The Art Center

WSU Tri-Cities Art Center

The WSU Tri-Cities Art Center is a place for students, faculty and staff to display their works of art produced on-campus or through their academic pursuits. Additionally, the Art Center is currently soliciting proposals for solo and group exhibitions.

With a wide variety of art installations, paintings, photography, and sculptures, this is a destination at WSU Tri-Cities you won’t want to miss.

Load the Reactor: A Study for the New Nuclear

September 4 – February 27 | Monday – Friday

Load the Reactor: A Study for the New Nuclear is inspired by a 1992 collaboration between artists and nuclear energy proponents, sparked by sculptor James Acord, who moved from Seattle to the Tri-Cities and immersed himself in Hanford’s nuclear community. Acord’s influence led a group of Seattle artists—calling themselves “YIMBYs” (Yes In My Backyard)—to advocate for the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF), a prototype breeder reactor located at Hanford. Their campaign culminated in a series of performances called Load the Reactor at Seattle’s Fremont Fine Arts Foundry, which brought together artists, scientists and the public to discuss the future of nuclear energy.

Through a range of multimedia installations, visitors are invited to explore themes including past, present and future reactor technologies, public engagement with nuclear energy, the role of artificial intelligence and data centers, and the evolving relationship between art and science.

Artists include:

• James L. Acord
• Arthur S. Aubry
• Warren Dykeman
• Joe Feddersen
• Etsuko Ichikawa
• Paul Korsmo
• Jay Needham