This piece, Heron Box, is a new octagon design and innovative shape: the four triangular elements of the lid come together with a magnetic closure. It is a private commission for a client in California. I hope someday to have it as part of a group exhibit.
Heron Box, Open 1
Heron Box Open, Close Up
Heron Box, Propped on Side
Heron Box, Triangle Side
I finished and shipped Horse Purse just last week. It was a private commission for a client of the Lovetts Gallery in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Horse Purse
Horse Purse, Detail
Horse Purse, Left Side
Horse Purse, Right Side Whole
Horse Purse, Whole with Strap
This spring Harborview Hospital, through the 4Culture Public Art program in King County, Washington commissioned a large work of mine to hang in a new building that opened this last May. The piece titled Body / Continent is my response to the commissioners’ request to provide an atmosphere of welcome and comfort while illustrating medical concepts. Specifically the board wanted imagery that spoke to patients and families coming to Seattle from the greater Northwest.
I worked with an idea of the human body in comparison with the landscape as a body. The Continental Divide has always had a fascination for me as a stark line, a division of elements and cultures. I cross the Divide often in my travels here in Montana and I am always mindful of that sense of entering a new and different space.
Within the wall hanging I illustrated themes of home, safety, circulation, movement and resources. The top panel on both halves illustrate the circulatory system of the human body and the lowest panel illustrates the rivers as circulatory systems of the Northwest. The central panels show native lodges and the landscape reminiscent of the Rocky Mountain Front.
I hope my work brings a sense of welcome and comfort for families visiting Harborview Hospital.
The time I spent in Tulsa deeply affected how I think about my work, and the direction in which I want my work to go. Through the generosity of the curators of the Philbrook and Gilcrease Museums, I was granted access to the permanent collections. The collections at both institutions are amazing and are filled with both historic and contemporary Native art: new artists I had never heard of, new works I had never seen. I had a general sense of being overwhelmed by the sheer volume and quality of artwork. There is an assumption that Native artists know the progression of contemporary Native art, and that they have a background in traditional arts. This may be true, but only in degrees. Very few universities focus on contemporary Native art and I am finding that picking up this education is a process of fits and starts. Before this trip, I never had a chance to see works by Oscar Howe from his early period, or to see pieces by artists I know and respect, like Benjamin Harjo, in a museum context. In short, both of these museums have world-class collections of art from multiple cultures that interest me. I could have spent a month at both. I would have preferred to spend more of my time there as a research student delving into details but the nature of my visit was to present information about me. Overall, I left Tulsa with impressions and questions. The foremost question is one of intent: what do I want my work to be as it reaches a level of maturity? In order to have my work be of this caliber I have to challenge how I think and how I work.
To cap these visits at the Philbrook and Gilcrease, I also spent time with the owners of Lovetts Gallery in Tulsa. My conversations with Lovetts encouraged my plans to incorporate more mixed media and modern elements in my work. The Tulsa visit jump started a professional re-evaluation and will be the starting point for new work. I plan on revisiting some shelved ideas, and pursuing new forms and media.
One thing is for certain, I am going back to Tulsa soon for more artwork, food, company, and inspiration!
(Oh, and did I mention the food was fabulous?)
I’m so happy, I don’t know where to start. I’d like to thank the Academy…
But seriously, folks. I’m proud to announce I am a recipient of the Artist’s Innovation Award from the Montana Arts Council.
The application process was open to all visual artists residing in the state of Montana. Six artists whose work embodies innovation in materials and concepts were chosen for this year’s award: myself, Jerry Iverson, Dave Kirk, Lori Ryker, Phoebe Toland and Lea Zoltowski. I’m honored to be included in such a great group of artists. Over the next year I will use the grant as a starting point for a new series of works; I also will be using some of the monies to revisit some techniques and projects that I’ve put on hold for the last five years. But in the meantime, I’ll bask in the glow.
