Preston Singletary, Killer Whale

Celebrated artist Preston Singletary (Tlingit) grew up in the Seattle area listening to stories told by his great-grandparents, who were both Tlingit (Native Alaskan). In 1984, Singletary took part in his first workshop at Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Northwestern Washington. In the late 1980s, Singletary began incorporating traditional Tlingit themes into his work and reaching out to other Northwest Coast Native American artists. In his own words, “It was only when I began to experiment with using designs from my Tlingit cultural heritage that my work began to take on a new purpose and direction.” He has returned to Pilchuck as both a teacher and student many times, and has blown glass around the world. He was honored with a Washington State Governor's Arts and Heritage Award in 2018. (https://www.arts.wa.gov/artist-collection/?request=record;id=2958;type=701)