George Tsutakawa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
George Tsutakawa (1910-1997), sculptor and painter was born in Seattle, Washington. Tsutakawa spent much of his childhood in Okayama, Japan, returning to Seattle at the age of 16 where he attended Broadway High School before earning a BFA at the University of Washington. Tsutakawa served in the U.S. Army during World War II as Japanese language instructor at the Army's Military Intelligence School.
Following the war, Tsutakawa returned to Seattle to marry Ayame Kyotani and continue his studies. Tsutakawa earned an MFA at the University of Washington and went on to join the faculty where he served until his retirement.
Tsutakawa's works include oil and Sumi-e paintings and over 75 bronze fountains in public spaces in the United States, Canada and Japan.
George and Ayame Tsutakawa had 4 children: Gerard, Mayumi, Deems and Marcus. Gerard Tsutakawa apprenticed under his father and is himself an accomplished sculptor.
[edit] Awards and Recognitions
- Honorary Doctorate from Whitman College
- Honorary Doctorate from Seattle University
- Order of the Rising Sun Decoration from the Emperor of Japan
[edit] External links
- Smithsonian Oral History Interview.
- Tsutakawa, George (1910-1997) at HistoryLink.org
