EDMONDS, WA.- Cascadia Art Museum presents A Reverence for Nature: Melville Wire and the Oregon Landscape, the first solo exhibition to showcase the work of Oregon artist and Methodist minister Melville T. Wire (1877–1966). Known for blending his ministry with his passion for creating within the natural environment, Wire produced a remarkable body of work that captures the spiritual essence of the region’s landscapes.

Born in Illinois and raised in the Northwest, Wire developed a deep love for the natural world. His art utilized an Impressionist style that reflected his ability to convey light, atmosphere, and emotion in oil, watercolor and drawing. These plein air works depict Oregon’s diverse landscapes, from familiar landmarks to pastoral vistas.

Wire’s dedication to both his ministry and his art allowed him to travel and paint across the state’s varied terrain, often working in remote areas. In addition to his paintings and drawings, Wire was a nationally recognized etcher whose prints were published and nationally distributed by New York’s Associated American Artists Gallery in the mid-1940s along with other major artists of the period.

Throughout his long career, Wire’s works were exhibited widely, including at the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. His legacy continues to resonate in the beauty of the Oregon countryside and in his ability to capture its essence through art.

Cascadia Art Museum is also presenting the first museum exhibition celebrating the visionary work of Milt Simons (1923–1973), Marianne Hanson (1932–2015), and Paul Dusenbury (1935–1998). These three interconnected artists helped shape a unique and inclusive Northwest aesthetic in the mid-20th century.

Milt Simons and Marianne Hanson met in the 1940s while studying at Seattle’s Burnley School of Professional Art. The two artists married in 1951 and shared a profound artistic and spiritual partnership. Hanson, born to Swedish immigrant parents, received early recognition for designing the Memorial Wall at Seattle’s Memorial Stadium while still a student at Garfield High School. Simons, who identified with his multiracial Northwest roots rather than any single label, drew from a wide spectrum of cultural influences including classical music, jazz, spirituals, and his family's pioneering history in Washington. These influences helped create his singular voice in both visual and performing arts.

In 1958, Simons and Hanson co-founded the Milann Gallery, one of Washington state’s first artist cooperatives. The gallery was notable for showcasing women artists and artists of color, and for its integration of visual art with live jazz performances. Hanson was a multidisciplinary artist who also played piano in Simons' jazz ensemble, The Puget Sounds. Simons was a painter, musician, poet, and dancer whose work embodied a personal and philosophical vision.

“I am an artist. To function is to create,” Simons once wrote. “When I found this inner peace, I knew the only important thing was to be myself and to continue producing.”

Following Simons' death in 1973, Hanson continued her creative work and later married artist and musician Paul Dusenbury who had collaborated with Simons on the experimental music group Jasis and co-founded the Central Area School of Performing Arts (CASPA), a pioneering multi-arts education program for Seattle youth. His own artwork blended impressionistic landscapes with innovative light projection techniques known as “Lightscapes,” and his performances often combined visual, musical, and theatrical elements.

Among the highlights of the exhibition is Simons’ Self-Portrait, a symbolic piece that visually represents his commitment to artistic synthesis. Described by Hanson as “his inner identity,” the portrait includes references to the ancient concept of the Harmony of the Spheres. It intertwines color theory, sound, and personal iconography.

This exhibition highlights three extraordinary artists whose work remains deeply relevant. It offers a powerful example of creative integrity, cultural fusion, and the enduring spirit of the artistic community.