Arthur William Higgins

1942 - 2011

Arthur William Higgins, a former Juneau resident, died March 13, 2011 in Vancouver, Washington following surgery for an aneurism. He was born in Seattle June 7, 1942 and grew up in Edmonds, Washington, graduating with honors from Edmonds High, where he also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin. He served in the U.S. Army from 1965-68, including a year in Vietnam.

Arthur began gillnetting and trolling in SE Alaska on his boat the Ivaloo in 1963 while still in college, and resumed fishing on his boat the FV Freya after his discharge from the Army. He continued fishing until 1976 when he became a full time artist. He worked in a variety of media including oil, watercolor, jewelry making, serigraphy, woodcut, mixed metals fabrication and wood. Arthur completed more than 40 public art commissions including several 1% for art commissions in Alaska. His works in Alaska include multiple sculptures in Anchorage schools, one at Petersburg High School, and the mixed media sculpture on display in the CBJ School Board meeting room and smaller excerpt over the building entrance. In addition, he has work in the collection of the Alaska State Museum. For several years Arthur taught in Alaska's Artists in the Schools program and had assignments in rural communities and villages across the state. While living in Wasilla he was an active member and patron of the Visual Arts Center of Anchorage.

In later years Arthur also had a successful high end yard and garden sculpture business. He designed, manufactured and sold sculptures that would move in the wind for use in gardens, and on patios and decks. He sold these items through catalogs specializing in garden and home products, trade shows and his online website.

For most of his life Arthur was an avid builder and flyer of model airplanes, leaving behind literally hundreds of model airplanes that he designed and constructed. He was an active member and officer of five different model airplane clubs.

Arthur lived in Juneau 1970-74, and then moved to Wasilla with his young family. In 1986 he moved to Mosier, Oregon where he bought acreage and built a home and studio. He resided in Mosier until his death. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, William A. and Margaret L. Higgins. He is survived by his sons William A.(Liam and wife Lori) and Jacob; grandchildren Edgar, Margaret (Maggie) and Arthur W. (Torben); former wife Brenda Knapp, all of Juneau; and brother Ralph (and Jennifer) of Edmonds, Washington.