“It makes you really understand the world in a really different way – of how you take responsibility for what you are doing.”

We don’t usually talk about Amazon and now we mention them twice in one week; Just this Sunday we told you about Amazon employees who have voted to form a union for the first time in New York City to demand higher wages and better working conditions. Today we bring you news about a street artist/muralist named Addison Karl, whose work we have published a number of times in the past, and his recent residency in Seattle at Amazon’s brand-new Bellevue campus.

Addison says he began in printmaking before graduating to large private and public commissions painting contemporary murals. Now he draws upon his traditional Chickasaw and Choctaw roots and methods of creating to develop his sculpture techniques. Selected as one of five artists from across the Pacific Northwest as an Amazon Artist in Residence last year, Addison says the stories that people tell each other and themselves lay at the root of his 10 new sculptures created during that time.

“During my 10 weeks we managed to create a series of new work that all correlates,” he says. “My goal with the residency was to use my time to create 10 new sculptures that would then be transferred into the casting process, rather than be the final material of bronze, iron, or glass.”

He says the experience was not just about creating, it was also about forging new relationships and self-education. “As much time as I’m putting into the creation of my work, equal time is being spent learning, reading, and hearing stories, culture, and history that help guide my work.”

From Addison:

A huge Thank You to the community of the Amazon Artist in Residence Program – and for letting it get weird to create magic in the studio.

Thank you very much, Tim D., Caitlin O., Jeffery H., Kate B., Jens B., Miles T., Paco M., Christine P., Nidhi S., James H., Dana P., Jenny P., and Amanda K.

Story of Stories – Art Video:

Based on a Laguna Pueblo Story from Leslie Silko
‘The Truth About Stories: A Native Narrative’ Written by Thomas King
Retold by Addison

Regarding the video:

A storytelling art video was created during Amazon Artist in Residence Program 2022.

Producer: Jens Bracht
Producer/Lead Editor: Miles Tucker
Producer/Audio Engineer: Paco Mejino

Filmed at:
Doppler Building, Seattle – Amazon Artist in Residency
ARTXIV, Seattle – Art Production House

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