Creative Development

Monday, November 24, 2014 | by Tavis Hamilton

– See more at: http://cityartsonline.com/articles/creative-development#sthash.qFyIDyRz.dpuf

In an innovative pairing of art and architecture, Seattle firm SkB Architects has hired artist Jonathan Wakuda Fischer as their first-ever resident muralist. Their partnership challenges the boundaries between public and private art, architecture and urban development.

SkB is best known for designing the new, under-construction KEXP building at Seattle Center and is currently working on several developments around South Lake Union. In his role with the studio, Fischer will provide customized, on-site artwork on a project basis.

“Whether it’s interior or exterior, think of all the [empty walls] out there,” says SkB chief creative officer Shannon Gaffney. “They’re all utilitarian. What if you took something like that, but it was beautiful? We keep seeing more opportunities—canvases really—in our projects.”

Fischer confirms that SkB is in no way hedging his creativity. “The size and scale of projects will only increase in challenge and complexity and in the direction I was already heading,” he says.

Born in Wisconsin to a Japanese mother and an American father, Fischer relocated to Seattle in 2005 to pursue a career in graphic design. Unemployed and grasping for prospects, he dared himself into the world of fine arts. Over the last few years he installed murals at the current KEXP studio on Dexter and other large-scale works in the University and International Districts. His studio work is shown at ArtXChange gallery.

Fischer incorporates a wide range of influences from impressionism, modernism and American and Japanese pop culture. He’s fascinated with Japanese Ukiyo-e printing, a rapid-production print style that originated in the 17th century to depict the lifestyles and vices of Japan’s growing middle class. He identifies as a Cascadian artist and his work highlights the cultural cross-pollination that exists here, illustrating a new Northwest that’s no longer defined by Eurocentric pioneers but is maturing into an independent global actor. Ultimately Fischer aims to create a trans-Pacific egalitarian art form.

Gaffney envisions reclaiming neutral space by working with a diverse range of artists. “We’d like to create a brain trust that has more graphic artists and muralists and steel benders; people that can come in and out of our professional lives and be able to give people like Jonathan a bigger voice,” she says.

Currently through SkB Fischer is working on a project with Kilroy Development and is slated to begin projects with Microsoft, Skanska and Olympus Spa.
– See more at: http://cityartsonline.com/articles/creative-development#sthash.qFyIDyRz.dpuf

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