Artwork copyright James Lavadour. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright James Lavadour. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Land of Origin, 2015

James Lavadour
(American | Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla, born 1951)

Location: Walla Walla Veterans Home, Walla Walla

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

James Lavadour’s Land of Origin is a series of four abstract 3-color prints that are inspired by the landscapes of eastern Oregon and the Umatilla Reservation. They were created at the Crow's Shadow Institute of the Arts a professional, non-profit printmaking studio located on the Umatilla Reservation, near Pendleton, Oregon, where Lavadour lives and works.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Department of Veteran's Affairs.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

James Lavadour (Walla Walla) creates expressive paintings and prints that are deeply influenced by the natural environment and geology of Northeast Oregon. He grew up in the foothills of the Blue Mountains on the Umatilla Reservation near Pendleton, Northeast Oregon, and is a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla. In his own words, "Everything that is in the land is in me... My art education came from the land. I learned through endless walking, looking, hearing, and feeling the natural world around me." Lavadour has been making artwork for more than four decades.

In 1992, Lavadour co-founded Crow's Shadow Institute of the Arts, a non-profit organization and printmaking studio on the Umatilla Reservation, near Pendleton, Oregon. The institute provides artist residencies and Indigenous arts workshops. Crow’s Shadow is the only professional fine art print publisher located on a Native American reservation in the United States.