In the Gallery October 1st – 30th, 2021
Fever Dream: Abstract Interpretations of Dreamscapes & Nightmares
Exhibition: October 1 – 30, 2021
Columbia Center for the Arts is excited to present Fever Dream: Abstract Interpretations of Dreamscapes and Nightmares.
Opening on Friday October 1st, the gallery will be open from 11am-7pm.
Fever dream is inspired by the artists’ abstract interpretations of their personal dreamscapes and nightmares. From surreal landscapes to the things that lurk in the shadows of the mind, Fever Dream is a rollercoaster ride through lunacy and the macabre.
This show will be curated by Tom Lehmann of Blue Collar Agency in Hood River Oregon.
About the Curator
Tom Lehmann is the creative director and partner at Blue Collar Agency, a local full-service marketing agency located in Hood River. Lehmann is an avid art collector, artist, and designer who enjoys the outdoors, new experiences, travel, and being “an all-around weird guy.” Tom describes himself as a “cautious optimist with a dark sense of humor.”
Artists
This show displays work by invited and juried artists. Invited artists are those typically more well-known or they are established artists invited by the juror/curator. Juried artists are artists who are selected out of applicants for the show.
Peter Voigt: “My Art is about whatever I want it to be about. Right now I am interested in releasing physical and mental trauma in order to create a new life free of the past. My art is about entering a state of mind where I am free to be myself. My story is different, you’ve never heard anything like it. My story begins on a planet far away from earth. This is a dark home planet devoid of air and light where only reptiles can survive. On this planet there is a pyramid in a desert where a pillar of pure light and information tapers to a single point, free of time and space. That place is forbidden to all. There is a high school jock wearing a black letterman jacket and scuffed up jeans. He drives a convertible and wears cool black shades. His hair is streaked with gold. His teeth are sharp. Picture him. He is immortal and cannot die. Once, in another life, he fought and killed to serve an evil master. Now he wanders the universe alone, searching for a new world. My story begins on a planet where no human life could survive.
My story is different. You’ve never heard anything like it.”
See more of Peter’s works here: petervoigtlac.com
Follow Peter on Instagram @petervoigtlac
Kim Lindemyer: “Magic is everywhere. We are immersed in it even if we don’t believe in it. Through my love of ritual and ceremony I honor this Magic and I am grateful to share it through my art.
I am an Artist, Herbalist and Metalsmith who has also enjoyed careers in Graphic Design and Visual Presentation. I was the Owner and a Tattoo Artist at Raven’s Eye Body Art in Hood River and had the honor of illustrating Stephen Harrod Buhner’s
book “Plant Intelligence and the Imaginal Realm”. I have worked mainly in pencil but discovered a love of painting through intuitive painting classes with Jesse Reno and Flora Bowley.
For this show, Fever Dream, I felt the Spirit Beings and Ancestors were dream visitors…the veil is thin in the dark. They could also be seen as Guardians and Protectors as we sleep. I reside in Mosier, Oregon, where my company, Divine Juju, is located.”
Follow Kim on Instagram @kimlindemyer
Teresa Knight: “As an artist, I prefer to work with realistic and surrealistic subjects. Drawing, painting, sculpture and multimedia are some of the creative disciplines that I enjoy. Nature fills me with inspiration and I pour that into my art. The subject chooses the media; whether it be 2D or 3D each has a unique facet of expression.”
See more of Teresa’s works here: artnphotos.com/
Facebook @TeresaWeismannKnight
Heather Tomlinson: Heather Tomlinson works at Eastern Oregon University as a costume design professor. The focus of her artwork centers around costumes, clothing and fiber arts. The natural beauty of abstract forms and colors found in nature serves as inspiration– those varying shapes, textures and colors found therein. Overlooked foliage trampled under-foot, organic matter hidden beneath rocks or below a person’s direct line of vision. This particular piece depicts the underbelly of a boulder through the layering of yarn of varying colors, widths and textures utilizing a tufting technique.
Follow more of Heather’s works here: heathertomlinsonshine.com
Nic Vik: Hello, my name is Nicholas Vik Laurance (AKA Nic Vik). I am an artist, and a fourth generation farmer from Mt. Hood. I was born and raised here, left for about ten years, and have been back creating art and farming ever since. I am the co-founder, and owner of the Remains Gallery in Hood River. I have had an artistic side for most of my life, but it was never really recognized until I was a teenager. At the time, I needed direction in life, and I simply looked at what I was good at and art was the only answer I had. So, from that day on, I started taking it seriously, and have done something creative almost every day since then. Art really saved me, and provided me with direction. It gave me a sense of purpose, and something to constantly practice and improve upon. The subject matter that I paint just comes from my wandering, and overactive imagination. I’ll get an idea in my head, and plot out the details as the painting takes shape. It’s a little difficult to describe, but I suppose you could say that it is a semi-realistic depiction of strange happenings since I don’t rely on much photo reference, and the scenarios that I depict are somewhat obscure/dark/impossible. I try to challenge myself creatively, and technically in the subjects I choose, and strive not to conform to my own “brand” or style. I refuse to paint the same thing over and over in slightly different ways. I think stretching my personal boundaries, and constantly challenging my skill set is what keeps it fun and interesting. Hopefully other people enjoy it as well.
