Lillian Pitt: Spirits from the Columbia River Gorge

October

Opening Reception: October 5th, 6-8pm / Artist’s Remarks at 5:30 pm

Exhibit will be installed Oct 2-5.

October brings a show of Lillian Pitt’s silver jewelry, inspired by her Wasco/Yakama/Warm Springs heritage.

“Spirits from the Columbia River Gorge shows new jewelry designs inspired by the petroglyphs, legends, baskets and beaded designs done by my ancestors from the Big River, Columbia River. They lived in the Gorge for over 10,000 years. In the mid-1880’s the Washington side of the River were relocated to the Yakima Valley and became the Yakama Nation and the Oregon side were moved to Warm Springs and named the Confederated Tribe of Warm Springs, Wasco and Paiute Tribes.

My Great-Grandmother on my fathers side lived in the village just below the petroglyph, Tsaglalal, or She Who Watches, she was Wixam clan member. And my mother’s ancestors live on the Oregon side in Celilo and she was a Wyam clan member. After 1880, the names were changed to Yakama, Warm Springs. Both were Wasco members as well. Overtime I do my designs I am honoring my ancestors.”

Pitt’s works have been exhibited and reviewed regionally, nationally and internationally, and she has been the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions. Her awards include the 2007 Earle A. Chiles Award for Lifetime Achievement, and the 1990 Governor’s Award of the Oregon Arts Commission, which declared that she had made “significant contributions to the growth and development of the cultural life of Oregon.”

In this exhibition the artist debuts six new one-of-a-kind pieces in silver with gemstones, using basketry patterns and petroglyph imagery to adorn the work. Small sculptures in bronze and glass will also appear, as well as open edition jewelry.

Exhibition Dates: