Volunteer Spotlight is a series where we shine a light on one of our awesome volunteers each month. Each spotlight will highlight the personalities of our volunteers and share more about their connections to the Frye.
This month, we are spotlighting another longtime Gallery Guide and creator of the Halloween tours at the Frye, Lynn Rosskamp. We spoke to Lynn about podcasting, her favorite artists, and more in the interview below.
You can also click here for "Chill in the Air: A Virtual Halloween Tour" with Lynn.
Hi Lynn! How long have you been at the Frye and what made you want to volunteer?
Six years, I think? I have a split art and art history degree and was missing getting to use any of my art history skills.
What does your volunteer work as a Frye Gallery Guide consist of?
In the pre-pandemic past, I would walk with groups of visitors around the museum, helping to engage them in conversation about the works on display. I also would help to lead school tours around the museum.
What pieces, artists, programs, or exhibitions do you remember most fondly from your experiences at the Frye?
Well, I'm a big fan of Gabriel von Max if we're talking Founding Collection. But as for visiting works, the Mark Mitchell: Burial exhibit was one of the most gorgeously moving things I've ever seen anywhere. I actually think von Max and Mitchell pair nicely and are interested in similar themes in their work.
Who are your favorite artists and why?
I'm a big fan of illustrators and, of course, printmakers. My favorite "old school" printers are Dürer and you can't beat Rembrandt for just killing it at etchings. His little "calling card" mini-prints of faces are stunning. My favorite modern etcher is Beth van Hosen. I pretty much want to be her when I grow up. And I love the illustrations of Edward Gorey and visiting his home, "Elephant House" in Cape Cod, was one of the biggest joys of my life. I'm also quite a fan of Charles Vess and Arthur Rackham and Aubrey Beardsley. And I'm a big fan of the ukiyo-e style of Japanese woodblock printing though I, myself, am not a carver.
Besides volunteering at the Frye, what do you like to do?
I am a printmaker by trade, copper plate etchings in particular, and that's pretty much my biggest passion in life. I also like to hang out with my pets—cats and rats—and I like cinema and travel, in particular to places with historic cemeteries that I like to photograph and explore. My spouse and I are also big fans of Washington wineries and enjoy visiting tasting rooms around the state (and elsewhere).
What is something others may be surprised to know about you?
I've been a podcast host for the last couple of years.
Can you tell us more about your podcast?
The podcast is called Disturbing Interests, and I’m one of two hosts, the other being my friend Regina King (no, not the actress, she gets that a lot.) We bill ourselves as a “horrible history, terrible mysteries” podcast and we research weird, creepy, strange and unsettling events throughout history, some real, some fictional. It’s also done with a good dose of comedy and irreverence and some salty language.
The most recent episode was called “You Don’t Know Drac!” and was about the history of the novel Dracula. Currently working on writing up the next episode, where I tackle witch hunts (the actual kind, not the metaphorical), and Reg tells the ridiculous tale of a supposed “werebeast” of Wisconsin (I think?). We’re not exactly safe for work or kids, but we are informative, well-researched, and weird. I also do a canned wine review on most episodes where I try a dodgy-looking canned adult beverage and review it on air.
How have you been spending your time in the wake of COVID-19?
The pandemic has pretty much completely hamstrung my ability to work on my etchings since I used to work out of the Pratt Fine Arts Center print shop, and that's been closed to everyone since March. So, I've had to pivot wildly and have taken up the unlikely business of making irreverent advent and countdown calendars. It's the most niche market I could think of, but they've been surprisingly popular. I'm doing all the artwork and printing digitally, going back to my previous life in comics. I've also had to pivot to doing all online art and craft fairs, and I've got FIVE(!) of them lined up for November and December, so we'll see how those work out. I'm certainly learning a ton about e-commerce this weird year.
What are some of your favorite things to do in Seattle?
I love SIFF Cinema and, of course, the yearly film festival. I also like just wandering around the city, taking photos of various weird bits of history that sometimes make it into my prints. That's at least something that I can still do during distancing times. I also like our local curling club, though I've not been in ages. I enjoy going up to Everett to watch the Aqua Sox minor league baseball team play. I also used to enjoy (and will again one day!) meeting up with friends to walk around Green Lake and other areas playing Pokemon Go.
Anatol San Jose Steck
Development Coordinator