6 Paintings for Lake Roosevelt Schools: Two Owls, 2016

Lucinda Parker
(American, born 1942)

Location: Lake Roosevelt Elementary School, Coulee Dam

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Two Owls is part of a series of six paintings by artist Lucinda Parker that depict pairs of birds and one lone fish set against colorful, cubist landscapes.

Each painting is bordered by inspiring quotes. The top edge includes the words: "You can observe a lot just by watching - Yogi Berra". The bottom edge includes: "I rejoice that there are owls - Thoreau".

Describing her choice of subject matter, Parker states "to my mind birds make us see the space around us in a vast enhancement of our own place in nature...Birds are ancient. We have admired them, eaten them, decorated ourselves and warmed ourselves with their feathers for thousands of years. We have a shared history, but they were here first . . . Birds can come back from near extinction, change migratory patterns, sometimes with human help . . . This subtext of redemption interests me."

Parker's plaque for the artwork reads, "Pairs of bird & one lone fish / In a matrix of water & sky, / Clouds & basalt escarpments, / Suns & moons."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Grand Coulee Dam School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Portland, Oregon-based painter Lucinda Parker creates landscapes and other compositions in an expressive, cubist style. She uses strong, visible brush strokes and bold colors. Her art expands on her personal interests in the natural world, literature, and music.

Born in Boston, Parker moved to Portland, Oregon in 1969. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree jointly from Reed College and the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, Oregon, and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. She returned to the west coast in the 1970s and became an associate professor at the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, Oregon, for over thirty years. The Portland Art Museum honored her with a mid-career retrospective in 1995, and the Boise Art Museum presented a one-person exhibition of her work in 2002.

ARTWORK DETAILS
MediumAcrylic paint on canvas and wood
Dimensions5 ft 3 in x 9 ft 3 in x 2 1/2 in
ID NumberWSAC2015.007.001
Acquisition MethodSite responsive commission
Artist LocationOregon, United States
Location Information
AgencyGrand Coulee Dam School District
Artwork LocationLake Roosevelt Elementary School
Cafeteria, Wall close to windows
WA CountyGrant
PlacementInterior
Site TypePublic School
Address503 Crest Drive
Coulee Dam, WA 99116
Geo. Coordinates47.971892, -118.971025
Before VisitingSome 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.
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