Push/Pull's mission is to:
Promote underground art and comics
Foster community between those creating and viewing art
Encourage emerging artists, illustrators and cartoonists
Innovate the way art is consumed by presenting it in a unique environment and with nontraditional events
Stimulate Diversity by actively seeking out marginalized and under-represented artists
Underground art is work that challenges the viewer to feel something, to think about something. Art that is made by professionals that learned all the rules about making art and then broke them. Art that is made by professionals that never learned any of the rules about making art and made it up as they went along. It's creepy, weird, controversial, strange. Push/Pull exists to show the alternative possibility of what an art gallery can be.
Promote underground art and comics
Foster community between those creating and viewing art
Encourage emerging artists, illustrators and cartoonists
Innovate the way art is consumed by presenting it in a unique environment and with nontraditional events
Stimulate Diversity by actively seeking out marginalized and under-represented artists
Underground art is work that challenges the viewer to feel something, to think about something. Art that is made by professionals that learned all the rules about making art and then broke them. Art that is made by professionals that never learned any of the rules about making art and made it up as they went along. It's creepy, weird, controversial, strange. Push/Pull exists to show the alternative possibility of what an art gallery can be.
In order to further our mission we've created a nonprofit section of our business that is powered by Shunpike. Our nonprofit work includes adult and teen education, community events, and cultural outreach. You can donate any time here to help support our work: www.poweredbyshunpike.org/c/PBS/a/37789
Learn more about our programs at this link
Learn more about our programs at this link
Shunpike is the 501(c)(3) non-profit agency that provides independent arts groups in Washington State with the services, resources, and opportunities they need to forge their own paths to sustainable success.
Push/Pull is a cooperative gallery. Each member participates in the running of the gallery. We don't have employees or bosses. Scroll down to meet the crew:
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Maxx - Director
Maxx handles most of the business side of Push/Pull. She's the one replying to emails and making sure the taxes get paid on time. She started Push/Pull in 2013 with a vision of having a space for underground artists and illustrators. When she has time she also makes some of the art, patches, comics and other items in the gallery. |
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Seth Goodkind - Assistant Director
Seth is the original member, formerly "resident artist", of Push/Pull. He's an active local comic artist and published illustrator and organizes the indie comic show Exterminator City. |
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Dillon Lacey - Member
Dillon likes dinosaurs and fighting and pizza and will probably agree to tattoo you if you ask them to so you probably should NOT do that. They received their BFA from Washington State University with an emphasis in printmaking. Now they are making comics and drawing grumpy old grandparents in Seattle, Wa, where they are always cold. |
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Elk Paauw - Member
Elk Paauw is a self-published local comics artist and groovy non-binary transdude. He only took one art class in his whole life and got a C, so instead of going to art school he studied Philosophy. Elk is currently working on a long-form travelogue comic, and is in a cartoon band called Spooky Action. He joined the gallery because he wants to assist in providing resources to the comics community and foster a meeting place for fellow artists to collaborate and share ideas. |
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J. Cost - Member
Jay was born and raised in Anchorage, AK and moved to Seattle in 2012. He is a self-taught graphic designer and illustrator. Jay's influences include the human condition, technology and unanswered questions. |
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Christopher Porter - Member
Christopher lives quietly in Lake City, Seattle with his husband and cat. He is a freelance designer/illustrator and recently earned his associates degree from Shoreline Community College. He loves comics, even the ones with superheroes in them. |
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Agatha - Mascot It was a cold February night in 2015 when we found Agatha left on one of our A-board signs in Greenwood. We gave her a new home, a fresh coat of paint and made her our mascot. To see the real Agatha in person just visit us in Ballard and ask about her. |
Why Push/Pull?
Push/Pull was named by Maxx. The name originally came from a dream in which she had already opened the gallery and was greeting people at the first opening. Here's her full story behind it:
"The inspiration for the name Push/Pull began with screen printing. The motion of the squeegee across the screen. As I was printing the words would repeat in my head 'push.....pull.....push.....pull'. Gradually I noticed these same two movements throughout my work; whether I was drawing or painting the motions were always a push and pull. I started to think about the relationship between art and the words push & pull. Art is created to push boundaries - personal, political, social. But art is also intended to pull you in to share an intimate experience with the creator. The experience may be humorous, angry or spiritual but it's one created uniquely by the artist.
So there it is, Push/Pull - the two words that can be used to describe art from mechanics to experience."
"The inspiration for the name Push/Pull began with screen printing. The motion of the squeegee across the screen. As I was printing the words would repeat in my head 'push.....pull.....push.....pull'. Gradually I noticed these same two movements throughout my work; whether I was drawing or painting the motions were always a push and pull. I started to think about the relationship between art and the words push & pull. Art is created to push boundaries - personal, political, social. But art is also intended to pull you in to share an intimate experience with the creator. The experience may be humorous, angry or spiritual but it's one created uniquely by the artist.
So there it is, Push/Pull - the two words that can be used to describe art from mechanics to experience."
Interested in membership?
We get asked all the time - How do I join? Well, first, yes we do have a screening process so that we can determine if you're a good fit. The obligations are that you'll be a part of the team, we're a co-operative and everyone has to work together towards our goals (see the Mission Statement at the top of the page). Members sign on for a minimum of six months and are expected to work on-site at least 4 days a month. If you think you've got what it takes to make great art, contribute to the community and work at building a better, weirder world, fill out the application under Join
Push/Pull is powered by Shunpike