Impressions, 2013

Stuart Schechter
(American, born 1958)

Location: Washington State University - Vancouver, Vancouver

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Artist Stuart Schechter created Impressions from a Douglas fir tree that was cut down to make way for the new building. Schechter mapped the tree, cut it into planks, and hung each of the thirty-nine planks in the same position it occupied before being cut, creating an abstracted cross-section of the tree. He added carved symbols of the Vancouver area past and present, such as a bear, trees, and salmon, and words and phrases. As he worked on the sculpture, Schechter kept wondering "What kind of impression will I leave on earth?" From the second-floor balcony, you can see that the words on the planks start to unite into stanzas and a poem about being "lost" – in nature, in a forest, in yourself. Schechter notes that "In a way the tree has come home. This tree lay in a field for two years before I found that it still existed… The tree traveled back to its original spot where I hope it stays for a long while." The words on the planks are from the poem "Lost" by David Wagoner, whose main subject is the natural environment of the Pacific Northwest.

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

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Stuart Schechter explores where and how art and technology coincide, and describes himself as being "always a tinkerer".

Schechter received a degree in mechanical engineering with a focus on robotics from Wayne State University in Detroit, a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1986, and then studied painting and sculpture at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston where he met Ralph Helmick. Between 1993 and 2008, he worked collaboratively with Helmick to create sculptures and installations for public spaces. He is currently working as a solo artist and is based in Massachusetts.

ARTWORK DETAILS
Material CategorySculpture - wood
MediumDouglas fir wood and stainless steel
Dimensions16 ft x 6 ft x 6 ft
ID NumberWSAC2010.018.000
Acquisition MethodSite responsive commission
Artist LocationMassachusetts, United States
Location Information
AgencyWashington State University
Artwork LocationWashington State University - Vancouver
Undergrad Building, North entrance, Main floor
WA CountyClark
PlacementInterior
Site TypeUniversity
Address14204 NE Salmon Creek Ave.
Vancouver, WA 98686
Geo. Coordinates45.730262, -122.635898
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