Dick And Jane’s Spot has been a colorful work-in-progress since 1978.
At this incredible art house in Ellensburg, Washington, you’ll find more than 10,000 bottle caps, thousands of reflectors, wacky and weird sculptures and statues, bright paintings, bottle trees, a wall of hubcaps, and vibrant, bold, colorful artwork — and when I read about it online, I knew we just had to stop by the unique house turned art display!
Dick Elliott and Jane Orleman each received a BA in Art from Central Washington University, in 1971. Together they have created an art site predominantly from their own artistic explorations, along with custom art pieces from more than 40 Northwest artists.
According to Atlas Obscura, after installing one of Jane’s works known as Big Red, a topless female figure with reflectors for nipples, many of the neighbors balked at the couple and their very public art display, keeping Dick and Jane resolutely off the official community art council. However, this attitude softened over the years and Dick and Jane were even given ten extra feet of land on their property to continue their creations.
Dick passed away in 2008 and today Jane continues to curate the whimsical art collection. 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of their home/art studio.
While we were staying in Ellensburg for Dead & Company’s concert at The Gorge Amphitheater, we stopped by Dick And Jane’s Spot before driving up to Leavenworth, and there was actually new art in progress! Jane Orleman, the Jane of Dick And Jane’s Spot, was working out front painting a fence and another artist was carving a new art piece from a tree trunk out front — which is why sawdust is flying all over the image at the top of this post!
Know Before You Go
- Dick and Jane’s Spot is located in a residential neighborhood across from the fire station at 101 N. Pearl Street, Ellensburg, Washington, 98926 in Kittitas County.
- I love that Dick And Jane’s Spot is dedicated to the philosophy that one hearty laugh is worth ten trips to the doctor.
- There is a public parking lot on the north side of the house. To accommodate the fire trucks there is no parking in front of the house on Pearl Street.
- The art site is a home, so it isn’t open beyond the fences. Please be respectful and enjoy the art from the sidewalks.