Follow more of Nic’s works here: nicvikart.com
Facebook @nic.vik
Instagram @nicvikart
Hickory Mertsching: Objects of man-made detritus, hand held tools, vessels of storage and consumption all find their place in a narrative of balance with animate creatures and plants in the contemporary still life paintings of Hickory Mertsching. The natural themes of the passing of time, changing environments/seasons, ephemeral glimpses, and predator/prey relationships all take place in Hickory’s traditionally painted oil paintings. Hickory’s oil painting techniques include stylistic forced illustration to lose impressionist brushwork resulting in a unique representational style balancing between realism and naturalism. After receiving a BFA in Fine Arts he began his career working in fine art bronze casting foundries before becoming a professional painter in the late 2000s. Hickory has been exhibiting in non-traditional and traditional galleries in the Pacific Northwest since then, with numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the past decade. His work has graced nationally recognized album covers and has been featured in various publications. When not engaged in his painting practice, ( “A painter should be in the studio daily even if for a few hours”) Hickory can be found raising his two children, and entertaining hobbies of gardening, fishing, bird watching, and plein air painting. Hickory Mertsching is based out of Portland, OR.
Find more of his works here: hickorymertsching.com
Instagram @hickorymertsching
Facebook @HickoryMertsching
Kaitlynn Baugh: Kaitlynn has always been drawn to the arts. She grew up going to an arts charter school in Beaverton, Oregon where she participated in many forms of art, such as theater and painting. She has always had an affinity for the occult and all things odd, however she is also drawn to the beauty found in nature. It was when she felt she was at her lowest during the global pandemic last year, that she felt called to create beautiful sculptures depicting the delicate balance between life and death that we find in the natural world. It was most interesting to her that when she began working with bones, and having to come face to face with the reality that is mortality, that made her feel most alive.
All of the bones used in the sculptures have been ethically sourced – meaning, every creature who’s bones these came from died of natural causes. Kaitlynn takes pride in knowing that the art she makes is not a byproduct of human’s tampering with the circle of life.
Find more of Kaitlynn’s works here: NorthwestOddities.Etsy.com
Facebook @NorthwestOddities
Instagram @northwestoddities
Stephen Kekule: “The dreaming mind, though removed from the body, is partially connected to the world we perceive in our waking state. It experiments with varying scenarios, exploring that which has been, could be, and is. It plays with symbolism and metaphor, reality and fantasy. At its best, it is uninhibited and free to wander, open to discovery and potential outcomes. It can be a great ally. Dreaming explores that feminine part of the self that is free of the constraints of the physical body. Within and without, it is able to pass through portals of other realms and dimensions. It is our link to those states of being. Sleepwalking is based on a personal dream. I was standing on the edge of a bridge looking over a shallow creek of flowing water. When I began sketching the recall, I found that I wasn’t motivated by that particular image, but once I changed the “location” I was inspired to reach deeper into what my unconscious was alluding to.”
Find more of Stephen’s works here: Kekule-studios.com
Luke Tucker: Luke Tucker is a contemporary painter based out of Oregon. His work can be described as a mix of tonal, abstract and impressionist. Inspired by the grey skies of the Pacific Northwest, he often places heavy importance on mood and atmosphere while striving to capture the subtleties of the woods, rivers and canyons that weave a story of our history as well as our relationship with the natural world.
Find more of Luke’s works here: letucker.com
Instagram @luke_e_tucker
Kristine Pollard: “With fiber art, I am drawn to the textures, working with my hands, the flexibility of fiber as it can be woven and unwoven many times to find the vision I seek. I am attracted to the softness and the gentleness as well as the durability and strength, the abstract and yet the quiet it brings as well. I love the the idea of a work consisting of hundreds or thousands of feet of rope and just as many knots that complete each piece.”
“With knotting, it has allowed me to create wearable, functional, and visual art. I also think of my work as touchable art… To close your eyes and ‘see’ what is created through touch, by feeling the landscapes, the designs, the patterns, and the open spaces – this adds a beautiful element of how my work can be experienced – Seeing an image through touch… Feeling what is pictured. – seeing art with your hands-“
Kristine’s artist studio and featured work is located at Arrowleaf Work//Shop in White Salmon, Washington.
Find more of Kristine’s works on Facebook @kristine.pollardstein
Instagram @Kristine_pollard_fiberart
Chas Martin: “E pluribus unum. Out of many, one. Maintaining the balance between community and individuality is our ongoing challenge. I use abstract figurative sculpture to amplify that challenge.
My characters are multicolored, genderless, politically and religiously neutral archetypal personalities. These simple, dynamic forms are nuanced storytellers whose gestures communicate primal qualities, emotions and situations.
