4
Clackamas Print
Feature
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Sculptor inspired by nature
. Katie Wilson
11
Co-Editor-in-Chief
There is no such thing as a
normal journey through life.
At least, that’s what visit
ing artist Julie Speidel has
proven.
Speidel came to the campus
last Thursday to give a lec
ture about her work. This visit
is part of the fifth Outdoor
Sculpture Exposition that
opened last Monday and will
run through July 7.
Speidel was raised in the
Northwest
and Europe,
and
studied
language, in
France prior
to attending
the
Cornish
Institute and
the University
of Washington
to pursue art.
She
then
worked as a
jeweler before
turning to con
centrate
on
large sculp
ture.
“My
art
grew out of SPEIDEL
jewelry-making,” she said.
Her sculptures and foun
tains are everywhere: in gal
leries, museums, private col
lections, universities and
embassies.
Sitting at the front of the
art studio in Room 108 of the
Art Center, photos of her work
projected on the screen behind
her, Speidel shared theories
and ideas concerning art.
“I hope to give you a win
dow between what we see and
what we create,” she said.
Her work, she says, empha
sizes forms and shapes found
in the natural world. She says
it is the “human impulse to act
on nature.”
She does not see herself
as an avant-garde artist. She
is influenced by early, tradi
tional art. '
“[Art that] grounds us
as
human
beings,”, she
said, but still
“keeps us in a
state of awe.”
As humans
and
artists, motion, a sense of movement,”
she says, we she said.
The standing human fig
need a “sense
of residence ure is fundamental in her art,
and familiar modern totem poles for mod
ern times.
ity.”
“We sCe the human form
She finds
herself con every day ... it’s endlessly
tinually going portrayed [in art],” she saidj
back to the “but it remains compelling.”
She names her sculptures
same “endur
ing”
forms, after various deities from many
such as the different cultures. Countries
cylinder, the and cultures inspire her.
cone, and especially the cir
Much of her work is made
cle.
from bronze, but she does not
“The circle is a recurring, feel limited by this in any
constant image,” she said. "I way.
don’t mean a perfectly round
“I remain most drawn to
circle.” She showed pictures metal,” she said. She does
of bones and stones.
experiment with other medi
“Circles imply a certain ums, though, such as glass
and sandstone. “I am always
stretched by the unique quali
ties of the material.”
As she closed her lecture,
she thanked the audience and
reminded them that: “Paying
attention to what we see and
experience is a great gift.”
The Art Department has
arranged for a lecture from
another artist, Roberto Salas,
to take place May 17 from 2
to 3 p.m.
For more information, con
tact the Art Department at
(503) 657-6958, ext. 2386.
LEFT:
Speidel,
a world-
renowned
artist,
speaks
to Art
Instructor
Rick True
before giv
ing her pre
sentation.
Her works
have been
showcased
in galleries
and nation
al embas
sies.
ABOVE: Speidel’s sculpture “A Ring Around Unfolding.” Many
of her works incorporate or take the form of circles.
BELOW: “Tyana,” another sculpture, in fabricated bronze.I
Speidel draws much inspiration from ancient cultures.
I
Staying quiet to make a statement
..... ;
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nearly 100 colleges nation- didn’t have a GSA; we wer
. wide, and an adaptation of the too afraid to start one. fl
program was implemented in
“I’m very glad I’m here.
Australia.
I’m very glad for the GSA1 It’
In a world of soundbites
“It is absolutely impor made me who I am today.”!
and Howard Dean screams, tant,” said Ted Johnson, the
The members of thi
saying nothing, can make an “unofficial president” of the Clackamas GSA will bi (
exceptionally loud statement. Gay-Straight Alliance here participating in the Day o Í
That’s the goal of the at Clackamas. “It symbol Silence, and all other student (
National Day of Silence. Held izes how queer students feel are encouraged to join infl r
every April 18, the Day of silenced in our society.”
“It’s not just a ‘gay’ thing, t
Silence is less of a protest than
Johnson can understand said Johnson. “Anyone cai
it is a show of solidarity with that feeling. “My high school participate.”
the gay, lesbian, bisexual and was very conservative. We
The specific goal on thi
transgendered (or
Day of Silence is ti
LGBT) commu
help bring about a
nity. Participants
end to harassmei
do not speak, and
of LGBT youth
often do not write,
However, it als|
type or communicate
serves as a platform t
in any other way, to
raise awareness abot
symbolize the silence
the homosexual, bisexua
endured every day by
and transgendered mem
LGBT youth.
bers of our communitfl
The Day of Silence
Johnson himself hope
started at the University
for greater understand
of Virginia in 1996.
ing. “Some people
At just over 150
they just don’ ’
.participants, the
think of it a
day was consid
real /ovejani.
ered a success by
that
botner! °
its organizers. The next
me.
year, with a Web site and
More information, plul S
word “national” tacked onto
additional resources, can b< c
its name, the National Day
found at www.dayofsilence
of Silence was picked up by
org.
Laura Cameron
Feature Editor
with focus study areas in:
■ Flexible scheduling
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