Courtesy of George Tsutakawa’s estate
The reconstructed Tsutagawa Memorial Gate will be installed at the Washington Park Botanical Garden next month.
“The original memorial door, stolen and destroyed at the start of the pandemic, is a symbol of endurance and humanity’s connection to nature,” said Jane Stonesifer, executive director of the Botanic Gardens Foundation. “They marked the entrance to the Botanic Gardens for over 40 years and their loss is a cultural and artistic tragedy.
The story of their rebuilding and coming back is an inspiring story of generosity, resilience and community—truly the story of our time. “
The installation celebration on September 14 will include music, taiko drums, food trucks and more.
The original memorial gate was made of patina bronze with an intricate design reminiscent of the leaves, flowers and fruits of plants found in the botanical gardens, created in 1976 by internationally acclaimed Pacific Northwest artist George Tsutakawa (1910-1997).
In March 2020, just two days after the pandemic-related closure of the Arboretum Visitor Center, the gate was stolen and demolished. While Seattle Police Department Detective Mark Jamison was quickly restored, they were found to be damaged beyond repair.
Soon after the theft, some donors contacted the Botanic Garden Foundation to offer help rebuilding the gate. The Tsutagawa family still owns the blueprints for the gates, and George’s son, sculptor Gerard Tsutagawa (who made the original gates for his father) agreed to rebuild them for the botanical garden.
“Gerard Tsutakawa’s faithful interpretation of his father’s designs illustrates the importance of generations of artistic wealth and encouragement, exemplified again in one of our city’s most popular gathering places,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell.
George Tsutakawa’s legacy extends deep into the Pacific Northwest. His work is recognized as a unique fusion of Japanese and Puget Sound aesthetic traditions into a unified expression. He is remembered not only for his permanent bronze sculptures, fountains and dramatic paintings, but also for his positive humanist views.
For more information, please visit georgetsutakawa.com.
