It is the time of the year as the hours of daylight wane and nighttime begins to dominate that we begin anew to reflect on what we are building for our future and what past activities have been influential. The board of PNWS has been doing that reflection, asking ourselves what our members might be looking for from the organization and what are they interested and willing to do to support it. One measure of assessment is to check the level of member participation in events throughout the year. Monthly potluck studio visits, virtual gatherings for sculpture conversations, exhibits, gallery shows and festivals have had a steady stream of participation, but hearing directly from members gives the board the most reliable information to plot a course for our future. Make a point of contacting a board member to share your vision and be a part of crafting our future.
I have been thinking lately about what inspires me to create and how my participation in PNWS has been a big part of that process. I find that I am often spurred by a call for artworks centered around a theme. Most recently, ideas have come directly from projects, posts and contact with other members. The coalescence theme for our current show at the Cave Gallery is one example. Contemplation of the meaning of the word led to investigation of different materials/media coming together and eventually joining with a fellow artist to create a piece for that show.
A conversation with member Andy Kennedy spurred another creative response after we discussed the idea of having an exhibit celebrating the female breast. Still in the idea stage, a call for sculptors for a show (possibly) titled, “The Persistence of Mammery” might well serve to alleviate some boob taboo and shame as well as a provide a healthy expose on the functionality and beauty of that aspect of the body.
I was also recently been heavily influenced by fellow sculptor Todd McGrain who created a foam version of a bust of York, the enslaved member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. In a bold and clandestine move, he placed it on a plinth in Mt. Tabor Park 5 years ago when Black Lives Matter events were happening across the country. The spot was formerly occupied by a former Oregonian Editor that was discovered to be a racist. My subsequent investigations into this bit of history led me to create my own version of York.
Portland has since commissioned Todd to cast his sculpture in bronze and is now on display at the Portland Art Museum. It will soon be installed in the park. Todd will be speaking about his sculptural contribution along with Black historians Zachary Stocks and Dr. Milnerd at a PNWS sponsored artist’s talk on February 6th at 6 p.m. at the Arts Hub in Vancouver. I have invited other artists to participate in a York inspired exhibit of work to be shown at the February event.