arcade games you might find at a carnival. He notes, "All of these together seemed to remind me of election year which sometimes seems like a carnival."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Office of the Governor.

About the Artist

David Smestad is a Pullman, Eastern Washington-based artist. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington State University in 1977, and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Washington State University in Pullman in 1979. He served as a library technician at Washington State University for 34 years.