WSU Tri-Cities art exhibit in Richland explores history of nuclear advocacy

RICHLAND, Wash. – Washington State University Tri-Cities will host a new art exhibit exploring an unexpected chapter in Washington state history.

The exhibit, Load the Reactor: A Study for the New Nuclear, opens on September 4 and runs through February 27, 2026, at the Art Center in the Consolidated Information Center.

The exhibit revisits a 1992 collaboration between Seattle artists and nuclear energy supporters, inspired by sculptor James Acord.

This group, known as “YIMBYs” (Yes In My Backyard), advocated for the Fast Flux Test Facility at Hanford. Their efforts included performances in Seattle that engaged artists, scientists, and the public in nuclear energy discussions.

“The idea of pro-nuclear Seattle artists might seem counterintuitive,” said Brian Freer, co-curator of the exhi