Artwork copyright Naoko Morisawa. Photo courtesy of the curator, Renee Adams, 2023.

Artwork copyright Naoko Morisawa. Photo courtesy of the curator, Renee Adams, 2023.

Artwork copyright Naoko Morisawa. Photo courtesy of the curator, Renee Adams, 2023.

ENERGY IX - ROUGH STONE, 2017

Naoko Morisawa
(Japanese | American)

Location: Walla Walla Community College, Walla Walla

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

ENERGY IX - ROUGH STONE by Naoko Morisawa is about life and energy. It is a mosaic made out of hundreds of very small slices of natural and oil-dyed wood. Morisawa uses the patterns and grains of the wood for its beauty and variety, noting that "The life of a tree and the energy [is] in each grain of wood."

This artwork is part of a curated collection by Renee Adams in March 2023 for a new Science & Technology Building at Walla Walla Community College, in Southeastern Washington. The collection brings together artists who combine art and science. They use scientific approaches such as observation and experimentation, precise measurements and calculations. A desire to learn more about our world and share that knowledge is at the heart of both scientific and creative pursuits.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Walla Walla Community College.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Artist Naoko Morisawa creates elaborate and energetic abstract compositions using small slices of natural and oil-dyed wood. She notes, "By using wood mosaic I can show the life and energy. Mysterious creatures, people, illusions, waves, clouds, waterfalls, and traditional patterns are all recurring themes in my work." Morisawa was born in Tokyo, Japan and is now based in Northwestern Washington.