For more than two decades, artist Kristin Kuhns has used the subject of landscape in her art to address the issues of land domestication and conservation. With her concern for public land-use in the “place” where she was born and raised, Kuhns has developed a unique visual vocabulary that guides her work: Place, Tools, Methods, Materials. The artwork presented here is intended to share her vocabulary, and how it is used in her process of creating art. 

PLACE: Bounded by the Cascade Mountains to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Columbia River to the north and the Coburg Hills to the south, this is her place. More specifially; 

Minto Brown Park: Old Poplar and young Dogwood trees. Trails and wetlands.

Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge: White Oak and diverse grasses. Vast meadows and distant views.

Zena Forest, a private woodland: Douglas Fir and White Oak. Dense forest and wildness. 

TOOLS, MATERIALS, METHODS: Tools can be used as intended for a specific purpose, or used outside of their intent in a new way. Methods are gleaned from experience in clothing construction, time around wood products and building materials. Materials are enhanced by watching what happens on the off-side or the refuse of a project, collecting the disgarded, and using common materials in new ways, often discovered by considering,“What if?” 

Sewing Machine and Fabric: Stitched lines, pleats and seams. Raw or torn edges. New and used fabrics. 

Roto-Zip, Router, Wood Veneer: Hole cutting and lined grooves. Wood grain, color, and material strength. 

Brush, Paint, Pencil, and Painting: Crude and refined marks. Color, sheen, transparency. Creating the illusion of depth or the truth of flatness. 

This exhibition is an extension of Kristin Kuhns’ current show, Woven Journals, on display at Level 2 Gallery inside the Salem Convention Center. Presented by Oregon Artists Series Foundation, this show will be open to the public through May 31, 2022.