Art in 3-D

By Jeff Petersen
The La Grande Observer

Published: July 1, 2004

The Observer/PHIL BULLOCK "Bones": Aaron McNamee's glass sculpture is displayed in the front room of Nightingale Gallery.

Beauty by accident.

That's how sculptor Aaron McNamee describes "Bones," the glass sculpture installation gracing the front room of Nightingale Gallery at Eastern Oregon University.

McNamee's work is among the highlights of the Artists of Eastern Oregon show running through July 30. A friend, Kevin Boylan, helped McNamee make the 600 glass bones in the sculpture. McNamee took 40 hours to install the sculpture, painting the room black and stretching black fabric over the ceiling which "makes it pop."

Bones started with a sketch, and McNamee was delighted to see the final work come to life. It all started when McNamee broke an ankle, had surgery and acquired a plate of steel. That got him to thinking about the human body and the fragility of bones.

McNamee is among the five honored artists who received a cash award of $200 and postcards made of their work by The Eastern Oregon Regional Arts Council, a show sponsor. Additionally, the five artists will have a five-person show next summer in Nightingale Gallery.

"Most of my work deals with harder subjects," the 2004 EOU art graduate said.

For example, his bronze sculpture, "Winner Takes All," was inspired by Mark Twain's writing. A toilet plunger tops a globe in this work designed to open eyes toward imperialism and America's adventures in the world.

His bronze and steel sculpture - "Poised Sin, Core "- involves a globe in the form of a bowl with an oil derrick, apple cores and a money bag.

"Fall," his other work in the Nightingale show, involves items difficult to look at and deal with - knives, nooses and syringes.

"It's kind of a puzzle putting together the different elements," he said.

McNamee is currently working on a piece illuminating the "Patriot Act" piece that includes a bronze telephone, a computer mouse, a scorpion and a magnifying glass.

A mentor, EOU art professor Doug Kaigler, inspires McNamee by example.

"What he brings to a discussion can open your eyes as a student," said McNamee, whose work will also be shown starting in early July at the Blackfish Gallery in Portland.

McNamee got into painting and drawing at a young age. He was drawn to clay at about the start of high school, worked in ceramics for about eight years before jumping with both feet into sculpture.

In the future, McNamee, who was the outstanding EOU 3-D art student this past year, is looking for an assistantship and a teaching fellowship.

"I always enjoy work that lets me as a viewer discover something about myself - something that's not so much spelled out for me."

"Bones" will take viewers on just such an adventure.

Contact Information

University Advancement Eastern Oregon University One University Boulevard La Grande, OR 97850 phone 541.962.3740 fax 541.962.3680 email University Advancement