Honoring Giants: Barbara Earl Thomas Inspires at Colman Commons Grand Opening Celebration
At the Colman Commons Grand Opening Celebration earlier this month, the atmosphere was charged with reflection, gratitude, and artistic excellence. Among the esteemed honorees was legendary Seattle artist Barbara Earl Thomas, whose insights into her lifelong creative journey left a lasting impression.
Ashleigh McCurdy, the Executive Director of Colman Commons, asked Thomas about the first room where her work felt fully seen. Thomas reflected on her childhood home, recalling a moment as an eight- or nine-year-old when she surprised her hardworking mother with a drawing.
Her mother’s joyful reaction planted a seed that shaped Thomas’s entire artistic philosophy.
"The way I think about art is that it is a gift. And while I may sell things, I may have things that are commodified, I think that I was lucky enough to be seen first in my own home and not have any idea about the art world,” she said. “I like to give things and see how people respond."
When the discussion turned to resilience and navigating the art world, Thomas spoke candidly about the early days of her career. She described her "magic power" simply as the commitment to keep showing up and working hard. Rather than waiting for unpredictable inspiration, she embraced art as rigorous labor, pushing past failures and the sting of rejection.
Reflecting on her early twenties, she shared a lighthearted rule she developed for dealing with professional disappointment: "You get four hours to feel really bad, and then you get over it" and move on.
McCurdy steered the conversation toward the weight of mentorship, asking Thomas about the responsibility of becoming a "giant" in her field. Carrying generational legacy forward, Thomas explained that she holds space for younger artists, such as fellow panelists, by modeling a standard of integrity, community responsibility, and self-actualization.
Closing out the panel, McCurdy asked the speakers to complete the sentence, "I show up because...".
"I show up because the alternative seems ridiculous," Thomas said. She emphasized that human legacy is defined by action and how one touches the lives of others. For Thomas, showing up means treating peers with honesty, clarity, and commitment, while maintaining a sense of grace, forgiveness, and joy along the way.
Learn more about Barbara Earl Thomas’ work at barbaraearlthomas.com
The Colman Commons Grand Opening was produced by The Elite Collective, a Seattle Impact Architecture™ firm that builds live experiences and the content that carries them forward.
EC ran the technical side of the evening end to end. Video capture preserved the full honoree panel with Jazmyn Scott, Takiyah Ward, Barbara Earl Thomas, Sierra Jones, and Stephanie Morales. Sound reinforcement kept every panelist clear for the room and clean on the recording, so one setup served both the live audience and everything that comes after it. A dedicated interview station captured reflections from artists, honorees, and guests while the night was still happening. A photo booth and a 360 booth turned the audience into participants and sent the celebration home on their phones.
One night in the Colman Building produced a live experience, a documented archive, and a library of shareable content.
Learn more about The Elite Collective at theelitecollective.com and on their Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Looking to book a space for your upcoming event? Check out Colman Commons for all your event space needs at colmancommons.com
