Remembering MalPina Chan, artist of human connection and collective memory

[Clarissa Gines]

Artist MalPina Chan (left). On the right, two works of art: Long Journey (2023), infused dye on aluminum (top); and Red Envelope (2023), infused dye on aluminum (bottom).

Artist MalPina Chan passed away earlier this year in Olympia, Washington, leaving behind an incredible artistic legacy and a community that adored her. She is survived by her daughters Jennifer Chan and Elizabeth Chan Strickland, and three grandchildren who were also her artistic collaborators in the latter part of her career.

Born in Lodi, California, her identity as a Chinese-American, along with her family’s immigration experience, informed her work, where she explored culture, human connection, family history, and collective memory. In addition to being an artist, she was also a curator, educator, and mentor. Chan received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, and later moved to Washington State in the early 70s, where she worked in Library & Media Services at The Evergreen State College until her retirement in 2011.

A beloved and inimitable artist, Chan’s career spanned decades, exploring a wide range of interdisciplinary practices and materials, from theater and costume design, photography, and watercolors to mixed-media and printmaking, glass, and eventually book arts – which brought together her love of working with paper, crafts, and printmaking. Throughout her career, she received numerous awards including an Artist Trust GAP Grant, James & Janie Washington Foundation Artist-in-Residency, and SOLA (Support of Old Lady Artists) Award. She engaged in opportunities that nurtured her enthusiasm for learning, such as the Artist Trust EDGE Professional Development program and sessions at Pilchuck Glass School. Chan’s work is included in private and public collections at Bainbridge Museum of Art, Tacoma Art Museum, The Evergreen State College, University of Puget Sound, and University of Washington, to name a few.

Chan’s work was featured in exhibitions at several institutions, including Bullseye Gallery in Portland, Postmark Center for the Arts in Auburn, Seattle City Hall, Vashon Center for the Arts, and the Wing Luke Museum in Seattle. As a recipient of the SOLA Awards in 2019, a few of Chan’s artworks are currently on view at the Tacoma Art Museum in Decades in the Making: Ten Years of SOLA Awardees through February 14, 2027.

Chan touched the lives of many individuals through her artwork, mentorships, and relationships with family and friends. Those who knew her appreciated her love for learning and fascination with new ways of creating. Her daughter Jennifer shared how Chan always empowered women artists and encouraged others to apply for opportunities and grow in their artistic careers. Her compassion and ardent care for those around her are evident in how others remember Chan.

Linda Ando reflected on how inquisitive and artistically skilled her friend was, and how Chan had a special ability to capture the spirit and soul of her grandma, mother, father, and other Chinese-American immigrants through her exquisite artwork. Ando also shared how inspired she was by Chan’s role as an arts ambassador, and the way she bridged communities together.

Journalist and former Executive Director of the Wing Luke Museum Ron Chew noted, “MalPina was a thoughtful, passionate, and very kind and warm soul. I love her work. The Chinese American images in her multi-media work, which explore identity and racism, are unforgettable. I feel like we lost her way too soon.”

Fellow artist and friend June Sekiguchi shared, “I met MalPina at an Artist Trust function in 2005, when we were accepted to the EDGE program, a business-of-art seminar. We spotted each other from across the room and became fast friends. From the beginning, MalPina had a youthful vitality that came from her deep curiosity—especially her fascination with the many processes and possibilities of artmaking.

Over the years, I came to know the variety of her interests and passions, including theater, sailing, birding, printmaking, and book arts. She approached life with an openness and curiosity that fulfilled her life and which attracted people to her. MalPina was my soul sister. I miss her every day, and I am forever grateful for the friendship, inspiration, and joy she brought into my life.”

Jane Carlin, former Director of the Collins Memorial Library at the University of Puget Sound, reminisced on the time she shared with Chan through Puget Sound Book Artists (PSBA), where she was a founding member.

“I was fortunate to work alongside MalPina on the PSBA Board for the past 15 years. Her commitment to PSBA was unwavering, but what made her so special was the way she brought that commitment to life—with a positive spirit, a wonderful sense of humor, and a deep concern for inclusion and respect for every member. She mentored countless new artists, generously shared her expertise and experience, and helped develop new programs and exhibitions. She was always willing to encourage others and find ways to make our organization stronger.

Much of MalPina’s artistic work reflected her deep connection to her Chinese heritage and Asian-American experience. She incorporated photographs, documents, and family history into her work, bringing personal stories into larger conversations about immigration, identity, and human rights. Her work continually evolved, and she never shied away from exploring new formats and techniques. This can be seen in works such as SCOTUS: Hands Off My Body and her kiln-formed glass book, THE EVIL EYE: ENVY & JEALOUSY. Her willingness to experiment was matched by her generosity in sharing what she learned with others.

MalPina was not only a dedicated colleague, an inspiring artist and educator, but also a deeply kind and thoughtful friend. She was the kind of person who never forgot a birthday or a special occasion. She sent postcards and handwritten notes, remembered the small things that mattered, and could be counted on to arrive at a meeting carrying a bag of homemade treats!

So many will miss her creativity, her generosity, her humor, and most of all, her friendship.”

When asked how she would want folks to remember her mom, Chan’s daughter Jennifer said, “eternally curious.” She shared that her mom was always asking lots of questions, fascinated by what she saw, and always wanting to figure out how to make something happen and incorporate it into her own practice. Her curiosity gave way to her collecting upright view cameras, and acquiring a kiln and a printing press for her home. Jennifer said it was important to her mom that her artwork connected back to their family history. As the family historian, she had a wealth of knowledge that informed her ever-evolving creative practice. Her questions stemmed from a genuine desire to deepen her understanding and knowledge, and from wanting to generously share those learnings with others.

When asked the same question, Chan’s daughter Liz also talked about her mom’s curiosity and her sense of inclusion and acceptance. She reflected on their shared interest in photography and beaded jewelry, and taking workshops together at Facèré in Seattle. Liz fondly remembers the great collaborative conversations they had about the jewelry they made, and how they would get completely different outcomes from using the same material. In Chan’s style, her curiosity would always lead to questions, asking Liz about her process and bouncing ideas back and forth.

Once grandchildren entered her life, Chan instilled in them a love of art and creativity. As Liz shared, Chan would always have projects for them to work on. Eventually, she collaborated with her three grandchildren on 3 & 1, an artwork featured in the Puget Sound Book Artists’ 12th Annual Members’ Exhibition in 2023.

Throughout her artistic career, the themes of family history and the immigrant experience remained steadfast, whether it was expressed in collage, glass, monoprint, or book art. As Chan did, may we all carry on her legacy by being curious, compassionate, and generous in sharing our abundance of knowledge with others.

MalPina Chan’s artwork is currently featured in Decades in the Making: Ten Years of SOLA Awardees at the Tacoma Art Museum (1701 Pacific Ave, Tacoma, WA 98402, Wednesday – Sunday, 10am-5pm and Thursdays until 8pm) until February 14, 2027.

The Puget Sound Book Artists 15th Annual Members’ Exhibition, opening September 28 at the Daniel J. Evans Library, The Evergreen State College Olympia, Washington (2700 Evergreen Pkwy NW, Olympia, WA 98505) is dedicated in MalPina Chan’s honor.

More information on MalPina Chan can be found at https://www.solaseattle.org/awardees/malpina-chan.

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