Artwork copyright Debra Davis. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Lightning, 1999

Debra Davis
(American, born 1960)

Location: Medical Lake High School, Medical Lake

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Artist Debra Davis worked summers as a trail technician for the U.S. Forest Service, and witnessed many summer thunderstorms from a mountaintop or ridge. Returning to her studio in the winter, she wanted to capture this experience. The composition of Lightning is based on the landscape of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness near Mount Stuart, in the Cascade Range mountains of Washington state. She notes, "When the thunder started, we kept an eye on how close it was and if it was coming closer… It’s pretty exciting to be out in the open a few miles from a road when this is going on, especially when you have memories of close calls. All my thoughts turn to self-preservation."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Medical Lake School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Northwest artist and naturalist Debra Davis creates paintings and sculptures that are strongly influenced by her summer job as a seasonal forestry technician with the U.S. Forest Service. A longtime resident of Central Washington, Davis received her Master of Fine Arts degree from Central Washington University in Ellensburg and taught art at Yakima Valley College.