biography of Philip MCCRACKEN (1928-2021)

Birth place: Bellingham, WA

Addresses: Anacortes, WA

Profession: Sculptor

Studied: Univ. Wash., with George Tsutakawa, Everett DuPen, and Charles Smith. Worked with Henry Moore, England, 1954

Exhibited: PAFA Ann., 1958; Willard Gal., NYC, 1960 (solo); SAM, 1961 (solo); Victoria Mus., BC (solo); Corcoran Gal., 1966; Rutgers Univ, 1968; Grand Rapids Art Mus, 1969; Tacoma (Wash.) Art Mus., 1980 (retrospective); Schneider Mus. Art, Southern Oregon State Col., Ashland, 1998; Williard Gal., NYC, 1970s; Art Gal. of Greater Victoria, Victoria, BC, 1973. Awards: Ruth Nettleton Award and the Univ. of Wash. Art Prize, 1954; Norman Davis Award, 1957; Artists of the Year, 1964; Irene Wright Mem Award, SAM, 1965; Wash. State Governor's Award, 1994

Work: SAM; Henssler Mem., Mount Erie, Wash.; Weyerhaeuser Corp., Tacoma; Detroit Inst. Art; Univ. Ore. Mus.; Phillips Col., Wash., DC; WMAA; pvt. colls. Commissions: Northwest Corp. of Seattle, 1959; U.N. Assoc., NYC, 1966; Federal Bldg., General Services Admin., Seattle, 1976

Comments: Specialist in sculpture of the wildlife of the Pacific Northwest, his stylized renderings of birds and other creatures are a blend of abstraction and realism.

Sources: WW73; William H. Gerdts and David J. Wagner, Natural Habitat: Contemporary Wildlife Artists of North America (exh. cat., NYC: Spanierman Gal., 1998); Falk, Exh. Record Series.