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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 2017)
Wednesday, December 6, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 5 Art in the natural world By Helen Schmidling Correspondent Caroline Stratton-Crow stepped back from hanging the last piece of art on the wall and exclaimed, “This is really pretty scary — seeing all of my art in one place!” This month, Stratton- Crow’s whimsical, natural watercolors and acrylics are hanging on the walls of the Community Room at Sisters Library. This collection is not a comprehensive view of her creative art. She left the three- dimensional spirit masks and horses at home. More than 20 paintings in the library rep- resent her signature images: junipers, horses, ravens and owls, plus a few watercolor landscapes. The earliest piece in this show is called “Dancing Junipers.” She loves juni- pers, because they grow in the most difficult conditions, and the junipers that grow in rockier soil have more char- acter than the ones that grow in easy conditions. Stratton- Crow’s junipers are gnarly, yet whimsical, in stripes of gray, brown, and tan that twist playfully around the trunks and branches. Her horses are an expres- sion of freedom, strength, and power. “I’ve been horse crazy since I was a little girl,” she said with a wide grin. “It’s a focus on connection, and it’s why so many young women grow to love horses. There’s an ongoing communication,” she said, about the connection between horse and rider, and the freedom and feeling of riding. She got her first horse when she was in eighth grade. “I set up jumps and rode all the time. I was ridiculously smitten,” she said. She had to find a new home for her first horse when she went off to college, but since then, she has acquired five more horses, all mares, and has made each one since the first a life commitment. “I just make it work for me.” Owls are another promi- nent symbol in Stratton- Crow’s work. “I just see them all the time when I go out riding,” she said. “They just show up in my life, through the trees,” whether she’s out walking, or riding one of her horses. “They are a spirit animal for me.” It’s unusual that she sees owls during the daytime, because they are nocturnal, but she thinks the daytime owls are bring- ing the dark into the light. Sometimes she paints a single owl and other times perches owls in the branches of juni- pers. Owls are a symbol of wisdom, and Stratton-Crow strives for wisdom. And what about the crows? “Well, I’m married to one,” she laughs (Her hus- band is Jim Crow). But the birds on the branches or in the sky are really ravens, not crows. “They’re in the same family, that includes mag- pies and jays, but they do not interbreed.” To Stratton- Crow, they are quick-witted and smart, and they represent magic, and she says, “I love the magical.” ’11 BMW 335Xi AWD 3.0L Inline 6 Twin Turbo, 89k, premium/sports package diamond. Special $14,900 PHOTO BY HELEN SCHMIDLING The work of Caroline Stratton-Crow is on display at Sisters Library. Stratton-Crow grew up in Delmar, New York, a suburb of Albany. She moved to the Oregon Coast as a teenaged hippie, and studied at Oregon State. She learned astrology, See ART SHOW on page 9 Dr. Thomas R. Rheuben General, Cosmetic, Implant and Family Dentistry ~ Over 22 years Serving Sisters ~ Buy or sell your car with locally owned ... Sisters Car Connection We are preferred providers for Delta Dental PPO and Premier, MODA, Advantage, Pacifi c Source, Cigna and the V.A. (Low miles • newer than 2005) 541-815-7397 541-549-0109 Best Price! No Has Hassles! sles! l CAR CARFAX ARFAX FAX Ce Certifi rtifi rti t fied! ed! 102 W. Barclay Dr., Sisters UNIQUE GIFTS Handmade in Sisters | 304 W. Adams Ave. | Sisters Family in Town? Holiday Party? Don’t Feel Like Cooking? We’ve got you covered! Reservations recommended. Gift certificates available. Visit our showroom for one-of-a-kind custom iron work Hand-forged right here in Sisters! 541-549-9280 | 207 W. Sisters Park Drive | PonderosaForge.com | CCB# 87640 541-549-EATS (3287) 243 N. Elm St. Sisters Tues.-Sun., 5-9 p.m. • Walk-ins welcome! 1000s of looks. 100s of colors. 25 brands. 1 stylish you. Your Local Style Consultant is just a call or click away. Schedule your FREE consultation today! ® Genesis Custom Shades 541-788-8444 www.BudgetBlinds.com CCB Licensed #197715 | Bonded *Applies to selected Lafayette Interior Fashions ™ window treatments sold by Budget Blinds. ® Some restrictions may apply. Ask for details. At participating franchises only. Not valid with any other offers, discounts or coupons. Valid for a limited time only. Offer good at initial time of estimate only. ©2017 Budget Blinds LLC. All Rights Reserved. Budget Blinds is a trademark of Budget Blinds LLC and a Home Franchise Concepts Brand. Each franchise independently owned and operated. Franchise opportunities available.
