Here's a short statement by Tony about the work: The Natural World vs Industry
A few years ago, while traveling with my family through the San Juan Islands, we had the fortune of spotting several different pods of Orca Whales. We saw groups of both Transients (large mammal eating) and Residents (salmon eating). It was a moving experience to see these amazing animals searching for salmon, or corralling a seal to train the adolescents how to kill, or just swimming straight on course while half their brain sleeps! I soon decided to dig in, learn more, study their form and make Orca based sculpture.
While researching online, I discovered a birds eye view picture of a pod of Orcas that captivated me. Something about this vantage point was impactful. Maybe it’s their silent beauty against the vast and empty ocean. This overhead view made their struggle apparent I could see that some whales were thinner than others, suffering from starvation due to lack of salmon caused by overfishing, pollution, dams, or the changing climate.
I decided to start by sculpting one whale and creating a mold to press multiples in the hopes of birthing a pod, however, their form became a mantra that I would repeat with textural variations to elicit the sense of disappearing, dissolution and discorporation. Our impact on this planet and its residents is obvious it has become the whale in the room.
(Opening Reception: July 9th at 5pm) (Exhibit Will Have The Same Hours As The Dalles Art Center)
Disclaimer: Event details may change at any time. Please review the official website or check with the
event organizer when planning to attend the event.
