Warner Blake / Interdisciplinary Artist

Building upon my background as a scenic designer and educator, I have been working in the media, literary/performing and visual arts since 1981.

Media Arts
  • To Dance With Eleanor, 2003 [Documentary; Writer/Producer]
    The story follows my efforts to learn tap and the steps for next year's show, while getting to know the off-stage lives of the Leight Fantastics -- a multi-generational troupe that has grown up around Eleanor Leight over that past quarter of a century preparing the annual variety show -- a Mother Day's tradition in Snohomish, Washington. [[http://www.pstoo.org/todance/index.html]]

  • Voice of the Turtledove, 2003 [Narrative; Writer/Producer]
    The first part of MEMORY OF THE WISPERED WORD, a motion picture adaptation of my performance work SOUPTALKS SEATTLE, was given a preview screening at the Rendezvous" Jewel Box Theater, Seattle, April 2003.
    [http://www.pstoo.org/memory/index.html]

  • Art & Life of Yang Feng, 2002 [Documentary; Writer/Producer]
    Yang Feng was a master of the Fujian style hand puppet, a skill handed down for five generations, who spent his time performing worldwide, visiting China and sharing a home with his daughter’s family in Lynnwood, Washington. Selected as part of the New Voices 2002 Project for broadcast on KCTS.
    [http://www.pstoo.org/yangfeng/index.html]

  • Puppet Festival, 2001 [Documentary; Writer/Producer]
    A feature length documentary of the Puppeteers of America"s 1999 festival held on the University of Washington Campus; highlighting the marionette mastery of seventy year old Huang Yi Que on his first visit to the United States.
    [http://www.pstoo.org/puppetfestival/index.html]

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    Literary Arts
  • Souptalks Seattle, [Performance: Writer/Performer] 1990-2001
    Intrigued by the SALT and START arms’ talks, my SOUP TALKS project became a three-part visual/performance artwork set upon and around a large conference table -- first presented in my studio for twelve guests in 1990. At the intermission, between stories exploring the past, present and faith of our civilization, I served each guest a bowl of soup. Currently being adapted as a motion picture with the new title, MEMORY OF THE WHISPERED WORD.
    [http://www.pstoo.org/puppets/soup.html]

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    Visual Arts
  • Solo Shows

    FINDING MEANING IN FOUND OBJECTS,
    Edmonds Community College Art Gallery, September 2002

    REASSEMBLING MEMORIES: ARTWORKS EVOLVING FROM INHERITED OBJECTS
    Commencement Art Gallery, Tacoma, 1999
    Blue Heron Gallery, Vashon Island, 1999

  • Group Shows

    NORTHWEST BIENNIAL: BUILDING WISE, Tacoma Art Museum,
    [scheduled April 2004]

    PACIFIC NORTHWEST ANNUAL, Bellevue Art Museum, 1999

    ART OF THE THEATER, Bellevue Art Museum, 1995

    MUSICAL VARIATIONS: CONTEMPORARY SOUND VISIONS,
    Port Angeles fine Arts Center, Port Angeles, WA. 1994

    NEVER BEFORE FUNDED, Bumbershoot Arts Festival, Seattle, 1990
    [Purchase Award by Seattle Arts Commission]

    CONTEMPORARY STAGE DESIGN, Lincoln Center Library, NYC. 1975

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    Awards, Grants & Fellowships
  • NEW VOICES, 911 Media Arts Center, Seattle, 2002
    Broadcast of documentary, ART & LIFE OF YANG FENG on KCTS

  • SPECIAL PROJECTS GRANT, Cultural Development Authority, 2001
    [For the motion picture adaptation of SOUPTALKS SEATTLE]

  • SPECIAL PROJECTS GRANT, Cultural Development Authority, 1997
    [For REASSEMBLING MEMORIES, a solo exhibition of new sculptures]

  • DIVERSE WORKS GRANT, Seattle Art Commission, 1995 and
    SPECIAL PROJECTS GRANT, Cultural development Authority, 1995
    [Both grants for presentation of VOICE OF THE HOLLOW MAN]

  • PANEL MEMBER, Special Projects, NEA Theater Program, 1995

  • SOLO THEATER FELLOWSHIP, National Endowment for the Arts, 1994

  • CITATION OF EXCELLENCE IN THE ART OF PUPPETRY
    The american Center of the Union International dela Marionette, 1994

  • JIM HENSON FOUNDATION GRANT AWARDS, New York City, 1990, 1992, 1994

  • INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS AWARD, Seattle Arts Commission, 1990

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    Academic Degrees & Appointments
  • MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN DRAMA, SCENIC & COSTUME DESIGN
    Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA. 1972

  • BACHELOR OF ARTS, THEATER & STUDIO ART
    University of Minnesota, 1967

  • VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF THEATER ARTS,
    Reed College, Portland, OR. 1978-79

  • ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF THEATER ARTS
    School of Theater Arts, Boston University, 1971-77

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    Community Service & Freelance Work
  • VOLUNTEER, Taking Video Histories for the Snohomish Historical Society, since 1993

  • ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, Making Place, a video project in community description, Edmonds community college Art Department, since 2000

  • TAI CHI INSTRUCTOR, YOGA CIRCLE STUDIO, Snohomish
    • 230 Avenue B  |  Snohomish, Washington 98290  |  Voice & Fax: 360.568.1000  |  EMAIL