Artwork copyright Barbara Black. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Dream's Country II, 1995

Barbara Black
(American, born 1936)

Location: Lakeside Middle School, Nine Mile Falls

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Dream's Country II is a painting by artist Barbara Black. It features both abstract and representational images to show what the artist calls “different levels of inner and outer reality.” A female head in profile looks at a vessel, while a crocodile appears in water at the very back of the room. All together, these images suggest a world of dreams. The artist notes, “We live immersed both in our inner worlds (in our dreams, memories, imagination, the realm of spirit and the soul) and the outer, observed shared world.”

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Nine Mile Falls School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Portland, Oregon-based artist Barbara Black creates art that is often related to dreams and mythology. She combines abstract and realistic elements. In her own words, “I try to make art where meanings are complex and layered so that we can return time after time and continue to receive new ideas about the content of the artwork.”

Black received a Bachelor of Arts from Reed College in Portland and a Master of Fine Arts in painting from Portland State University. In 1978, she co-founded Blackfish Gallery, an artist-owned cooperative exhibition space in Portland that continues to this day. She has taught art for many colleges and institutions in Oregon State.