Barbara Earl Thomas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barbara Earl Thomas
Barbara Earl Thomas
Born	1948 Seattle, United States
Education	University of Washington, University of Grenoble

Barbara Earl Thomas (born 1948) is an amazing American artist, writer, and museum leader. She was born in Seattle, Washington. Her artwork tells stories using many different materials. She is known for her unique style and powerful messages.

Discovering Barbara Earl Thomas's Early Life

Growing Up in Seattle

Barbara Earl Thomas was born in Seattle, Washington, in 1948. Her grandparents were sharecroppers from the southern United States. They moved to the Pacific Northwest in the 1940s. This made Barbara one of the first in her family born outside of Texas and Louisiana.

A Creative Childhood

As a child, Barbara was surrounded by family members who loved to create things. She started drawing and painting when she was just eight years old. She would often copy pictures from newspapers and books. Then, she would give her finished drawings to her mother as gifts.

Barbara Earl Thomas's Education Journey

College and Beyond

Barbara Earl Thomas was the first person in her family to go to college. She started with a general idea of what she wanted to study. Soon, she realized that art could be her main focus. She earned her first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), from the University of Washington in 1973.

Studying Art in France and Back Home

In 1976, Barbara studied in France at the University of Grenoble. After that, she returned to the University of Washington. There, she completed her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in 1977. An MFA is a special degree for artists.

Learning from Masters

While at the University of Washington, Barbara learned from famous artists. Her teachers included Jacob Lawrence, Michael Spafford, and Norman Lundin. She said they showed her that art could be a lifelong career. These teachers became her mentors and close friends.

Barbara Earl Thomas's Career Path

Artist and Leader

Besides being a talented artist, Barbara Earl Thomas is also a writer. She has also worked as an arts administrator. This means she helps run art organizations.

Leading a Museum

In 2005, Barbara became the deputy director of the Northwest African American Museum. This was even before the museum officially opened! In 2008, she became the executive director. This is the top leader of the museum.

Focusing on Her Art

Barbara loved her work at the museum. However, she wanted more time to create her own art. So, in January 2013, she stepped down from her full-time director job. This allowed her to focus more on her artistic projects.

Exploring Barbara Earl Thomas's Artwork

Materials and Stories

Barbara Earl Thomas uses many different art materials. These include egg tempera painting, glass, and cut paper. She also makes linocut and woodblock prints, sculptures, and art installations. Her main goal is to tell stories through her art.

Inspiration for Her Art

Her artwork often comes from her own life and experiences. She also gets ideas from observing the world around her. Current events and politics that affect her life inspire her too. Barbara sees making art as a way to bring order to the world. She once said it's like trying to control chaos.

Themes in Her Work

Fishing was a very important family activity for Barbara. This theme often appears in her art. Art critic Michael Upchuch has described her art as showing "besieged human figures in loving embrace." He also noted crows as "trickster-companions" and books as "homes for the mind." Since the late 1990s, her characters have often been surrounded by landscapes, the sea, and the sky.

Where to See Barbara Earl Thomas's Art

Permanent Collections

You can find Barbara Earl Thomas's artwork in several important museum collections. These include the Seattle Art Museum, the Tacoma Art Museum, and the Whatcom Museum. Her art is also part of Washington's State Art Collection.

Public Art Project

She also created a public art piece called "The Story House" in 2009. This artwork is at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. It is also part of Washington's State Art Collection.

Books About Barbara Earl Thomas

• Storm Watch: The Art of Barbara Earl Thomas (published in 1998 by University Washington Press)

Selected Art Shows and Exhibitions

Barbara Earl Thomas has had many solo and group art shows. Here are some of them:

• Art Center Gallery, Seattle Pacific University, "For Women Who Sleep With Crocodiles", 1983
• Francine Seders Gallery, Seattle: 1984, 1990, 1984, 1998
• Mitchell Museum, Mount Vernon, Illinois: "Talking Back to the Storm: New Figurative Work by Barbara Thomas", 1990
• Whatcom Museum of History and Art, Bellingham, Washington: "Barbara Thomas: The Fallen House", 1994
• Skagit Valley College, Mount Vernon, Washington: "A Fire in the Heart", 1995
• Seattle Art Museum: "Testimonies: Barbara Earle Thomas", 1998
• Bainbridge Island Museum of Art: "Barbara Earl Thomas: Heaven on Fire" (a show looking back at her career), 2016
• SCAD Museum of Art, Savannah, GA: "Jacob Lawrence: Lines of Influence," 2017

Awards and Honors

Barbara Earl Thomas has received many awards for her amazing work:

• 1998 & 2000: The Seattle Arts Commissions award for new non-fiction
• 2013: Mayor's Arts Award, Seattle
• 2016: Irving and Yvonne Twining Humber Award
• 2016: Washington State Governor's Arts & Heritage Award