Artwork copyright Ronna Neuenschwander. Photo courtesy of the artist, 1986.

I Am Not A Nomad, 1984

Ronna Neuenschwander
(American, born 1954)

Location: River Homelink School, Battle Ground

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

‘I Am Not A Nomad’ is a ceramic sculpture created by artist Ronna Neuenschwander. Her trip to the Sahara Desert in the African country of Mali inspired this piece. She based the form on a millet cereal granary used by the Dogon tribe in Mali. She notes, “The Dogon tribe persists, despite the drought, in isolation in the Bandiagara Cliffs away from the Niger River, where the drought permits a daily diet of millet. As the search for water continues, wells must be dug on the desert floor farther and farther away from the cliff dwellings and have moved onto the desert floor. When caves and granaries become derelict and are abandoned, they often become burial sites. Sacrifices of animals and millet porridge on the burial sites leave their distinguishing marks. The walls of the base of this piece are typical of desert architecture, with hundreds of hand prints patted into the surface of the "Boko" (clay) for subtle decoration.”

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

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Portland, Oregon-based artist Ronna Neuenschwander creates figurative ceramic sculptures. Her works are influenced by the artistic motifs and traditions she has encountered during her travels. She notes, "I don't consider myself a history buff, but I am an avid collector of the overlooked and obscure in history. This tendency, along with a delight for the humorous and absurd, has influenced my approach to ceramic sculpture for years." Neuenschwander received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Kansas in 1976.