"It's hard to think of a Northwest artist more gifted, mercurial and omnivorously creative than former Cornish College of the Arts instructor Charles Stokes. Or one whose style had a greater influence on his students," writes Sheila Farr, Seattle Times art critic.
Stokes, 64, died of cancer on April 19 at his home in New York. He had been living in New York since the early 1990s. Born in Tacoma in 1944, Stokes earned a master of fine arts degree from the University of Oregon before beginning his career at Cornish, where he taught from 1969 - 1985. Stokes was the first winner of the Seattle Art Museum Betty Bowen award in 1978, an unrestricted cash prize to further the career of a promising local artist.
Stokes is survived by his wife, Irene Dowd, his two sons, Saul Stokes of Oakland, Calif., and Ian Stokes of Los Angeles, two granddaughters and a sister, Sylvia Taylor of Mill Creek.
The early work in Stokes' collection will be given to the Museum of Northwest Art in La Conner, where donations can be made in his name. There is no public memorial planned.
After a short illness, Frank Bays passed away at home in California. Born in Bristol, Virginia, Frank will be remembered for his dancing career as soloist with the Joffrey Ballet in New York City and with the First Chamber Dance Company. He is honored by a long and distinguished teaching career spanning more than thirty years at Cornish College of the Arts and First Chamber Dance Company in Seattle, Summer Dance Lab in both Port Townsend and Walla Walla, WA as well as numerous regional companies.
Frank touched many people with his wisdom and kindness. He is remembered for his extraordinary devotion to people and animals. Frank raised and bred Scottish Deerhounds, and pioneered the breeding of Pygmy Goats in the Pacific Northwest. In 1997 he founded Cliffhanger, a kennel instrumental in saving the rare breed of dog, the Norwegian Lundehund.
Frank was loved by everyone who met him, and one always had the feeling of being loved in return. He is survived by his partner of 44 years, Ray Bussey, who continues their kennel with Cliffhanger co-founder and long-time friend Sharon Pederson.
Private services were held at Frank's California home. Contributions for the establishment of the AKC Canine Health Foundation's Norwegian Lundehund Research Fund as Frank Bays' legacy may be sent to the Norwegian Lundehund Association of America, c/o Terry Tetzlaff, Treasurer, 715 SE 11th Street, Battleground, WA 98604, specifying the Frank Bays Memorial Fund.
