EZRA DICKINSON

Ezra Dickinson is expert at transforming space: whether through performance, dance (he was trained as a professional ballet dancer), murals, installations spanning entire derelict buildings, or bold signage spangling the streets of Seattle, Dickinson makes unforgettable marks. He is outspoken about rent control (pro); it’s likely you’ve seen some of his rent control signage around Capitol Hill or downtown Seattle. His sketchbooks are, unsurprisingly, filled with detailed observations of the urban landscapes of the PNW. 

“I’m very intentional with my note/sketchbooks,” says Dickinson. “I have a separate notebook for each discipline: ceramics, designs, murals, meetings, etc. The sketches in these images come from a collection of books I’ve been keeping since 2010. The aim of these books is wanting to capture the world via pen as I travel. Giving myself however much time is needed to complete a given location, these sketches represent a range from 15 minutes to 9 hours. I see this drawing practice as a substitute to the camera: It gives me a far more intimate relationship with the locations I want to record.”