2009-2010
Snapshot of the Gage Timeline
1989 Academy of Realist Art (ARA) conceived in New York
1990 First summer workshops open in Sante Fe, NM
1992 First Programs open in Seattle and New York
1995 Academy of Realist Art signs full-time lease in Seattle
1996 First Academy Art Tour travels to Europe
1997 Academy introduces its first summer program exclusively for teens
1998 ARA receives the Mayor's Small Business Award & also introduces exhibitions, guest lectures and the school's first sculpting courses
2000 Academy of Realist Art becomes Seattle Academy of Fine Art (SAFA), transforms into a non-profit & adds the first atelier program
2002 SAFA launches Teen Art Studios
2004 SAFA moves from the U-District to its current location on Capitol Hill in Seattle
2006 SAFA changes name to Gage Academy of Art
2007 Gage receives a Governor's Arts Award
2009 Gage celebrates its 20th Anniversary!
A Long Way from 1989
Founded in New York. Launched in Santa Fe. Planted in Seattle. That’s the history of Gage over the past 20 years painted with a piece of string and three nails in the trompe l’oeil map on the cover of this catalog.
Look carefully. Like an “I Spy” photo, the cover still-life painting is filled with wonderful visual metaphors: a light bulb, a white ball, a plumb line, active hands (perhaps suggesting that artists are continually reaching for things a bit beyond their grasp?) and the tools of the trade. These objects highlight our focus here at Gage: developing ideas and craft. And, perhaps, the unpainted plywood supporting those significant numerals “20” suggests that Gage is still a work-in-progress rather than a finished creation.
Our intriguing cover painting is the creation of John Rizzotto who arrived as a student in 2000 and now, nearly a decade later, teaches still-life painting at Gage. John was a professional decorative painter — an expert at creating faux marble, oak grain and vintage wallpaper — who craved an education as a fine artist. He became a student of Juliette Aristides in the Classical Atelier, studied for five years, then in 2006, headed out to “emerge” as a new talent in the Seattle art community.
John is one of the many accomplished professional artists who have chosen Gage for all or part of their artistic training over the past two decades. (Read an interview with John here.)Others who come to mind are Patricia Watwood (NYC), Joshua Langstaff (MI), Chris Peters (LA) and Marjorie Livingston (Seattle). Even Tony Ryder studied still-life painting with Martha Mayer Erlebacher during our earliest days as a summer workshop school in Santa Fe.
Twenty years adds up to a lot of art friendships, accomplishments and accolades. These range from institutional and individual awards to wild and wonderful public events that engage our whole community; and perhaps most profoundly, moving to Capitol Hill in 2004 and into our own “home” complete with library, lounge and galleries. What seems like just a blink ago in time, 1995 saw the beginning of the Gage Youth Programs, which each year sets hundreds of kids and teens on the path of a lifetime of arts involvement.
Twenty years also adds up to a lot of physical history. This year, professional archivist, Joshua Zimmerman, began working with our staff to collect and organize the documents and objects that tell our story. Joshua has encouraged us to see that Gage, as a living part of Seattle’s cultural history, needs to save those things that illuminate our activities and accomplishments for interested people long past our own time. Historical catalogs have already been packed up and sent off to the Seattle Public Library where a Gage archive has been established. The diverse artifacts of 20 years of building this school have been fascinating to uncover as we begin an unprecedented year of celebration and self-examination.
The journey across the years and the country to plant and grow Gage here in Seattle has been exceptional. Gage is proud to be considered one of the leading professional art schools in the country. We thank every person who has been a part of our story — our outstanding teaching artists, models, students, board members, staff and donors!
With amazement and appreciation,
Pamela Belyea, Co-founder, Executive Director &
Gary Faigin, Co-founder, Artistic Director