Tsutakawa Memorial Gates

Our Public Celebration in the News!

Thanks to everyone who attended our wonderful event on September 14. KING 5 News and King 5 Evening were present to capture some of the magic. Crosscut came to the Arboretum on September 8 to report on the installation.

• Washington Park Arboretum’s Tsutakawa Memorial Gates find new life in new location, King 5 Evening, September 22, 2022.
• Stolen Arboretum gates made by Seattle sculptor now reinstalled at park, King 5 News, September 14, 2022.
• Stolen and Scrapped: Seattle’s Arboretum gates are back, by Brangien Davis, Crosscut, September 8, 2022

Celebrate the Return of the Arboretum’s Iconic Entry

Wednesday, September 14, 2022
3:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Graham Visitors Center

Ribbon-cutting ceremoney: 3:30 to 4:00 p.m.

Please join us on September 14 to celebrate the return of the Tsutakawa Memorial Gates to the entrance of Washington Park Arboretum. The festivities will include:

• live music
• taiko drumming
• food trucks

The original gates—created in 1976 by renowned Northwest artist George Tsutakawa to memorialize all those who love and support the Arboretum—were stolen and destroyed at the start of the pandemic in 2020. Thanks to support from private donors and local government organizations, the gates have been lovingly recreated by George’s son, sculptor Gerard Tsutakawa, who fabricated the original gates for his father.

All members of the public welcome!
Free parking and admission!

CHIKIRI & The School of TAIKO (photo by Tero Patana)

Performers & Food Trucks

Live Music

• CHIKIRI & The School of TAIKO — taiko drumming
• The Steve Griggs Ensemble — of Panama Hotel Jazz fame
• Marcia Takamura & Kanoko Kashima — koto (Japanese stringed instrument)

Food Trucks

• 314 Pie
• Buddah Bruddah

Steve Griggs Ensemble performing at the Wing Luke Museum.

Related links

• Tsutakawa Memorial Gates Replacement Project: Arboretum Foundation Campaign
  
• Tsutakawa Memorial Gates disappear from Seattle’s Washington Park Arboretum on March 18, 2020. Historylink, September 15, 2022.
• Stolen Beauty: Theft, Destruction, and Replacement of Tsutakawa’s Sculptural Gates, by Mayumi Tsutukawa, UW Magazine, June 2022
• Bronze gates by renowned artist George Tsutakawa stolen from Washington Park Arboretum, The Seattle Times, March 19, 2020.
• The Memorial Gates: A Symbol of Endurance, by Rosamond P. Engle, Arboretum Bulletin, Winter 1976.
• George Tsutakawa (1910–1997): Official website

Gerard Tsutakawa fabricating the new gates in his workshop in spring 2022.

 Thanks for Your Support!