Big-Hearted Gifts of Art and Opportunity

The Pullman community spent the summer of 2009 watching artist and retired WSU professor Patrick Siler create an outdoor mural in downtown. At last, on September 22, with a few final brush strokes, the Pine Street Plaza project was complete.

A new landmark for downtown, the 25-foot image is of a rural community "Main Street" with people sitting in a plaza playing checkers while whimsical sea horses and turtles float above.

Siler, who had always been curious about mural work, donated his time, and the building owners donated the space and funds for some of the supplies.

"I see it [the mural] as a reflection of those things that are disappearing—small-town America, a sense of community, and our natural environments," said Anna-Maria Shannon, associate director of the WSU Museum of Art and chair of the Pullman Arts Commission. "It is an incredible addition to our downtown—colorful, vibrant, and full of life!"

"I love art and feel that it has great value in human life," said Siler. "Even now, after almost 50 years of trying to do something of consequence with visual art, I am just as enthusiastic about starting a new project as when I first began in art."

Siler, who joined the WSU faculty in 1973 and retired in 2005, originally taught ceramics but was trained in painting at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his master's degree.

For 25 years he worked in clay, making pieces with imagery on them, but in 1989 Siler began devoting his time to developing drawing skills and "trying to figure out how to paint," and for the final 15 years of his academic career he taught drawing.

"Not only has Pat influenced countless WSU students as a teacher, but he is one of a handful of Palouse artists who have made a significant impact on the art of the Northwest," said Chris Bruce, director of the Museum of Art. "He is our great pop expressionist—edgy, funny, innovative, and incredibly prolific."

All mural and artist photos are courtesy of Zachary Mazur. / View larger image of finished mural »

Sidney D. Siler Graduate Fellowship in Art

Siler and his wife Elizabeth (clinical assistant professor, English) have been generous supporters of WSU for the past 25 years.

In 1995, Siler established the Sidney D. Siler Graduate Fellowship to honor his father and support graduate students pursuing study in the areas of painting, drawing, ceramics, and print-making.

This year he has increased the endowment with an additional gift of $100,000.

"I have an especially strong feeling for the art department at WSU," said Siler. "I want to do something to encourage young people to come to WSU to study art."