Western Oregon Journal

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1) Bonnie Hall spent 30 years as a scientific illustrator for Oregon State U. before she decided to take her love of the Pacific Northwest wildlife out of the journals and into art galleries. Hall died of breast cancer in February 2004, but her art still lives on. OSU Press is releasing a book of Hall's works and writings this fall called Ever Blooming: The Art of Bonnie Hall.

“It really was her passion in life,” said Jim Hall, Bonnie's husband who was at the exhibit opening March 31. “She wanted to describe the essence of the flower that she was drawing.”

2) Lisa Conway expresses herself through the sculptures of various parts of plants. In an artist statement she said, “My visual sources include insects, fruit, shells and an ongoing interest in the human body. I want my pieces to address how we relate to each other in sexual relationships.”

Conway uses layers of paints and stains to build up her sculpture, as well as melted, pigmented beeswax in a method called encaustic. She also uses paper clay, which is a mix of clay and cotton pulp, and then lets the pulp burn out in the firing process. “I work with paper clay” Conway said, “because of the amazing reworking and strength properties that it gives my work.

Patty Rodgers takes a more worldly approach with her artwork by incorporating Asian themes into her pieces and reworking local flora into the painting medium. By using transparent layers, she can bring into focus the subtle undertones of her painted subjects. “I look for a way to slow down time,” Rodgers said in an artist statement, “[through] images that bring the present into focus or let us drift.”

Exhibit Title: Floral Hues by Hall, Rodgers, and Conway. Exhibit runs March 30-May 03 and Campbell Hall art gallery is open 8am-5pm

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