Artwork copyright Jean Bradbury. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Wildlife of Richland, 2018

Jean Bradbury
(Canadian, born 1963)

Location: Lewis and Clark Elementary School, Richland

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Artist Jean Bradbury created Wildlife of Richland for the main stairwell at Lewis and Clark Elementary School. The imagery celebrates the variety of plants and animals found in Eastern Washington. Notice how the species change from the top to the bottom of the stairs. This imitates how they vary according to the elevation where they are living. The artwork is comprised of several free-form mural sections.

Bradbury notes, "Some live only on mountaintops and some live at the bottom of rivers. In between is a wonderland of life. And in the cold of winter and the heat of summer, many plants and animals find shelter underground."

The art committee that selected Jean Bradbury encouraged her to create the artwork she wanted to make. Wildlife of Richland includes many different materials and loose brushwork. During the installation, she finalized the arrangement of the mural sections and added a second element at the bottom of the stairs.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Richland School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Seattle-based artist Jean Bradbury paints large-scale public paintings. She incorporates natural light in her paintings by use of reflective metallic leaf. Education and environmental causes are central themes in her art. She has received grant awards from various public arts organizations. She has received grants from Artist Trust, Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, and support from Aramax Jordan to teach art to women in a rural farming community near the Dead Sea. Bradbury graduated from Queen’s University, Ontario with her Bachelor of Fine Arts. She also studied graphic design and illustration at Seattle Central Community College.