COLLEGE CELEBRATES 50 YEARS
OUTDOOR ART FREE AND OPEN TO PUBLIC
BY STEPHANIE FAJARDO
If you stick with som ething long enough, anniversaries
are part of life. If you’re lucky, you get to celebrate your
accomplishments in a big, colorful way for everyone
to see.
C la ck a m a s C o m m u n ity C o lle g e is m a rk in g its
fiftieth year w ith festivities like the Outdoor Sculpture
In v ita tio n a l. For the n ext 10 w eeks, large outdoor
sculptures are dotting the Oregon City campus to help
celebrate the college’s birthday.
The exhibit showcases emerging and established artists
in our region who work in a variety of mediums and ideas.
The idea for the event came from retired instructor,
Rick True, w ho taught art at Clackam as for 26 years
and is a form er departm ent chair. True’ s iconic NW
sculpture, a two-story, blue copper fish mobile of a trout,
sturgeon, W hitefish, bluegill, bass and a catfish can be
seen sw im m ing high in the breeze next to Rook H all.
The fis h m obile pays hom age to True’ s firs t love,
fly -fish in g .
Nathan Orosco’s sculpture, located by the com munity
center is called “ B reaking G round and Sh arin g Our
Colors. ” Made up o f colorful plastic strips on top of a tall
pole, the structure looks like a flag. It’s long, translucent
strips o f colorful plastic sparkle and swirl like prisms in
the sun. Orozco said he used primary colors so when the
strips overlap, they’d give viewers a different shade with
each gust o f wind. "I like public art because people can
“ happen” upon m y work, unlike having to go inside a
gallery. My flag represents the ever changing landscape
o f our culture and society,” said Orosco.
Lee Im onen’s giant rusted “ Burner” sculpture, located
in front o f Randall, is a giant rusted tower on massive
log legs is inspired by structures seen at logging m ills.
Now, we often see their remnants h alf deteriorated and
covered by blackberry briars.
In Vicki Lynn W ilson’s “ Propagate” on the lawn in
front o f Dye Learning Center, is a large circular garden
that looks like a ripple effect caused by taking a first
step. The sm aller gardens are created by other unseen
thinkers doing the sam e. Where the gardens overlap,
she said, “ Something new is created.” Wilson considered
its environment and the people who will see it. “ I think
public art can give viewers a sense o f belonging. Art
can m ake them pause and consider the place where
they stand and w hat it means for them to be there,”
said W ilson. “ It would be nice if someone felt inspired
to dip their toe and cross p ollinate their ideas w ith
others,” she said.
Kate S im m o n s, C C C a rtis t, teach er and director
o f the A lexander G allery oversees this year’s event.
You’ve probably been greeted by her perky “ Gretta” dog
sculpture, inspired by her own rat terrier, sitting on high
alert at the bench across from the Com m unity Center.
“ A rt has played a major role at o u r school over the
years and we’re proud to be a part o f our com m unity’ s
creative developm ent,” said Sim m ons.
The anniversary celebration on May 21 is free and open
to the public. The artist’ s reception w ill feature light
refreshm ents, a guided tour o f the sculptures to hear
about the artist’ s process.
Performance troupe Pendulum will perform. A ll the
sculptures are on loan from the artists until June 3, but
this year, Clackam as will take a peoples’ choice vote
on w hich piece w ill take up perm anent residence on
cam pus. Voting can be done online or in person at the
A SG office starting M ay 1.
Left: See “ Nest” by Jesse
Swickard, displayed near
the Niemeyer building.
Right: K piece titled
“Anna” by Julian Voss
Andreae is displayed by
the Dye Learning Center.
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