Stephani Stephenson on sat 7 jul 01
Jonathan
I don't have much info on potters there anymore.
There was a wonderful potter, ah his name escapes me...J. P. , J.C. ,
J.J., drat! ..... Hank Murrow, do you remember him? he did a workshop
at the U of O about 12 years back, friend of Bob and George.....who
knows if he is still there, little road to his studio, outside the
Dalles ....
So I am vague on the potters but can recommend some very cool OTHER
stuff along or near the Columbia:
MARYHILL MUSEUM OF ART
Maryhill is on the north (Washington side ) of the river. Cross the
bridge at Biggs. They have a very amazing and very eclectic collection,
including Native American basketry, great collection of Rodin
Sculpture, Queen Marie of Austria's royal kit and kaboodle, Russian
icons, exotic, historical and rare chess sets from ALL over the world
,contemporary art, etc.. Plus a very interesting history. If you ever
wonder where the phrase, "Whar in the Sam Hill ....." came from, here
is the source. Also nearbye is a Stonehenge replica, though
unfortunately it is made of concrete, not ye old standing stones! . The
museum sits on a bluff above the Columbia and is worth it, since you are
all the way out there anyway. (They do have a website.)
Mary Hill was the wife of Sam Hill, railroad magnate. Mary prefered
hobnobbing with the IN crowd in Europe in the 1920s. Sam wanted her to
come home so he built her a European style mansion , and Stone Henge,
on the banks of the Columbia. Unfortunately, it was too far out in the
boonies to suit Mary. Fortunately they left lots for visitors to
enjoy.There are special exhibits as well as the permanent collection,
so maybe some pottery there.
In Portland, visit the Portland Museum of Art and Natural History
Museum, adjacent to each other downtown in the Park blocks close to PSU.
JOHN DAY FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMNET
Also, with geology AND inspiration in mind, though somewhat off the
Columbia, the John Day Fossil beds National Monument, south of the
river via John Day river at Biggs, in Central Oregon is absolutely
amazing, though somewhat FURTHER afield. Three units, Sheep Rock,
Painted Hills and Fossil units are located in an area incredibly rich
and diverse geologically and very beautiful. hills of lovely striped
bentonite(montmorillie), rhyolite, andesite, basalt, fossils from many
different ages, all thrust, flowed , jumbled and settled in together.
It is the land that modern times have bypassed and is incredibly
beautiful.
Wallula Gap wasn't much but a truckstop and a pulp mill , (FORGIVE ME
if I am insulting some potter's home turf, but it use to be my stompin
grounds as well)......though there is a state park on the Oregon side
south of Wallula Gap where you can canoe along the banks and see little
caves along the water line with owls in them.
There is a community college in Hood River and some art activity there,
maybe root around for potters there!
Also on the Oregon side is a 10 -20 mile (more or less) stretch of the
old pre-freeway highway you can driv. I am trying to remember where it
starts....somewhere around Multnomah falls (also a nice stop) . The old
narrow road winds up the bluffs. The CCC built it in the thirties and
the y constructed beautiful rock work along the roadbed and a wonderful
stone lookout bldg. on the top where you get a breathtaking view of the
Columbia. The road is narrow and slow, a reminder that even into the
60s, it took a VERY long time to make the drive from W to E. Oregon.
Also , don't know if there is a museum or visitor's center at Celilo
Falls, but worth checking out to see some photos of this amazing Native
American fishing spot as it was before the wild Columbia was dammed .
Have fun!
Stephani Stephenson
Carlsbad CA
steph@alchemiestudio.com
http://www.alchemiestudio.com
http:// home.earthlink.net/~mudmistress/
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