Past, Present, Future
Letter from Kathleen Allen, Executive Director | October 30, 2025
↵Fall is a season of transition, when summer gently gives way to autumn. It is also a time of transition at Gage, marked by the deeply saddening passing of our Co-founder and Artistic Director Emeritus, Gary Faigin. As many have attested through the memories they’ve shared, Gary was a passionate, enthusiastic, and inclusive arts educator whose influence shaped generations of artists.
Where We Came From - "The Gage Way"
Gary established what we now call “The Gage Way”, a teaching philosophy rooted in making art accessible to all.
As he wrote:
“The fundamental principle behind Gage is radically democratic. We believe that motivation plus time and tenacity will permit almost every student to achieve a level of artistic competence.”
We deeply miss Gary’s creative energy and his vast knowledge of art, and we are grateful for the strong pedagogical foundation he and his wife Pamela built—one grounded in equity and inclusion. They believed, as I strongly do as well, that quality and access are not at odds with one another. Every student deserves, and has the right to excellent instruction, whether they are enrolled in our pre-professional atelier program or attending summer camps as young learners.
Gary affirmed this in “The Gage Way”:
“Our teachers are our most important asset, and we’re proud of the fact that what goes on in our classrooms is consistent in quality, no matter what the class, or who the teacher.”
Where We Are Now - New Spaces, New Students
The inspiring journey that began in the basement of Pamela and Gary’s home—welcoming learners of all backgrounds—has grown into a vibrant present: two campuses and over 3,000 students annually. With your support, we’ve built something remarkable. In 2025, more than 3,000 students participated in our programs. We hosted exhibitions, partnered with local organizations, and helped bring new energy to downtown Seattle.
This progress reflects our shared commitment to creativity, community, and access.
Poignantly, the day Gary passed away was also the day of Gage’s annual Drawing Jam at the SLU campus. He would have loved the energy and creative spirit that filled our space as newcomers discovered Gage. Families strolling by, curious visitors, and longtime students, instructors, and models all mingled together. It was a beautiful embodiment of Gary’s vision—especially fitting as it took place in the heart of one of Seattle’s busiest neighborhoods, a location he was thrilled to secure.
To honor his generous spirit and enduring vision, the Gage Board of Trustees has established the Gage Founders’ Scholarship Fund. With your partnership, we can ensure that tuition assistance is available across all programs, supporting learners based on both financial need and artistic merit. As well, please join us to honor Gary’s contributions to the artistic community at “Beyond the Palette: A Remembrance for Gary Faigin” on Wednesday, November 19, 5-8 p.m. at Town Hall Seattle.
Where We Are Going - Supporting the Next Generation
Though Gary is no longer with us, his legacy endures. Just a week before his passing, he shared with me how deeply he cared about making arts education accessible to young people and was excited about a youth program pathway framework we are developing. Research attests to the powerful impact of arts learning, showing that students with consistent arts education are more likely to stay in school and go onto a 4-year college. Gage’s pathway of youth programs builds upon the Teen Art Studio (TAS), founded by Pamela more than twenty years ago. TAS has long been a haven for teens seeking community through art, often finding kinship with fellow creatives when they may feel out of place elsewhere.
Now, with your support, we are aiming to expand these pathways, both leading into TAS and beyond it, by:
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Going Where the Youth Are
Deepening in-school partnerships with three schools: Big Picture Schools (Highline School District), Summit Atlas and Summit Sierra (charter schools in Southwest Seattle and the CID), and The Downtown School (an independent school near Seattle Center) to intersect real-world artistic practice with students’ self-discovery as learners.
Listening to and Being Informed by Youth Voice
Launching a Youth Art Advisory Board—a leadership platform for teens to shape programs and advocate for their peers. Free to participate, youth receive leadership training and mentorship, attend advisory meetings, lead their own projects, and practice advocacy.
Nurturing the Next Generation of Artists
Launching in 2026-2027, the Youth Atelier is in response to growing interest in immersive art experiences for teens. Inspired by our nationally recognized adult ateliers, this advanced program will prepare youth for college and careers in the arts. It will include studio practice across multiple mediums, portfolio development, one-on-one artist mentorship, critiques, exhibitions, and field trips.
How you can help
Gage’s journey, past, present, and future, is one of transformation, and you are an essential part of it. When you support Gage, you help artists explore their past, feel grounded in the present, and envision an artistic future.
Choose the path that speaks to you:
Support Youth Programs >
Help teens find their voice, their community, and their future through free, inclusive art education.
Support the Founders’ Scholarship Fund >
Ensure that cost is never a barrier to creativity for learners of all ages.
Thank you for being part of this journey—with purpose, with heart, and with the values Gary championed.
Warmly,
Kathleen Allen
Executive Director, Gage Academy of Art