Artwork copyright Joe Feddersen. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Joe Nuess.
Artwork copyright Joe Feddersen. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Joe Nuess.
Artwork copyright Joe Feddersen. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Joe Nuess.
Artwork copyright Joe Feddersen. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Joe Nuess.
Artwork copyright Joe Feddersen. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Joe Nuess.
Artwork copyright Joe Feddersen. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Joe Nuess.
Artwork copyright Joe Feddersen. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Joe Nuess (detail).
Artwork copyright Joe Feddersen. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Joe Nuess.
Artwork copyright Joe Feddersen. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Joe Nuess (detail).
Artwork copyright Joe Feddersen. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Joe Nuess.
Artwork copyright Joe Feddersen. Photo courtesy of the artist, by Joe Nuess.
Plateau Fish Trap, 2015
Joe Feddersen
(American | Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, born 1953)
Location: Spokane Falls Community College, Spokane
ABOUT THE ARTWORK
Artist Joe Feddersen's glass and aluminum sculpture Plateau Fish Trap is based on and inspired by the fish traps of the local Plateau Native people of Eastern Washington. Feddersen's design celebrates the ingenuity and architectural beauty of these fish traps. It is installed at Spokane Falls Community College, located along the Spokane River in Northeast Washington. The sculpture reflects a historic relationship to the land while "speaking to the importance of the fisheries, especially the salmon that sustain our people."
This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Community Colleges of Spokane.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Celebrated artist Joe Feddersen (Okanagan and Arrow Lakes) explores Indigenous landscapes and icons, and the complex relationship between contemporary and native symbolism. He creates artworks in an array of mediums, including painting, printmaking, photography, collage, and works in glass.
Feddersen was a professor of art at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Western Washington, from 1989 to 2009 and is Emeritus Faculty. He is a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Washington in Seattle and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Feddersen lives and works in the small town of Omak, in Northeastern Washington. In 2025, he was honored with a Washington State Governor's Arts and Heritage Award.
ARTWORK DETAILS
| Material Category | Sculpture - glass |
| Medium | Fused glass, copper wire, and aluminum rod |
| Dimensions | 4 ft 5 in diameter x 9 ft 5 in length (irregular dimensions) |
| ID Number | WSAC2013.012.000 |
| Acquisition Method | Site responsive commission |
| Artist Location | Washington, United States |
Location Information
| Agency | Community Colleges of Spokane |
| Artwork Location | Spokane Falls Community College Building 30 (Falls Gateway), Main stairwell |
| WA County | Spokane |
| Placement | Interior |
| Site Type | College |
| Address | 3410 W Fort George Wright Drive Spokane, WA 99224 |
| Geo. Coordinates | 47.675829, -117.463950 |
| Before Visiting | Some artworks may be located in areas not accessible to the general public (especially in K-12 public schools). Consider contacting the site prior to a visit to ensure access. |
| Map |
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