In partnership with Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital,
the Columbia Art Gallery is pleased to announce
“Childhood Remembered”

Twelve artists, including several who are nationally-known, will be presenting their interpretation of the theme "Childhood Remembered." From bullfrogs and butterflies to monsters under the bed, this show will celebrate the innocence of youth.

Please scroll down to see examples of images that you'll see at the show.

Show Details

The show opens on Friday, October 1st, with a public reception from 6-8pm, and extends through October 31st. Be sure to vote in the People's Choice Award.

Win an Original Oil Painting!

Bring a Childhood Photo ...

Bring a non-returnable photo to the Columbia Art Gallery of a childhood event/moment and get the chance to have your memory selected to be painted by Gorge artist Todd Smith. All month, the Columbia Art Gallery will be accepting photo submissions from the public; at the end of the month, one photo will be chosen as the winner and the recipient will receive a lovely framed treasure sure to become a family heirloom.

Participating Artists

The twelve artists featured in this exciting show are:

Mary Rollins (The Dalles, OR) is well-known for her finely-articulated watercolors depicting the rivers and rock beds of the Pacific Northwest. This show represents a movement in a new direction for Mary, although she is no stranger to the world of children, having illustrated children’s materials early in her career. “My kinship with the natural world began early in life,” says Mary, “I would spend countless hours on the banks of our farm creek, fascinated by the abundance of creatures.” Her works to be included in this show will build upon those childhood experiences with nature, as well as those from raising her own children. Her beautifully rendered pieces are sure to evoke the lazy timelessness of innocent summer days gone by.

Chris Giffin (Jefferson, OR) creates assemblage art, primarily from vintage, found items. Chris considers herself to be a modern hunter/gatherer and describes her work as a little bit like toys, a little bit like sculpture. Ranging from functional to decorative, her jewelry, clocks, wall pieces and sculptures represent industrial folk art at its most abstractly endearing.

Arthur Higgins (Mosier, OR) works with materials ranging from metal to leather to create elegant mechanical floor sculptures in which the mechanics such as crank, chain, pushrods, sprockets, etc., are visible but not essential elements. “The content of my work is about the presence of nature,” says Arthur, “I want to convey the feelings I get from nature, the emotional response.” Viewers of all ages will find appeal in the colorful design and elegant movement of these engaging works of art.

Henry Stinson (Pullman, WA) is known for his bold colors and the deceptive simplicity of his work in oils. A closer look may reveal a subtle somberness underlying the nostalgia. Henry explains, “I like to use symbols in my work that have mythological or spiritual connotations. I paint because I have to. It's one of my connections to a feeling of higher purpose. To me, my paintings always seem much better when I get out of the way and just let them happen.” Modern impressionism meets playground reality: welcome to the jungle!

Steve Lameka/Susan Smith (Stevenson, WA) are a mother-son team that creates whimsical yet functional children’s furniture. Bright colors appeal to children, while the abstract designs spark their imagination. An artist and art instructor, Susan passed her love of art on to hundreds of children, including her son, Steve. Steve designs and builds the pieces, while Susan paints these one-of-a-kind works of art.

Jonathan Queen (Cincinnati, OH) is nationally known for his meticulously rendered still life oil paintings, which have a heightened sense of realism. He works from direct observation, developing intriguing, enigmatic compositions that are based on personal narratives. Favorite subjects include vintage toys and figurines. The quirky subject matter of Jonathan’s paintings draws immediate attention and his thoughtful titles serve to deepen the fascination, as the iconic toys of childhood become emblematic on a much higher plane of sophistication.

Bonnie White (White Salmon, WA) works in both watercolor and oils. With subject matter ranging from the Columbia Gorge to farmyard fowl, Bonnie is a popular and prolific painter. Her inspiration for this show includes her granddaughter, as well as memories from her own childhood.

Louie Gizyn (Corvallis, OR) states that she “majored in art since kindergarten and received my Bachelor of Arts degree in 1976.” Louie works with clay and cloth to create one-of-a-kind figurines. Her sculptures still reflect the language of the marionettes she started with, years ago, although her work now consists of mobiles and standing figures. Her subjects range from clowns, jugglers and mimes to quirky old women and storybook-inspired characters.

Todd Smith (The Dalles, OR) is an accomplished oil painter, equally proficient in landscapes, still lifes and figures. His interest in this show stemmed from a love of figure painting and the opportunity to showcase some of the fun experiences his children had while growing up. Todd explains, “My paintings in this show will depict childhood experiences, some of which will evoke similar memories in the viewers; but a few will show some special experiences a few lucky kids have had.” Todd’s painterly approach enhances the feeling of immediacy in his works, which has a particular affinity to the fleeting moments which are his focus.

Rachel Harvey (Mt. Hood, OR) paints with oils, primarily landscapes, with an occasional foray into the whimsical. Her work for this show is greatly influenced by her 4-year-old daughter and 1-year old son, who “vicariously provide the endless joy and wonder of discovery.” Rachel’s works evoke the memory of being a small person exploring a big world.

Jake Szrameck (Salem, OR) designs and builds wooden toys for children. At first glance, they appear to be stained different colors, but are in fact made of completely natural woods from all over the world. Jake selects specific types of wood to bring each piece to life, and the results are astounding: beautifully natural yellows, reds and browns work together to create a functional piece of art that will last a lifetime.

Representative Samples

Here are some examples of the wide range of interpretations on the theme "Childhood Remembered" that you'll see at the show . . .

Also On Display 

Art by kindergarten and elementary school students ...

May Street Elementary Students: On loan from the Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Birth Center, the gallery will display Arrivals, an art quilt created by May Street Elementary fourth-grade students with artist Marbe Cook.

Marbe comments about the art quilt; “many current community members who joined their families at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital shared their baby pictures. These pictures were used as the top layer of the three pieces. Collectively these pieces reflect the arrival of life and healing in our community. Each child born brings a feeling of new hope, innocence and an opportunity to refocus. This is a special kind of healing that touches the core of our humanity – life.”

Bright Beginnings School: Kindergarten students from Bright Beginnings School will create pastel paintings depicting their birth experiences. While exploring with color, shape and line, the students will express their feelings and subconscious memories of their arrival on this planet. This work will be on display in the studio.

Questions?

For questions about the show or Columbia Art Gallery, please contact the gallery manager, Catherine Kiewit, at 541-397-8877, ext. 115.

About Columbia Art Gallery

Columbia Art Gallery, located in the Columbia Center for the Arts, is a non-profit community gallery with the mission to promote an arts-rich environment in the Columbia River Gorge. Click for directions and hours of operation.