Artwork copyright Robert James Schoppert. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Robert James Schoppert. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Still Water, 1983

Robert James Schoppert
(American | Tlingit, born 1947, died 1992)

Location: Skagit Valley College, Mount Vernon

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Noting that his Tlingit (Native Alaskan) ancestry had an essential and immediate impact on his work, late artist Robert James Schoppert carved the abstracted, colorful, and fragmented wall sculpture Still Water using traditional techniques. This artwork is an example of his exploration into the continuation, development, and evolution of cultural identity and artistic traditions. Describing the tradition of carving, Schoppert noted, "It served as a means to exist in a world that didn't give up her wealth easily. It fashioned everyday implements beyond mere function and brought the spiritual condition into sharper focus."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Skagit Valley College.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Artist Robert James "Jim" Schoppert (1947-1992) drew inspiration and influence from his Tlingit (Native Alaskan) heritage. He created paintings, carvings, and other artworks that articulate Native Alaskan traditions and identities, while pushing into modernism and abstraction.
Schoppert attended Anchorage Community College, before earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Sculpture and Printmaking from the University of Alaska in 1978 and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Sculpture from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1981. Schoppert taught at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) as a guest professor and gave presentations at elementary schools throughout Alaska and Washington. He was also known for his poetry and essays.