Artwork copyright Dennis Cunningham. Photo courtesy of the artist.

The Same But Different, 1996

Dennis Cunningham
(American, born 1949, died 2021)

Location: Redmond Middle School, Redmond

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Artist Dennis Cunningham composed The Same But Different as a narrative meditation about our relationship to the natural environment. Cunningham notes that this piece "is intended to help streamside visitors appreciate the life cycle of the fish and be good stewards of the river."

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