SEATTLE–Seattle Credit Union said it has commissioned artwork from Tacoma, Wash. artist Tiffanny Hammonds.
The credit union said Hammonds grew up in the Hilltop neighborhood, where Seattle Credit Union's newest branch and financial suite is located at 824 M.L.K. Jr Way, and her art studio is just a few doors down from the branch as well.
"Hilltop is the center of African American cultural life in Tacoma. It is considered a living link for generations of Black Washingtonians that supported the growth of Tacoma and Washington," said Seattle Credit Union CEO Richard Romero. "Tiffanny's emotive and impactful work, coupled with her deep ties to the neighborhood, made her the ideal choice to create pieces for our newest community-based credit union."
The Inspiration
According to Seattle CU, Hammonds has always resided in the Hilltop neighborhood and fell in love with expressionism, portraiture, and graffiti styles at a young age.
“I was first encouraged by my mother and father, who showcased my childhood artwork on the refrigerator in our kitchen,” Hammonds said in a statement. “Years ago, my father hired a few local artists, one of whom was a friend of my brothers, to create art in our house. Those people later became my mentors, inviting me to create my first mural at the age of 12.”
An Ode for the Hill
Influenced by words such as “unity, inclusivity, resources, belonging, empathy, hope, and prosperity,” Seattle CU reported Hammonds created custom artwork, “An Ode for the Hill,” for SCU’s Hilltop Branch.
“Hammonds painted three works to tell the story of the community and capture the rich history of Seattle Credit Union, which was founded in 1933,” the credit union explained.
The pieces are titled: The People, The Purpose, and The Vision, with Seattle CU noting the pieces are part of Hammonds’ Faces of Nations catalog, which features art that is an expressive reflection of spirit through color, texture, shape, and pattern birthed out of grief, formed in worship, according to Hammonds.
“My love for Hilltop and my hope for Seattle Credit Union to bring life and financial education and opportunities to the community it strives to learn and serve inspired this project,” said Hammonds. “I allowed the faces I painted to move in a form of harmony with each other to tell a story for each heart to understand differently. I wanted to create something close to the energy of the people helping people and what comes from that.”
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