The Ethnic Heritage Gallery hosts several paintings across the third floor of SMT. One of the paintings, Wat’sa with a Pearl Earring (2014), by Allison Marks, puts a mask on a version of the famous Girl with a Pearl Earring piece. While the alluded painting gently remains unchanged, the mask brings a dark and violent feeling to the scene with red eyes and fire across the face.
(he/they) Michael originally moved to Seattle in 2016 to earn his MA in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and took a career path into change management serving the public sector. Michael works as an actor within the West Coast area for many commercial clients and theatrical roles in films such as Dyonisia and Cowboy Boots. He is also a Philanthropy Director for The Teacher Fund, raising money for low-income schools across the PNW. Michael seeks to provide more equitable access to the arts among queer, BIPOC, and at-risk youth and young adults. Michael raises underrepresented voices within the Puget Sound visual arts community.
