Artwork copyright Dennis Cunningham. Photo courtesy of the artist, 1991.

River City Salmon, 1989

Dennis Cunningham
(American, born 1949, died 2021)

Location: Centennial Elementary, Graham

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

River City Salmon is a print by artist Dennis Cunningham, about the relationship between the urban environment and the natural history of the Pacific Northwest. Cunningham notes that his composition 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 Bethel 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).