Titles: Void After Cataclysm (left) and Cataclysm (right)
Artist: Carol White (Cork, Ireland)
Collage
Title: Irresponsible Frivolity
Artist: Fred Free (Boston, MA, USA)
Collage
Title: New Truck
Artists: Aaron Beebe (Frederick, MD, USA) & Zach Collins (Albuquerque, NM, USA)
Collage
Established in 1978
The Doug + Laurie Kanyer Art Collection started in 1978. The original aim of the collection was to build a historical record of art works created by Central Washington Artists from 1950 to the present. From the beginning, the Kanyers’ intention was to donate the art to the Yakima Valley Museum as a historical archive and for the enjoyment of the people of Central Washington. As of 2019, this arm of the collection has over 300 pieces of art that Central Washington artists created.
In 2017, Doug and Laurie donated 126 pieces—about one-third of the total collection—to the Yakima Valley Museum in honor of the retirement of John Baule, now the Museum’s director emeritus. Baule was the first professionally trained museum director in Yakima, a rural agricultural community known for producing 75% of the world’s hops and much of the world's apples. Baule held that position for twenty-five years, and was recently awarded the Ted Robertson Community Service Award, regarded as the most prestigious service award in Yakima.
The Kanyers’ art donation was the largest acquisition of artworks in the Museum’s history. In January 2019, a majority of the works were exhibited at the Museum in a show called “Not Forgotten.” The remainder of the collection resides in residence with the Kanyers and their adult children.
New Arm of the Collection - A Dedication to International Collage from 1980 to Present
In 2016 the Kanyers became interested in collage and made their first purchase of four collages created by artists in Portland, Oregon, USA. These collages were featured in an exhibition at Powell’s Bookstore and were curated by artist and author Kevin Sampsell. The first four collages in the collection were created by Jay Berrones, Ruth E. Fox,
Kevin Sampsell, and Rachel Eaton.
In 2017, the Kanyers deepened their commitment to collage by sponsoring Kolaj Fest, a multi-day event for collagists produced by Ric Kadour and Christopher Byrne. Artists from all over the globe attended the first two years of Kolaj Fest in July 2018 and 2019. Kadour and Byrne are the publishers of Kolaj Magazine, the only international publication dedicated entirely to collage. They also own a publishing company called Kasini House. Kadour and Byrne live and work in Montreal, Vermont and New Orleans.
The Kanyers celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary in 2019. In recognition of this occasion, they decided to focus all future donor activities on the advancement of collage. They did so by adding to their collection through the strategic and systematic purchase of collage art for historical record. To announce these intentions, the Kanyers offered a purchase award for 10 artists who attended Kolaj Fest in 2018 and 2019.
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