Preview

image preview

Creation Date

1-2014

Disciplines

Art and Design | Sculpture

Description

This sculpture was created as part of the Linfield College course Introduction to Studio, taught by Totem Shriver. In honor of Linfield professor and artist Nils Lou, who passed away in December 2013, this year's sculptures respond to the prompt of "a dream house for Nils."

Artist's Statement

We brainstormed a bunch of ideas for our toothpicks sculpture, but we didn't go into it with a whole lot of meaning. After spending two weeks of gluing toothpicks together, we looked at our finished product and contemplated its significance. Our group came up with the idea of making a boat that's anchored by a tree with a tree house on top. Lou's legacy will be around campus and the community, much like a tree's existence. The tree house is an ideal place Lou would have "played!" The tree house symbolizes peace, childlike innocence, freedom, and privacy. Lou's tree house allows him to enter his own art fantasy. The boat is a traveling vessel on large bodies of water. A long time ago people used ships to deliver messages; Lou had messages to the community and all who listened. The boat doesn't have a motor, which means Lou would have to be the "motor" to the boat. This was an important responsibility. Metaphorically, his students were the boat. He guided and directed them. He has changed many of the students' perspectives and inspired many others. Lou may be gone, but not forgotten.

Play on.

Comments

Photograph courtesy of Caroline Turina '15.

Download Original Medium Thumbnail

Keywords

toothpicks, sculpture

Share

Image Location

 
COinS