Robert Maki was born in Walla Walla, Washington. Long before Maki became the incredible artist that he is today, he spent the first 10 years of his life on the road with his father. Hopping trains and jumping from one town to the next, up and down the Columbia River between 1938-48. Maki claimed this time as being the strongest influence in his life, in regards to his work. Upon returning from his journey, he attended Western Washington University, in 1962 where he received his BA and soon after, was awarded “Alumnus of the Century.” He received his MFA from UW in 1966, and then taught there for another two years, earning himself a NEA fellowship in 1968. Thereafter, Maki’s work quickly became famous and was featured nationally in galleries and museums in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. from 1962-69. In 1971, he received his first major contract to build the centerpiece for the Central Plaza of Sea-Tac International Airport. The project was completed in 1973, when Maki made his way back to Western Washington University to begin the sculpture entitled, Curve, Diagonal. Makis’s influence for these two sculptures in which he was most known for, came from many other artists that were important during this time period, such as Jackson Pollock. Other artists included Pevsner and Gabo, whose inspirations later became a dominant theme in Maki’s wall constructions and drawings.

Image by: Jayme Gordon

  The Curve/Diagonal sculpture, completed in 1979, was based off a series of studies that he had done between 1974 and 1976. The artist’s original intent with the sculpture was focused on how his audiences would perceive the piece during different times throughout the day. The location of the piece was critical due to Maki’s interest in the direction of the sun, which would affect how the sculpture appeared. Depending on the time of the day, weather conditions and the position of the viewer, the dimensions of the sculpture will actually change and as you approach the sculpture from afar, it becomes more clear that the curve diagonal is present. Maki configured most of his pieces outdoors, which allowed for the artist to predict all possible variations of installation and environmental reactions of the piece. He chose to place this piece in particular, on the hill directly in between the Viking Union and Nash hall. This location was ideal because of the way it overlooks the beautiful San Juans, the Bellingham Bay, and a popular walkway passed by students everyday.  However, what was most important about this location was how sun rises behind the viewer in the east and sets behind the sculpture in the west, assisting in the reconstruction of the work.  

Images by: Jayme Gordon

Video and Images by: Grady Haskell and Jayme Gordon

Authors:  Jayme Gordon and Grady Haskell

Music: Bee Gees – Stayin Alive