Augusta Asberry has been a member of the local Arts community since she and her family moved to Kitsap County back in 1976.

Many of you are no doubt familiar with her brightly clad, animated, African Inspired Dancers, which are on permanent exhibition in the Amy Burnett Gallery. These images of costumed dancers are linked to ancestral homage, religious rites, social occasions and everyday expressions of joy so central to all African cultures. The “cloth” these dancers wear are Augusta’s original designs based on research. Be it homespun or imported, the “cloth” is not just for covering the body, it also tells a story. To insure the accuracy of her stories and costumes she has become deeply involved in an ongoing study of this rich Art and cultural history of her African ancestors.

Augusta’s paintings, collage and paper sculpture can be found among the treasures of many private and public collections. The newly opened Olympic Ambulatory Surgery Center on Wheaton Way is now showcasing their collection of Augusta’s work.

The main branch of the Kitsap Regional Library, the Bremerton YWCA and Westpark Community Center are also owners of Augusta’s paintings. Another major work, a paper sculpture, CD’s Inspiration A Hunters Shirt In 3D is part of the King County’s Cultural Collection. Six of her pieces were also part of the last Bill Cosby Show’s set decorations.

The two and three dimension plane of paper creations, i.e. paintings, sculpture and collages, had always been her choices for artistic expression. All of this changed the day she received a copy of Arcade Magazine. “When I saw what other women were creating in the world of public art I realized my work also belonged there and I set out to make it happen.” Translating her work, which is adorned with designs, sign and symbol, into more permanent materials was a surprisingly natural transition.

As a result of a Public Arts competition, her proposal was accepted for her very first projectóan eleven by ten (11’ x 10’) black metal sculpture (Right). It is now being fabricated and will be installed on the terrace of the soon-to-be-constructed Welch/CADA Project at the corner of Twenty-Third and Jackson Street in Seattle.

“The collaboration with other professionals (i.e. architects, developers, community leaders and members of an artist design-team) to develop a site was very challenging and exciting. As a result of this valuable exchange, I have been moved to pursue one of my dreams. That dream is to find a way to bring a Public Arts Commission to Kitsap County. We have an excellent group of professional artists in this community and I think the time has come for the commissioning of public works projects in the county that will provide Kitsap financial support for the Kitsap Artist.”

(Editor’s Note: Augusta Asberry has always been an artist — from the time she could hold a pencil and crayon, to today. She began her professional career in 1971 as a landscape painter, but it blossomed in 1978, two years after she and her husband moved to Bremerton. In 1992, she created her first African dancers. The overwhelming public acceptance of her work, and her own research on the African Ritual and ceremonies, have only served to inspire and enhance her work. Augusta’s next major event is a solo show at Amy Burnett’s Gallery on February 10, 2001. Part of the proceeds from the opening night will be donated to the Committee for the Restoration of the Downtown Public Library. She may be reached at (360) 692-9538 or AAsb763461@aol.com.).