#wizardshat

It's a day for autumn magic in the Pacific Northwest. My bony companion looks positively dashing in this little peaked wizard's hat. Maybe a bit eerie as well.

Drive me through any region in the world and I will find art. The winding roads from Eugene, Oregon down the southern Oregon coast into Mendocino County, California, provided the backdrop for this collection of artwork. The art is as varied and eclectic as the roads travelled, from depictions of the unspoiled natural beauty of the region to the artwork on show in local galleries, online and in museums.

There is no greater artform than the beauty of the natural world. It seems that the more beautiful the location, the more difficult it is for artists to capture the scene with the same dramatic impact.  The sculptural sea stacks dotting the beach at Bandon, Oregon stand as giant sentinels facing the vast Pacific Ocean. Photographer Christopher Soukup artfully captures the mysterious and soulful majesty of the sea stack known as Wizard’s Hat. His creation of a black and white silhouette combined with the isolation of the rock heightens the grandeur and presence of this otherworldy natural sculpture.

The Decorative Arts are arguably one of the most ignored genres in the art world. In a world cluttered with throwaway furniture, Victor Dinovi’s creations in various exotic woods are a feast for the senses. His Tete-a-Tete double seat bench combines fluid and delicate lines yet is built strong enough to serve its purpose of good seating. Victor is both master artist and craftsman whose work deserves exhibition in our finest museums.  http://www.victordinovi.com

Walking through the giant redwood forests evokes a sense of man’s smallness in comparison to these statuesque columns. *Harry Pollitt’s brilliant redwood sculpture ‘Infinity Rising’ gives life back to a once felled redwood, organically enhancing its form with sinuous muscles as if pushing new growth. www.pollittstudio.com.

An impromptu coffee break in Gold Beach, Oregon brought me face to face with Elmo Williams photograph ‘Strong Shoulders’.  The simple image of a strong, masculine man gently carrying his daughter on his shoulders spoke to the importance of the father, daughter bond; one that is too often missing in a daughter’s life. While drinking my coffee an older gentleman at another table caught my attention. It was only when researching the photographer once home, that I realized that the gentleman was **Elmo Williams, now 102 years old. How I wish I had known to ask him about the story behind the photograph. (Mr Williams has no website hence the posting of my research photo).

Stumbling upon the University of Oregon’s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art in Eugene was a highlight of the trip. Thoughtfully curated, it features extensive holdings in historic and contemporary art including sizable and important Asian collections and is a must see for anyone visiting the city. It was here that I discovered American photographer, Brett Weston (1911-1993).  His 1972 composition of pine needles and snow is one of many thoughtful abstracts available for viewing at [email protected] or www.brettwestonarchive.com

Eugene resident, Olga Volchkova’s The Nature of Religion series initially takes us into the bygone world of religious icon painting – precise, skillful and detailed. Look a little closer and the viewer is drawn into her respectfully irreverent compositions, where she takes the tradition of icon painting in a modern direction. In Saint Hops, the artist draws on her Russian roots where beer is often paired with crawfish. She further adds the pretzel to draw on the American experience of pairing beer and pretzels. Visit www.jsma.uoregon.edu or her website www.olgalaxy.com to explore more of these modern iconographic gems. Each piece is equally delightful and exquisitely rendered.

The beauty of traveling to open road is being open to whatever the journey brings, without expectation or preconceived notions. Finding this eclectic group of artists who have captured the spirit of this beautiful region in all its quiet beauty has been a joy.

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___________________________________________________*Harry Pollitto found the redwood for this piece in Ohio at a barn sale. The wood most likely came from California. Given that this particular blog is about travel, I found it interesting that this piece of redwood had travelled so far from its origins.