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1991 Childers exhibition list
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| Title | 1991 Childers exhibition list |
| Artwork Description | 1 p. Russell Childers' 1991 exhibition list. |
| Notes | In 1991, the University hospital was undergoing an expansion of its C-Wing; simultaneously three new neighborhood health clinics were nearing completion in Portland. Public art purchases for these projects were made possible by Oregon's Percent for Art program.
In 1996, "University Hospital" was renamed Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital.
For a map of OHSU's Marquam Campus, see http://www.ohsu.edu/about/campusmap.pdf |
| LC Subject | Art -- Documentation
Art -- Exhibitions
Resumes (Employment)
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| Creator | Childers, Russell
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| About the Artist | In 1970 Childers had a one man show that opened in the University Of Oregon Museum Of Art and has toured colleges, galleries and libraries in the Northwest including a very successful exhibit in Sapporo, Japan. His wood carvings are being purchased by museums and private collectors who gladly pay up to $2,000.00 for his pieces. Russell has truly gained recognition as a gifted artist. This was not always the case. On January 11, 1926 at the age at 10 has was committed to Fairview State Home for the Feeble Minded because of "fits" that quite possibly could have been epileptic seizures stemming from early childhood falls and several bouts with extremely high fevers. Records show that his first- and second- grade teachers regarded him as incorrigible. In those days that was enough reason to have a child institutionalized. While at Fairview he received several diagnoses including autism. Perhaps because of deafness he found it difficult to communicate so he was labeled as being retarded. As a former superintendent of Fairview, Merry McGee said, "When a person was labeled as retarded, all services ceased." Patients were fed and clothed but received no training. Russell spent the next forty years in silence. Russell is not sure when he started to carve but thinks it was during World War II. While thumbing through an issue of Life Magazine, he saw an illustration of a woodcarver at work and this triggered something in him. Woodcarving was Childers' only significant activity for most of the forty years he spent there. He was not allowed to have a knife for many years, so he sharpened bits of metal and with donated wood he eagerly created wooden cowboys, bartenders and bears for the ward attendants. He charged 50 cents for his work. In 1965, Pauline Lindell, one of the founders of Willamette Valley Rehabilitation Center felt that Russell was capable of "leading a more useful life" and helped in obtaining his release. Russell moved to Lebanon to reside in a foster home. At Willamette Valley Rehabilitation Center he was given a set of hearing aids, extensive reading and writing classes and a place to continue his carving. In his new open environment, Russell has thrived. He is paid a salary at the center, with which he shares the proceeds from his carvings. As he works at his bench, Russell will occasionally chat with workers who pass by, but his thoughts stay with the steady strokes of his coping saw as he shapes a piece of maple or oak into a delicate figure. His self-portraits and the poignant pre-Fairview family scenes are works of art. One of the most acclaimed is of Childers, a brother and an aunt who are sitting together on a bench the day before he was committed. As Jan Zach, retired professor of sculpture at the University of Oregon and a good friend of Russell, said a few years ago, "Russell's work is beautiful, it's absolutely astonishing." When asked, Russell thinks he does good work, but calls it a hobby -- one that he has pursued eight hours a day for a good part of his 73 years. |
| Regional Arts Council | The Oregon Arts Commission has ten Regional Arts Councils that provide delivery of art services and information. The Council for this location is: Regional Arts & Culture. You may view their website at http://www.racc.org/ |
| Award Date(s) | 1991
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| Source Format | document
bw
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| Artwork Site | Portland Oregon. Oregon Health and Science University. Marquam Hill Campus. Hospital.
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| Site Address | (main campus) 3181 S. W. Sam Jackson Road, Portland Oregon |
| County | Multnomah County, Oregon
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| Relates to Artwork | Boy Fishing |
| Language | English |
| Full Text | RUSSELL CHILDERS SOLO EXHIBITIONS 1977 - 1979: "Russell Childers: woodcarvings." Touring Exhibition organized by Visual Arts Resources. Shown in Oregon, Washington and Montana, began at University of Oregon Museum of Art, ending at the Capitol Building, Salem, Or. GROUP EXHIBITIONS 1989 "Summer Group Show", Jamison-Thomas Gallery, Portland, Or. "Whittlers: Contemporary American Folk Art", Curated by Carolyn Lee. Hoffman Gallery, Oregon School of Arts and Crafts, Portland, Or. 1985 "West Coast Folk Artists", Curated by Ted Wimmer. Humboldt Cultural Center, Eureka, Ca. 1984 - 1986: "Pioneers in Paradise" : Folk and Outsider Artists of the West Coast. Touring exhibition curated by Susan Larsen-Martin and Lauri Robert Martin, Shown at the Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, Ca.; Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington; Marylhurst College, Portland, Or; Mandeville Art Gallery, University of California San Diego; San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, Ca. AWARDS 1979 Sarolta Nagy Memorial Award, Oregon Association for Retarded Citizens. PUBLIC COLLECTIONS University of Oregon Museum of Art Willamette Valley Rehabilitation Center |
| Rights | Copyright is retained by the artist or author. All rights reserved. |
| Contributors | University of Oregon Libraries; Oregon Arts Commission |
| Publisher | University of Oregon Libraries
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| Digital Collection Title | University of Oregon. Libraries. Oregon Public Percent for Art Digital Collection.
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