Celebrating the independent spirit of the northwest.
Speaking of her hometown, writer Gertrude Stein once said pretty much the worst thing you can say about a place: “There is no there there.” Fortunately, Washington doesn’t have this problem. At the risk of mangling Ms. Stein’s famous quote, there is a lot of “there” here. Washington State isn’t just a collection of beautiful landscapes; it’s also a place rich in arts, culture and heritage. In a word, it has character.
Washington’s cultural heritage runs deep. Although in many ways it is a classic American mixture of influences and traditions, there is one powerful, unbroken cultural thread that predates all others. Living in a relatively mild climate where food was abundant, the native peoples of the Pacific Northwest were able to provide for their basic needs with enough time left over to develop some truly amazing art. Aside from its striking beauty and complete originality, what makes the best native art of the Pacific Northwest so compelling is its fusion of a highly developed aesthetic sensibility with an extraordinary sense of place. This is art that seems to embody the very essence of the Pacific Northwest in its portrayal of iconic, mythic creatures such as ravens, orcas, bears and eagles—native survivors celebrated in the art of native survivors.
A fascinating mixture of agricultural, maritime, industrial and high-tech influences contribute Washington’s cultural heritage. This is a land of loggers and farmers, ranchers and cowboys, fishermen and sailors, high-tech visionaries and ambitious entrepreneurs. This is where commercial aviation took flight. It’s where computer technology was transformed from a science fiction abstraction in the minds of most Americans into an everyday tool. It’s also the place where some of the planet’s coolest rock stars and greatest songwriters picked up their first guitars and found an audience.
Why is Washington such a creative hotspot? Arguably, the Pacific Northwest’s rainy season nurtured a lot of great art over the years. Unquestionably, many fine artists, writers and musicians stay inside and hone their creative chops on rainy winter days here. Then there’s the theory that Washington, like any far-flung terminus of the continental United States, is a magnet for creative people. Or maybe it’s just dumb luck. Whatever the reasons, Washington has many thriving art and music scenes and an abundance of art galleries, museums (from the sublime to the quirky), performing arts facilities, historic movie theatres, gallery walks, art fairs, art studios, recording studios, and film and video production studios.
Washington State’s cultural heritage is also greatly enriched by its wide variety of historic buildings and architecture, including many historic lighthouses. These manmade landmarks characterize the landscape of everyday Washington life as much as the trees and the mountains do.
You’ll find Washington State’s cultural heritage in many places. Most importantly, in the present—right here, right now, today. It’s a living, breathing, creative work in progress.
