-Project Statement-

Our project is a recreation of Fitzgerald’s Rainforest, this visual piece allows the viewer to literally see what Fitzgerald’s inspiration of the piece: nature.

-About The Author-

James Fitzgerald was born in 1910 in Seattle, Washington. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Washington, he went on to study at Yale– and receive a Carnegie Graduate Fellowship– and at the Kansas City Art Institute. He went on to create works for the Treasury Relief, the Department of Justice, and later in life worked at the Spokane Art Center. Fitzgerald originally studied as a painter but switched to bronze sculpture in 1959. In 1962, Fitzgerald sued Robert Hopkins, another sculptor, for copyright infringement, believing Hopkins had plagiarized his original sculpture, Rock Totem. He lost. Fitzgerald became a well-known fountain designer and established his own foundry in 1964.

After a fire in Fitzgerald’s house broke out in 1959, it convinced FitzGerald that sculpture, and specifically work cast in bronze, would prevail against any future repetitions of disaster.  James Fitzgerald, being from the Pacific Northwest, created art influenced by his surroundings, clearly shown in his piece Rainforest.

Fitzgerald is known for works surrounding the Pacific Northwest and the nature in which the coast is engulfed in.  Multiple pieces of his work were outdoor fountains that were cast in bronze such as the Centennial Fountain at Marine Park in Kirkland, the Waterfront Fountain at the Waterfront in Seattle, the Fountain of The Northwest at Intiman Theatre in the Seattle Center, the Fountain of Freedom at Princeton University and Rainforest at Western Washington University.  The last of his well-known work was the Bas relief panels at the east portals of the Mount Baker Tunnel in Seattle, a designated Seattle landmark.

Fitzgerald created many public installations throughout his life with a few notable ones: Department of Justice murals (with Boardman Robinson); Bas relief panels at the east portals of the Mount Baker Tunnel, Seattle, a designated Seattle landmark; Waterfront Fountain, Waterfront Park, Seattle; Centennial Fountain, Kirkland, Washington; Fountain of the Northwest; Tile mosaic, Washington State Capitol campus, and Rainforest, as part of the Western Washington University Public Sculpture Collection.

-History Of The Piece-

The ‘Rainforest’ was made during the ending two major world wars. It was the time that people started to rebuild their lives that were shaken up by the war. This period of time was the end of the modern/avant-garde movement and the hight of abstract expressionism which focused on the emotional reflection aiming for a subjective emotional expression. Abstract expressionism in the ’50s had a significant influence on the art movement in modern sculptures which incorporated surrealism, which taps into the unconscious mind like in avant-garde works. Fitzgerald was influenced by abstract art, and the ‘Rainforest’ is a clear example of the abstract expressionism movement.

-Credits-

Lillian Nordby: Artwork, Editing, Research

Allyson Roberts: Research

Emily Tsan(Admin): Formatting, Research

-Bibliography-

“Current Events: News From the United States and Across the World.” Infoplease, Infoplease.

“FitzGerald, James (1910-1973).” FitzGerald, James (1910-1973), History Link.

“James FitzGerald (Artist).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Mar. 2019.

Owens. “US Historical Events from 1900 to Present.” US HISTORICAL EVENTS, Baylor School.

“React. Research. Execute!” React Research Execute, WWU WordPress.

Wilder, Jesse Bryant. “Art History Timeline.” Dummies, Dummies.