Billy Frank Jr. Statue Project

Haiying Wu at Work at SPSCC

Artist Haiying Wu in front of his model for the Billy Frank Jr. statue

SPSCC & the Billy Frank Jr. Statue Project

SPSCC is honored to host sculptor Haiying Wu as he completes a full-scale statue of Nisqually activist Billy Frank Jr. for Washington, D.C.'s National Statuary Hall.

Mr. Wu began his work in March 2024 and is expected to complete the project in Fall 2024. The project is based in SPSCC’s Scene Shop in the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts (Building 21, Room 271, Olympia Campus). The space offers public hours to observe and participate in Mr. Wu’s work.

Photo Credit: Nisqually Communications & Media Services

Project in Collaboration With

Visit to Experience the Project in Action

Closed in July
Reopening in August
SPSCC Scene Shop
Building 21, Room 271

Campus Map
Mr. Wu, Nisqually Tribe members, and SPSCC staff in a group picture with the Billy Frank Jr. statue
Billy Frank Jr. profile, smiling while holding a microphone with hand in motion

About Billy Frank Jr.

Billy Frank Jr. was a Nisqually tribal member who fought tirelessly to ensure that the U.S. government would honor the promises made in the treaties with Washington tribes. He was arrested more than 50 times for exercising his treaty right to fish. His perseverance paved the way for the “Boldt Decision”, which affirmed the right of Washington treaty tribes to take up to half of the harvestable salmon in western Washington, reaffirmed tribal treaty reserved rights, and established the tribes as comanagers of the salmon resource.

Photo Gallery

Blessing Ceremony: Nisqually Tribe Language Keepers Antonette Squally, Vice Chairman of the Nisqually Tribe, and Chaynannah Squally, 5th Council, blessed the Scene Shop.

Blessing Ceremony: Chaynannah Squally and Mr. Wu at the Blessing Ceremony.

Work Begins: Mr. Wu works with the maquette, forming the styrofoam base, with chips on the floor.

Artist Haiying Wu in front of shelves of art materials

About Haiying Wu

Born in China, Haiying Wu attended the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute. He worked as a sculptor creating public artworks in Chengdu. After emigrating to the United States, Mr. Wu earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in sculpture from the University of Washington, Seattle.

Learn more about Mr. Wu

Artist Haiying Wu working on a sculpture
Video by Children of the Setting Sun Productions with additional footage by Ray Whitehouse

Getting to SPSCC

Campus Map

Contact Information

For special requests, media inquiries, or to connect with Mr. Wu, please SPSCC Director of Marketing & Communications Kati Sagawa.