Endangered Waters: Ben Miller Paints the Duwamish River
Presented by Duwamish River Community Coalition
Date & Time:
Sunday, July 20, 2025
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Location:
PURE Insurance Theater at Seattle Art Fair
The Duwamish River Community Coalition is proud to present a panel discussion centered on artist Ben Miller’s large-scale painting of the Duwamish River, which measures 6 x 8 feet by 1 inch and is featured as one of Seattle Art Fair’s Public Projects (#17). Created in partnership with the Coalition, Miller’s work draws attention to the urgent conservation efforts and environmental challenges facing the Duwamish River and its surrounding communities. This conversation, exploring the intersection of art, community, and environmental advocacy, will feature artist Ben Miller; Paulina López, Executive Director of the Duwamish River Community Coalition; Desiree Fagan, Duwamish Tribe member, Board Member Duwamish River Community Coalition; and will be moderated by Gary Snyder of Gary Snyder Fine Art MT.
Ben Miller created the painting using his unique method of “Fly Cast Painting” – using a fly-fishing rod, he cast over ten thousand times on a large block of transparent plexiglass that weighs 300 pounds. Miller ties various shaped materials, which he calls “fly brushes”, on to the end of the rod. When cast, each fly brush leaves a specific mark. Even more remarkable is that the actual painting emerges from the opposite side of the plexiglass he paints on.
The discussion will follow a video on the project shot by acclaimed cameraman Jon Dodson, whose credits include filming James Cameron’s Titanic.