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Artwork copyright Dennis Cunningham. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.
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Artwork copyright Dennis Cunningham. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.
_edited.jpg)
Artwork copyright Dennis Cunningham. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.
Pennant Race, 1994
Dennis Cunningham
American (born 1949, died 2021)
Location: North Tapps Middle School, Lake Tapps
About the Artwork
Pennant Race is a pastel drawing created by artist Dennis Cunningham. It is part of his body of work celebrating fishing and Pacific Northwest wildlife. Cunningham, who primarily creates prints in black and white, started experimenting with color pastels after a trip to Germany. The bold colors and symbolism used in Renaissance paintings (1400-1700) he saw there greatly influenced him. The pastel colors used in this piece reference our landscape and natural resources. Describing his composition, Cunningham notes, "My use of multiple images is an attempt to visually describe the character of real experience. Like memories, the images are layered and juxtaposed. Together they give a more complete impression of experience than a single image can provide."
This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Dieringer School District.
About the Artist
Oregon artist Dennis Cunningham (1949-2021) created graphic relief prints and paintings with elaborate and witty visual narratives. His chosen medium was linoleum prints in black ink on white paper. He often focused on landscapes of lakes and streams, with a lone figure engaging in his favorite activity: fishing. His artworks explore personal identity, a sense of place, and environmental concerns.Born in Medford, Oregon, Cunningham received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Museum Art School (now Pacific Northwest College of Art) in Portland, Oregon in 1975. He was one of the founding members of Blackfish Gallery in Portland. He taught printmaking at Pacific Northwest College of Art and Marylhurst University (both in Oregon).
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