I produce pages of sketches as I investigate each character’s spirit. When a unique voice emerges, I move into three dimensions. Then, as a director guides an actor, I reshape the armature to best express each character’s subtleties. The position of fingers, tilt of the head, or rotation of the shoulders all impact how the form occupies its space.
In theater, each scene ends with an unanswered question. The suspense engages you. I use negative space to pose questions. This initiates a rapport between the sculpture and eventually reveals the archetype to the observer. Embracing these archetypes strengthens understanding of ourselves as individuals and our role as humanists.”
Find more of Chas’s works here: chasmartin.com
Facebook @chas.martin.31
Instagram @chasmartinart
Debora Lorang: “Finding beauty in things that are broken or decaying intrigues me. It’s a personal challenge to use discarded and natural objects to make something inspirational. I beachcomb to find most of my art supplies. These weathered fragments are my muse; relics with a past that I resurrect and conform into my unique artwork. As of recently I have returned to sculpting and I am adding sculpted pieces to my recycled art work.”
Find more of Debora’s works here: lorangfineart.com
Facebook @Lorang Fine Art
Rebecca Flaiz: Hood River based sculptor, Rebecca Flaiz, has been playfully honing her skills of pottery and sculpture since highschool. A dentist and a dreamer by day, she blends her passion for art with her skillful hands and imaginative mind to create these surreal little monsters. Each monster was made from a combination of multiple wheel thrown and hand sculpted pieces.
Find more of Rebecca’s works on Instagram @faccatzia
Danny McCarty: Danny McCarty is an award winning director/producer/composer who also happens to be a photographer. He started off as a military photographer and went on to earn a BA in photography. Upon graduation he moved to Northern California to work as a commercial photographer for a number of years. Bored with commercial work Danny went on to build a career in multi-media. Finishing up that career in the Bay Area he moved to Hood River, Oregon to find a new path. That path led him back to photography. Free from commercial restraints he now spends his time in pursuit of the perfect landscape or images that work in any number of projects he’s working on. His current projects include “Fear…Less.” A visual representation of removing fear and intimidation in our lives. “By Another Name”, a series of locations that were named by European settlers and explorers who seemed to not notice, or care, that these locations already had names. Danny uses many tools available within the photographic palate; film, digital color, digital infrared. Along with photography Danny spent the last few years perfecting the fine art of printing.
Find more of Danny’s works here: Dannymccarty.com
Follow on Facebook @YoDMc
Instagram @yodmc
April Donovan: “I’m inspired by nature and have historically rendered very detailed landscapes, flora, and fauna with pen and ink, acrylics, and gouache. I’ve made works in the studio and plein-air. About a year ago, I started painting with spray paint to bring more gesture and feeling to my work.
My favorite landscape is the High Sierra of California. When I attended the ‘Ansel Adams: In our Time’ exhibit at the Portland Art Museum this year, I learned some of Ansel’s favorite places in Yosemite, and decided to follow in his footsteps.
I loaded my pickup truck with five 4′ x 3′ canvases, 24 cans of paint and supplies, and notes about Ansel’s top spots. I road tripped to Yosemite for 2 weeks in July 2021 and made 5 plein-air pieces with Montana Colors spray paint. “Half Dome Nightscape” came to life with the real sunset color palette of Yosemite Valley.”
Find more of April’s works here: behance.net/aprildonovan
Facebook @frogzin
Instagram @ap_real_art
Erin Loughran; “This piece represents my subconscious and conscious self in dealing with co- dependency and alcoholism. In the past year I have made a conscious effort to address my past and how it has currently affected my present and future well being . In this journey of self healing and discovery, I often found myself doubting my perspective. Questioning whether I truly understood my actions and the consequences that followed. Especially in regards to my emotional behaviors in how they affected my loved ones.While making this piece I often fell under the spell of victimizing myself. Jumping from one emotion to another justifying their purpose. And in return my pieces reflected this; it became a scattered collage of symbolic images that couldn’t coincide with one another. In a desperate attempt to center my vision. I called upon my tarot cards to guide me. I pulled the VII of Wands.The Reversed Seven of Wands, in a tarot reading is a cosmic sign to not give up hope. Even through the toughest parts, or through the obstacles that I might face. This card is a reminder that I am almost there, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, keep fighting. I couldn’t help but laugh when I pulled this card. Because in reality when you’re truly looking at yourself, it’s never easy, it’s not supposed to be. To really understand what it means to have self awareness, you can lose sight of the reason you started in the first place. I made this piece to acknowledge not only the pain I caused others but also to honor the pain that I was in.”
Featured in the Entryway Gallery
Brian Chambers; My primary photographic goal is to capture and share the beauty and restorative power of the natural world. I love trying to balance the artistic components of photography with the technical challenges of capturing an image. Success in landscape photography requires one to spend time in nature; watching more sunrises, staring at the rising moon, sitting beneath a star filled sky, hiking into the wilderness in an effort to capture that unique light that can make a scene come alive. Getting all of the components to come together to make an image that moves people and preserves that unique moment is my reward.