Artwork copyright Terri Warpinski. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Clouds and Rock, Alvord Desert, 1989

Terri Warpinski
American (born 1955)

Location: Klickitat School, Klickitat

About the Artwork

Clouds and Rock, Alvord Desert is a hand-colored photograph by artist Terri Warpinski. The Alvord Desert is located in a rain shadow in Southeastern Oregon. This photograph is an example of the artist’s work that celebrates the beauty and vastness of High Desert landscape. They nod to the importance of preservation, and to a respect for the spiritual relationship ancient cultures held with their environment. Discussing her process of hand-coloring each image, she notes, “By adding color rather than using color film I can exercise complete control in creating a specific atmosphere or feeling in the picture that relates closely to how I felt when taking the photograph.”

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

About the Artist

Oregon-based artist Terri Warpinski creates landscape photographs that investigate our impact on and connection to nature. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Iowa. She is a professor at the University of Oregon in Eugene.