by Lori Osseward, Curator, “Art in Chess and Chess in Art”

See photos by Duane Polich.

One of the most powerful pieces of artwork that will be hanging on the walls of the Downtown Seattle Art Museum for the month of January is not done by a professional artist. It is the work of Sam Horowitz, a nine-year-old boy who has submitted it for the Chess Mates Foundation “Art in Chess and Chess in Art” children’s art exhibition. This artwork will stop you cold and force you to look hard. It is a black and white collage that is both naïve and sophisticated and more than a little controversial. It is titled, “Play for Peace-Peace by Piece.”

As the curator of the exhibition and a board member of the Chess Mates Foundation, I would like to invite Northwest Chess readers to attend the opening celebration of “Art in Chess and Chess in Art” on Thursday, January 8th, 2004, from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Simons Board Room (main floor) at the Seattle Art Museum Downtown. Join us for an evening of simultaneous chess matches with chess students and families and special guests three-time U.S. Women’s Champion Woman Grandmaster Elena Donaldson and Chess Mates Foundation President, Ballard High School Chessmaster and Coach Dr. Leo Stefurak. Entrance to the museum is complimentary to our guests on Thursday, January 8th and visitors are welcome to view all the exhibitions afterwards and enjoy the jazz music.

The artwork submitted for this year’s exhibition was of particularly high quality. Please come and see if you agree.