Puyallup artist paints a vital piece of area lore

When Anna Laura Kastama was at Puyallup’s 125th anniversary event in August 2015, she was struck with inspiration and curiosity when she stopped by the Daffodil Festival booth.

Looking at the images of the past Daffodil Queens from 1934 to 1956, Kastama wanted to know more. So she started researching the queens, learning that back then the only high schools that participated were Sumner and Puyallup.

“I began critiquing (the Daffodil Festival) immediately,” the 23-year-old Kastama said. “It seemed like it was wrapped in prejudice, so I started researching the meaning of beauty and dived into more. I like to look at things in the past to create more meaning.”

As a third-generation Puyallup resident, Kastama also knew about the gallery space on the fifth floor of City Hall. Combining her knowledge of the Daffodil Festival and the Gallery space in City Hall, she got to work on painting images of former Daffodil Queens.

“I had already gotten the space to do it,” she said. “I really made this collection for City Hall and the space, (and) it became a prompt while I was painting. I knew it would involve 20 to 25 pieces, but ended with 31.”

She painted all 31 pieces in the span of two months.

“It’s such a striking show, I personally have really enjoyed it,” said Brenda Arline, the city’s public affairs officer. “(Anna Laura) is so talented. I’ll be sad to see it go.”

What makes Kastama’s show unique from others at the City Hall Gallery is that instead of using a normal canvas, she took wood from a tree farm and painted all 31 pieces directly on flat pieces of cedar, madrona and maple.

“It’s the first time we had a show with one subject matter,” said Connie Diffenderfer, a member of Valley Arts United, which curated the show. “And the first time we had a show done on wood — and our first show on the Daffodil Festival as well.”

Kastama graduated from Reed College (Oregon) in 2015, and has since returned to her native Puyallup, where she’s purchased her first home. Kastama’s father, Jim, served in the Washington State Legislature for 16 years, representing the 25th District until 2012.

“I’m so blessed to have the help I get from community members, Valley Arts, and my incredible family,” Kastama said.

Kastama’s display at City Hall ended Monday, but her portraits, which range from $12 for a set of postcards to $360 for an original, can be viewed on her website, annalauraandiris.com.

This story was originally published March 1, 2016 at 10:58 AM with the headline "Puyallup artist paints a vital piece of area lore."