Artwork copyright Dennis Cunningham. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Wild Future/Wet Hands, 1996

Dennis Cunningham
(American, born 1949, died 2021)

Location: Soap Lake Middle/High School, Soap Lake

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Wild Future/Wet Hands is part of artist Dennis Cunningham’s series “The Wind River Prints.” He notes that these artworks represent “our relationship to the river environment and our responsibility to protect it while we use and enjoy it.” The series was originally commissioned as part of a federal project for the Wind River Ranger District in Washington. The imagery encourages streamside visitors to be responsible stewards of our wild rivers.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Soap Lake 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).