2
The Clackamas Print
Wednesday, May 22,1996
Feature
Leland John’s art^vorl^
on display in’F
.¿I
Retiring Art
Instructor Leland
John’s artwork will
be on display in
the Pauling Gallery
until May 31.
(Left) Civil War Buff,
1982 (Right) Paris, Arc
Du Carousel, 1981
Joel Shempert
Staff Writer
In light of the fact that art
instructor Leland John is retiring
this June, the showing of his
works that is on display at the
Pauling Center is all the more sig
nificant. John’s drawings and
paintings, some of which date
back to the 65-year-old artist’s
childhood, represent a nigh in
comparable chance to experience
the genius of one of the greatest
artists in our area.
If any set of mere Words could
describe John’s magnificent art,
those still wholly inadequate
words would have to be, “Back to
Basics.” Leland John is a firm
believer in the importance of hon
est expression over pretentious
style, and it shows with brilliant
clarity in his work. John indicates
one of the paintings on display
from his childhood to illustrate
this. “It was done when i was in
nocent and unschooled, and so
there’s some awkwardness, but
there’s also truth and beauty,”
John points out. “As soon as I
got to school I started learning all
this stuff, and. . .in many ways I
became corrupted by all this silly
style. ..”
John’s work through the
years, though, shows little sign of
that “silly style,” and rather is
indicative of solid form, grace and
fluidity of line, and gorgeous use
of colors and shades. All his sub
jects, from his magnificent land
scapes, to his elegant nude fig
ures, to his charming and person
able portraits, are treated with the
respect and love borne of an art
ist dedicated to his craft.
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♦ ♦♦♦
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condemning the
techniques of design and
style,however, John acknowl
edges their usefulness and even
their necessity. “You still have to
have a sense of design, and all
those things that you learn, but
those have to be just the vocabu
lary, like correct spelling, and not
the end of it,” the artist says.
More than willing to practice
what he preaches, John is attempt
ing more than ever to return to
the roots of his artistic expression,
an endeavor which will surely be
aided by his imminent retirement.
“My latest work—it’s getting back
to that innocence,” John emphati
cally relates, “[of] looking straight
at a subject and really trying to
get the essence of that subject^’;
Though his time here is
nearly at a close, John is grateful
to have worked at CCC. I’ve re
ally enjoyed myself here, and
more than enjoyed, I’ve really
learned to respect the faculty and
our administration.. .and I’ve had
such wonderful students,” John
affirms. “It’s such a great thing
to be working with people who are
training to do the same thing
you’re doing.” John also hopes
that this pursuit of art will con
tinue in great numbers. “The rea
son that you can have a Renais
sance or a real development in art,
is when you have a lot of people
working in the same area who are
somewhat like-minded,” he said.
John is truly a man of great
vision and great art. Clackamas
is all the poorer for losing him.
His art, which will be on display
until May 31, is a genuine must-
see for anyone who appreciates
both fine art and the beauty of the
human soul. Leland John will be
missed; it is hoped that this op
portunity will not be.
Photos by
Paul Ulmen
(Below) View of Old
Oregon City Bridge, 1980
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