Spencer Moseley, 72: Artistry At The UW

Spencer Moseley's brother likes to joke that Spencer Moseley had only one employer in his life, the University of Washington School of Art. Mr. Moseley began there as a junior art instructor in 1951 and retired in 1977 after 10 years as director of the school of art.

But Mr. Moseley's long career at the UW was serendipitous not only for the art school, but the regional art world. He is credited with being an enthusiastic and open-minded teacher and department leader, and a man whose vision resulted in extraordinary hires that have helped define the Northwest art scene. Among others, Mr. Moseley hired painter Jacob Lawrence and jewelry artist Ramona Solberg, both of whom are now undisputed masters in their fields. He also encouraged the seamless blending of fine arts with craft, now a hallmark of Northwest art.

Mr. Moseley died Jan. 28 of complications from Parkinson's disease. He was 72.

Mr. Moseley was also an acclaimed artist whose paintings are included in the collections of many regional museums, including the Seattle Art Museum and the Henry Art Gallery. As a young man he studied in Paris with the legendary modernist Fernand Leger, and for the rest of his life his paintings were inspired by an interest in formal, structural abstraction, often with a cubist spin.

Yet despite his lifelong passion for European modernism, Mr. Moseley was a champion of the regional art scene and new, experimental art disciplines that in the halcyon days of the '60s and '70s were emerging from craft departments at the UW.

"He was very, very important in the '50s and '60s in promoting the crafts and in the early studio clay movement," said Barbara Johns, chief curator at the Tacoma Art Museum. "He was always organizing all kinds of events on campus and at the Henry (Art Gallery). He believed strongly in the integration of the so-called fine arts with craft."

Martha Kingsbury, a UW art historian who knew Mr. Moseley, said that Mr. Moseley "had a deep belief in the validity of local cultures. He encouraged me to study Northwest art and he encouraged the idea that Northwest art needn't be considered third-rate."

Kingsbury added that although he was without question highly influential as a teacher and arts leader, "it shouldn't be forgotten that he was a painter himself. He painted all his life." Despite that, his friends say he was never much concerned about selling or even showing his work. Although he had museum and gallery shows around the country, he rarely had ongoing representation at a gallery here or elsewhere.

Mr. Moseley was born in Bellingham and moved about 10 years later to Tacoma. His father was an entrepreneur who owned a chain of popcorn stands, and the family moved every few years around Western Washington and Oregon. Mr. Moseley graduated from high school in Olympia and earned both his undergraduate and graduate art degrees at the UW.

His brother, Roger Moseley, recalls that Spencer knew by the time he was in junior high that he wanted to be an artist and a teacher.

"He was very creative and very well-read," Roger said. "He had a tremendous library with thousands of books. He was also very musical and played the viola, the viola de gamba, the recorder, the organ and the piano. And he composed music."

He is also remembered as an engaging conversationalist who loved having friends and colleagues over to his art-filled home. He was good friends with the Northwest artist Wendell Brazeau, who shared Mr. Moseley's interest in the traditions of European modernism. Colleagues recall long afternoons of witty discussion on art and life at Mr. Moseley's home.

Yet despite his fascination with the philosophical questions surrounding art and its place in the contemporary world, Mr. Moseley never lost his love of working with students. "He loved arts education and even taught a few classes," said Solberg, who taught courses in art education and metals. "He was extremely outgoing and loved encouraging students. "

Mr. Moseley is survived by a son, Max, of Seattle; a daughter, Grendl, of San Francisco; and a brother, Roger, of Portland. His wife of many decades, Aileen, died 10 years ago.

No plans for a memorial gathering have as yet been made. Roger Moseley says he expects that a celebration of his brother's life will be held sometime in the next few months. For information about when a celebration will be held, call Judith Clark at the UW School of Art, 543-0646.