Archives of American Art

Oral history interview with George Tsutakawa [videorecording]

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.tsutak87
Creators:
Tsutakawa, George
Tsutakawa, Mayumi
Dates:
1987 June 26-27
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
12 Videocassettes (BetacamSP)
Master: 12 videocassettes (Beta) (circa 20 min. each)
sd., col.
1/2 in.
4 Videocassettes (U-matic)
Duplicate (3 sets, 12 total videocassettes)
sd., col.
3/4 in.
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
An interview of George Tsutakawa conducted 1987 June 26-27, by his daughter Mayumi Tsutakawa, for the Archives of American Art at Tsutakawa's home and studio in Seattle, Washington and at three of his fountain sculpture sites.
Scope and Contents
He discusses his youth and early education in Japan, demonstrates Sumi painting, and describes early Seattle art communities and University of Washington classes. He recalls his WWII experiences and his friendship with Mark Tobey and others, and explains the origins and evolution of fountain sculpture. Paul J. Karlstrom of the Archives of American Art introduces and concludes the interview.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
George Tsutakawa (1910-1997) was a Japanese American painter and sculptor based in Seattle, Washington. Born in Seattle in 1910, he moved with his mother to Fukuyama, Japan, at the age of seven. While there, he took an interest in art, and was influenced by traditional Japanese practices. Returning to Seattle at age 16, he continued his education in art at the University of Washington. His interest in sculpture led to numerous commissions for fountians worldwide, a form that combined his experiences in both the Pacific Northwest and Japan. During his career, Tsutakawa designed, built, and installed over 70 fountains.

Administration

Sponsor
Funding for this interview was provided by Warner Communications.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This interview is part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and administrators.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
For information on how to access this interview contact Reference Services.

Related Materials
This interview was followed up in 1988 by documenting Tsutakawa's return to Fukuyama, Japan to dedicate a major work for the city's new museum of contemporary art (cataloged separately under George Tsutakawa in Japan video project). Footage from this interview was used, along with footage from the 1988 Fukuyama footage, in the documentary "George Tsutakawa: An Artists' Pilgrimage" c1990 by the Archives of American Art.

More Information

General

General
Originally recorded on 12 videocassettes. Duration is 4 hr.


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Video recordings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Interviews Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Asian American art Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Asian American artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Japanese American art Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Japanese American artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Asian American sculptors Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Asian American painters Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Asian American educators Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Educators -- Washington (State) -- Seattle Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sculptors -- Washington (State) -- Seattle Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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