The Commuter

Sustaining the Spirit of Oregon's Bounty: Our Fish Story

Brandon Goldner
The Commuter

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

The “Sustaining the Spirit of Oregon’s Bounty: Our Fish Story” art exhibit at LaSells Stewart Center on Oregon State University’s campus had a reception for the artists Feb. 6. Spanning a variety of different media, artists were asked to submit work that represented what has been one of Oregon’s most treasured resources.

Jeanne Henry hadn’t seen her large sculpture “Fish Dream/Fish Nightmare” for a long while until the reception Feb. 6, as it had been commissioned elsewhere. When asked by another artist if the sculpture was hers, Henry replied, “This is my fish! And I haven’t seen it for two years… I even took it to the beach for a week and worked on it… So I just lived and breathed this thing, and I had to give it up.”

The emotional connection between the artists and their work was palpable. One artist spoke of how tragedy moved her to create an oil painting; another, trips around the world.

And from the two-dimensional, five-foot long paintings to the three-inch ivory medallions, there will be something of interest for followers of every medium of artistic expression.

The art exhibit runs through March 10 at LaSells Stewart Center on Oregon State University’s campus and is free to the public.

Photos by Brandon Goldner