Welcome to Skagit County
September 2nd, 2014
SKAGIT COUNTY AND BURLINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT INVESTIGATE OPTIONS AS STEWARDS OF HISTORIC CUMMING PAINTING
A 28 x 6 foot canvas mural painted by the late William Cumming in 1941 was saved from a probable trip to the garbage dump after being diverted to the fairgrounds by local resident Tony Breckenridge, a long-time Valley resident who found the mysterious painted thick canvas tarp folded and stored in a barn. The mural had been cast aside, left for most of the summer months in a crumpled heap forty feet from the Breckinridge Farm garbage container-- its saving grace attributed to the furrowed neck of Tony Breckinridge, an aging bull rider-- a near wretched ending to a federally subsidized mural that once stood on grand display in the corridor of a wing of the old Burlington High School.
After receiving the donated mural, Skagit County Park and Recreation Director, Brian Adams unveiled the canvas at the Fairgrounds and immediately recognized it as a significant painting, a potential prodigy art piece stemming from the Northwest School of Art, a prominent group of artists, some of whom set down roots in Skagit County. After reaching out to the local institutions of expertise to find out more of the painting but receiving very little help, Director Adams decided to display it prominently on the side of the SICBA Main Stage at the 2014 Skagit County Fair and wait for evidence of its origin to stream in. Surely one of the 25,000 fairgoers would know something about the painting? Within a couple days of the Fair, the mural was discovered by local reporters from the Skagit Valley Herald and splashed to the front page of the following day’s paper.
The picture went viral and within no time the author was assumed to be William Cumming, a periphery visionary of the Northwest School of Art. A couple of days later the origin of custodial possession was unearthed by Bret Lunsford of the Anacortes Historical Museum through a news story he discovered in the Skagit Publishing newsprint archives. The discovery of the picture and article in an old Burlington newspaper confirmed the mural’s work was indeed that of William Cumming.
Skagit County and Burlington School District has now been entrusted as a steward of the painting which was originally funded through division of Franklin D Roosevelt’s federal arts program (WPA) and commissioned by the student body for display at the Burlington High School. They will be meeting, along with the Breckinridge Family, to ensure the mural finds residence with a local organization that can properly display and preserve it.
The County is currently researching and communicating with several entities that not only have the ability to protect and preserve the valuable and historic mural, but will also ensure it will be able to be enjoyed by the public as it was originally intended. As Ken Dahlstedt stated recently , “This remarkable artwork depicts an era that embodies our local heritage. Now that it’s been uncovered it needs to be displayed and enjoyed. We are committed to seeing this mural stay local where it can be appreciated for generations to come”.
The painting was nearly lost to the ages, and though years of neglect have taken its toll on the mural, it remains as a timeless art showpiece, providing a portal view to our dynamic history of agriculture and industry in our valley. Our goal, along with the Breckenridge family and Burlington School District, is for the public, and aficionados of art and local history to always have the ability and opportunity to enjoy this wonderful work of art.
Contact:
Brian Adams
Parks and Recreation Administration Office
(360) 336 - 9414
Email:parksrec@co.skagit.wa.us