Artwork copyright Morse Clary. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Morse Clary. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Morse Clary. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Morse Clary. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Morse Clary. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Flotsam-Jetsam, Night and Day, 2002

Morse Clary
American (born 1939, died 2019)

Location: Raymond Junior-Senior High School, Raymond

About the Artwork

Flotsam-Jetsam, Night and Day is part of artist Morse Clary's series of mixed media sculptures based on the book form. This piece was composed after the artist saw fallen logs floating in Spirit Lake on Mount St. Helens. Clary noted that it acts as a sculptural metaphor and explores ideas of "buoyancy, submersion, dark waters, being cast adrift, night mystery and day wonders."

Clary uses the book as a sculptural symbol for many different ideas and themes. His goal with this series is "to present a 'text' of inter-related materials, textures, and forms which viewers can relate to, and which convey a sense of beauty and magic of this small planet we are a part of."

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

About the Artist

Clary grew up in Nebraska and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in art at Nebraska State College in Chadron. He was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army from 1962 to 1965. After that, he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in sculpture at the University of Idaho. He worked as a professional artist for over 50 years and taught art at the college level in Nebraska, Ohio, Idaho, and Washington, including at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Southeastern Washington for 25 years.