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Courthouse art celebrates cooperation
Working together to protect Clallam County’s special lands for present and future generations was the theme for the celebration when North Olympic Land Trust gave its new artwork to the people of Clallam County. Creation of the artwork, “Elwha Return,” (below right) began with cooperation, as well as collaboration among three local artists, Clark Mundy (left below), Darrell Charles Jr. (right below) and Al Charles Jr. (not shown). The artists gave the artwork to the Land Trust to help it raise 
funds to protect special lands. Mundy and the Charleses have collaborated on numerous projects, including the totem pole Al designed for the Port Angeles Dream Playground.
“We are all partners in the future of this great place, and that’s what our piece, ‘Elwha Return,’ represents – working together for the future,” Mundy said. “We wanted to support the work of the Land Trust because it is a beacon of this kind of collaboration, and we feel incredibly honored that they’ve arranged to have our artwork displayed in the Courthouse.”
The Land Trust arranged for the 2- by 6-foot carved cedar and hammered copper artwork to be installed in the Courthouse entry, above the elevator, so everyone can enjoy it and be inspired to help protect the area’s special qualities, said Robbie Mantooth, co-chairperson for the Land Trust’s Courthouse art project.
Art inspires celebration, donations
The art already has inspired nearly 100 people to donate more than $7,000 for the Land Trust’s work, she said. Plaques, to be updated each year, will list names of donors or those they want to honor or memorialize. Most listings are those of the donors themselves, showing their support for protecting special lands. Other listings are as varied as ones celebrating the marriage of friends, honoring a couple’s grandchildren and memorializing individuals as well as the ancient Klallam village on the Port Angeles waterfront. One listing reads: “In memory of all the great spawners of the past.”
At the dedication of the artwork, Mantooth said it honors many more individuals and organizations, including businesses and governmental entities, besides those listed on the plaque.
“Their gifts of time and money enable North Olympic Land Trust to do its work,” she said.
In naming the work “Elwha Return,” the artists pay tribute to the Elwha River and its salmon as a primary source of life and inspiration for the people of our region.
In an artists’ statement, Mundy said the artwork incorporates contemporary Coast Salish Design and features carved western red cedar, hand-hammered copper repoussé and abalone inlay. “A female salmon releases her eggs as two males hover nearby, waiting to fertilize them — seven eggs for seven generations. A young copper-eyed salmon in her belly looks back to ancient connections while bearing witness to new life. We are all partners in the future. The journey of the spawning salmon teaches us a vital lesson: In the giveaway is the promise of the future!”
Artwork’s message goes beyond salmon habitat
Although the artwork focuses on salmon habitat, which is an important focus for the Land Trust, the organization’s president, Ken Sweeney, said cooperative efforts also are needed to protect other special qualities of the area.
“We can’t be successful working alone,” Sweeney said. “We hope this beautiful artwork will remind everyone that we need to work together so our generation and those that follow us will be able to enjoy the salmon and other qualities that are important to our area’s quality of life and its economy.”
The dedication ceremony also emphasized the importance of collaboration when the JC Singers family group from the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe sang and drummed the song, ”We Are One.” Darrell Charles Jr. and Al Charles Jr. are members of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, and the Land Trust works with all the tribes, as well as other governments, organizations, businesses and individuals, to try to make sure special lands will be protected permanently.
The Courthouse art project was inspired by the donation from noted artist Duncan McKiernan several years ago. That sculpture, of an early day logger, and an accompanying plaque listing donors raised more than $2,000 for the Land Trust. They are displayed in the entry of Port Angeles City Hall.
Donations to the Land Trust for listings on future Courthouse plaques can be made at any time through the form on this website or the Land Trust’s office, 104 N. Laurel St., Suite 114, Port Angeles, WA 98362. Printed instructions for listings and contact information for donors need to accompany donations. Plaques will be updated annually in January, so donations and listings need to reach the office by the end of December each year for the next plaque engraving.
This entry was posted on Monday, February 5th, 2007 at 4:54 pm and is filed under More News.