WIAC History Project - Kay Parsons, past president

Honoring Kay Parsons: Whidbey Island’s Artistic Beacon
Aug 15, 2024

Whidbey Island has lost a luminary in Oak Harbor resident Kay Parsons, a watercolor artist whose life was as vibrant and inspiring as her art, and a bright light for all artists who crossed her path. Parsons died June 9 of natural causes. She was sixty-eight.

“Kay was for hope, community and the healing power of art,” says Diane Cheek, Parsons’ devoted spouse of many years. This same sentiment seems to be the throughline of all the friends and colleagues who recently weighed in on what Parsons meant to them. Her legacy is not merely in the large, colorful canvases she expertly painted, which reflected her garden-green thumb and her mad love for flowers, but in the lives she touched through her leadership, mentorship and advocacy for the arts. As a sometime Board President of the Whidbey Island Arts Council (WIAC) and leader of the Whidbey Working Artists Studio Tours, Kay’s dedication to nurturing talent and her vision for a community united by creativity, left as indelible a mark on the island's cultural landscape, as the strokes of color she made on her vibrant, joyful, unforgettable paintings.

Her journey was one of passion and purpose. Born in Korea, she was adopted and raised in Douglasville, Georgia just outside Atlanta, which provided her with, among other qualities, a charming southern accent that matched her spitfire personality. According to those who knew her well, she was small of stature yet large in her effect and delightfully memorable. She believed in the transformative power of art, not just as a form of expression but as a tool for community building. Through her programs, she fostered a space where the next generation of artists could flourish, supported by the very people whose lives they enriched with their art. Kay's
commitment went beyond guidance; she invested in local talent, collecting their work, and by doing so, investing in the future of the island's artistic heritage.

Musician Tekla Cunningham and fellow WIAC advocate, remembers Kay’s passion for lifting up women and girls, and her love for beauty, community, gardens, furry companions and, of course, art. “The last time I saw her, she poured me a nip of Jameson in a beautiful handblown glass cup from her collection... She was great lady, a great friend to the arts, and a fantastically singular person I’m so glad to have known,” said Cunningham.

Friend Lisa Bernhardt, Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Art School in Coupeville, recalls Parsons as a force of nature. “She was never afraid to speak her mind and encouraged me to do the same,” Bernhardt said. Her best memory involves a humorous encounter at a celebration, where Kay, dressed in a nun’s habit, introduced herself as “Sister Dominatrix,” and this was enough to seal their friendship. “To me her legacy was: Live life to the fullest and appreciate and love artists — as art gives us our humanity.”

Artist Frank Rose, another longtime arts advocate and former President of the Whidbey Island Arts Council, reflects on his working friendship with Kay, who worked closely with the painter at WIAC. Rose says he admired her crisp, direct personality and passion for everything she undertook, and noted her ability to adapt her approach and persona in different settings, whether it be a conference room, a restaurant or a studio. In other words, Kay could read a room. Rose remembers her at times as beautiful, dazzling, and exciting, and appreciated the many captivating sides of Kay he was fortunate to experience. “She was a true and natural artist,” recalls Rose, “Her flower art speaks for itself in warmth, line, color and composition. As you might expect, she was a great loss to me. I loved that woman.”

Artist Diane Divelbess remembers Parsons as a tiny dynamo with terrific organizational and leadership skills. “I loved Kay from the moment she told everyone at the artists picnic before an annual Working Artists Studio Tour that if everyone would continue to do their part in making the Tour successful, she could put off her nervous breakdown until September! That was Kay. Completely reliable, responsible, tireless, a brilliant artist and an absolute joy to be around,” Divelbess said.

“Drive, energy, force, passion, all these come to mind when I think of Kay...and she was so much more,” said island sculptor Sue Taves. “She was tireless, passionate, and generous, and if she wasn’t organizing an event, she was supporting it from the wings. She cared deeply and laughed heartily and was a true creative presence.”

Kay Parsons’ life was a testament to the power of art and community. Her friends’ heartfelt memories paint a picture of a woman who was not only a talented artist but also a dedicated advocate for the arts, a mentor, collector and a funny, lovable friend.

Parsons herself said she was tied to the land through her art: “My garden stands as a chapel to my belief in everything: Life, death, dying back, renewal, exuberance, sadness, acceptance and beauty.”

To honor Parson's memory is to continue her work — encouraging the community to support local artists; where art is not just appreciated but is part of the very fabric of daily life.

As we celebrate Kay's life and contributions, we capture the spirit of a woman who saw art not as a solitary pursuit but as a shared journey. A call to action for readers to embrace Kay's ethos: to volunteer, mentor, support, and collect, thus weaving their own threads into the rich tapestry of Whidbey Island's artistic legacy. This is the story we aim to tell, one that challenges and inspires, just as Kay Parsons did in her remarkable life.

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