Many of you joined us in October for our opening of three exhibitions; one of those, Uncanny Twilight, features the vibrant and otherworldly work of Northwest artist Cable Griffith. I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with the internationally renowned artist and associate professor at Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University to talk about why we should give a damn about art.
Griffith: “I think as far back as we have knowledge, humans have hunted, they make clothing, they make shelter, and they make cultural objects- for ritual, for spiritual, for various purposes. It’s as old as anything we know about humans. And the way we know anything at all is because of what artists left behind.”
It is this innately human act of making art that has led museums like TAM to care for and share it – the artists, artworks, and culture of our home. Not just for us, but for the next generation and all that follow.
Griffith: “Museums – as a cultural space and architectural spaces – are a way for us to say, ‘We value this. It is central to humanity, and we will take care of it.’ There is something special about culture being celebrated with that much care and attention.”
TAM is here because the people who came before us gave a damn about art. Now, it’s our turn.
Griffith: “I think people should give a damn about art if they want to know who they are.”
Cable Griffith (born New York, New York, 1975)
Rhizome Palindrome, 2025
Acrylic on canvas
Overall (triptych): 30 × 72 in. (76.2 × 182.9 cm)
Courtesy of the artist and J. Rinehart Gallery
Image courtesy of the artist
At TAM, I have encountered pieces that left a lasting mark- like Cable Griffith’s Rhizome Palindrome. It challenged me. I found myself pondering if I would enter the forest. The rainbow and natural landscape make me feel safe. But those eyes, they give me pause.
Would you enter?
Be sure to visit soon and let me know what you decide.
