Especially Special
A Celebration of Betty Black and
her Collection of Art

January 25 - March 15, 2020

Curated by Kathleen Moles

ESPECIALLY SPECIAL: A CELEBRATION OF BETTY BLACK AND HER COLLECTION OF ART

Exhibition Date: January 25 - March 15, 2020
Reception Date: Saturday, January 25, 2020 - 1pm

This winter, MoNA celebrates Betty Black (1928-2018)—the life she lived, the art she collected, and the many artists she befriended and supported throughout her fifty-plus years living in the Skagit Valley. The exhibition centers on Northwest art ranging from emerging to established artists, spanning nearly 100 years, in mediums including oil, watercolor, and acrylic paint; bronze, steel, wood, and glass. International art from Betty’s collection will also be included in Especially Special, as Betty was born in Scotland. Art was an integral part of her life from an early age, beginning with family members who were noted painters. From the time she and her family arrived in Mount Vernon in 1963, Betty continued to acquire art, seamlessly integrating works by Northwest artists including Guy Anderson, Richard Gilkey, Alden Mason, Paul Horiuchi, Philip Levine, Sonja Blomdahl, Chris Elliot, Steve Klein, Kevin Paul, Clayton James, Jim Farr, and Joel Brock into her already-rich collection of art from her world travels. The title of the exhibition comes from a comment a relative made after Betty’s passing last December. She wrote: “We are all special, but Betty was especially special.” 

Kathleen Moles
Guest Curator

Left to Right: Arnie Garborg, Unknown Title, no date, Corten steel, 59” x 15”
Jim Farr, Untitled, 1976, Oil on canvas, 48” x 25”
Courtesy of the Estate of Betty Black

Dale Chihuly, Cobalt Blue Basket with Cadmium Lip Wrap, 1994, Blown glass, 9” x 8” x 8”
Courtesy of the Estate of Betty Black

Alden Mason, Bird Bouquet, 1998, Acrylic on canvas
Courtesy of the Estate of Betty Black

Left to Right: Clayton James, Large Vessel, no date, Ceramic, 34” x 17” x 11.5”
Clayton James, Large Pot, no date, Ceramic, 23” x 16” x 11”
Joel Brock, Carly’s Mystic Flower, 2011, Oil on canvas, 37” x 36”
Courtesy of the Estate of Betty Black

Chris Elliott, Unknown (woman), no date, Oil on canvas, 30” x 24”
Courtesy of the Estate of Betty Black

Ann Richards, Unknown City and River, c. 1960s, Oil on canvas, 22” x 24”
Courtesy of the Estate of Betty Black