The Story
Demonstrates what made Modernist art in the Puget Sound region unique
In the early twentieth century, the Puget Sound region was home to a progressive artistic and cultural scene shaped by the region's rapid urbanization, its singular natural environment, and its orientation to the Pacific Rim. This generative milieu was fertile ground for four well-known Modernist artists--Guy Anderson, Kenneth Callahan, Morris Graves, and Mark Tobey--known as "mystics" for their shared admiration of the Pacific Northwest landscape and perceived alignment with Asian and Northwest Coast Native cultures. Beyond Mysticism: The Modern Northwest situates these artists within the broader history of Modern art in the Pacific Northwest through an exploration of key themes: industrialization, ecocriticism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism. This exhibition catalog retells the fascinating story of Northwestern Modernism to reveal the range, complexity, and significance of local Modernists--including Fay Chong, William Cumming, Z. Vanessa Helder, Kenjiro Nomura, Albert Smith Sr., Kamekichi Tokita, Julius Twohy, and James Washington Jr.--within the context of American Modernism.
Author: Theresa Papanikolas
Publisher: University of Washington Press
Published: 02/24/2026
Pages: 168
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 3.34lbs
Size: 10.78h x 9.81w x 0.97d
ISBN: 9780295754840
About the Author
Theresa Papanikolas is Ann M. Barwick Curator of American Art the Seattle Art Museum. A specialist in American and European modernism, she has published widely on Dada and Surrealism.
Description
Demonstrates what made Modernist art in the Puget Sound region unique
In the early twentieth century, the Puget Sound region was home to a progressive artistic and cultural scene shaped by the region's rapid urbanization, its singular natural environment, and its orientation to the Pacific Rim. This generative milieu was fertile ground for four well-known Modernist artists--Guy Anderson, Kenneth Callahan, Morris Graves, and Mark Tobey--known as "mystics" for their shared admiration of the Pacific Northwest landscape and perceived alignment with Asian and Northwest Coast Native cultures. Beyond Mysticism: The Modern Northwest situates these artists within the broader history of Modern art in the Pacific Northwest through an exploration of key themes: industrialization, ecocriticism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism. This exhibition catalog retells the fascinating story of Northwestern Modernism to reveal the range, complexity, and significance of local Modernists--including Fay Chong, William Cumming, Z. Vanessa Helder, Kenjiro Nomura, Albert Smith Sr., Kamekichi Tokita, Julius Twohy, and James Washington Jr.--within the context of American Modernism.
Author: Theresa Papanikolas
Publisher: University of Washington Press
Published: 02/24/2026
Pages: 168
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 3.34lbs
Size: 10.78h x 9.81w x 0.97d
ISBN: 9780295754840
About the Author
Theresa Papanikolas is Ann M. Barwick Curator of American Art the Seattle Art Museum. A specialist in American and European modernism, she has published widely on Dada and Surrealism.
