Spring 2016
When I first saw The Thinker in the gardens of the Musée Rodin in Paris years ago, I didn’t know it was one of more than 25 Thinkers that exist in various locations around the world—some made by Auguste Rodin himself, the renowned French sculptor, and others created after his death. Still, this was the original bronze casting and, as one of Rodin’s signature pieces, it was impressive to stand near. And that’s what I did: stood there for a time, being with it, perceiving its import, experiencing all the feelings it invoked in me.
I love art for its ability to do all that—to make you stand (or sit) there and experience it. That’s one reason I love springtime in the Gorge, too, because there’s a whole lot of art to take in. This year is the 10th anniversary of the Gorge Artists Open Studio Tour, which has become a springtime rite of passage in the Gorge. In April, 44 artists from around the Gorge open their studios for three days and invite visitors into their creative spaces. The caliber of this free event has steadily grown, and it attracts art lovers from the Gorge and beyond. We profile the tour and some of its artists beginning on page 38.
This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River. To celebrate, a special program series beginning in April brings featured artists to the center each month to discuss and perform in their genre—including award-winning author Brian Doyle, National Geographic photographer Randy Olson, and the Portland dance company BodyVox, among others.
Maryhill Museum opens for the season in March with a line-up of exhibits that makes the drive to the eastern Gorge well worth it. And by the way, the museum has its own Rodin Gallery, which houses 87 works by the French sculptor—including a plaster cast of The Thinker.
And by all means check out the Hood River BIG ART Walking Tour. This impressive collection of public art—23 pieces and counting—was launched just two years ago, and it has become a beloved part of the landscape in Hood River. We profile the tour and its beautiful, thought-provoking, sometimes whimsical art beginning on page 60.
Along with all the arts-related stories in this issue, you’ll find a profile on Melissa Elliott, a White Salmon landscape designer on a mission to save the bees (page 20); a story about Analemma Wines in Mosier (page 32); and a piece on hiking and biking the Deschutes River Trail (page 66). We hope you enjoy our Arts Issue, and all the art on display this spring in the Gorge.
—Janet Cook, editor
