Terri Axness: A Retrospective

This was my art review for my Composition for the Artist class in 2010 (I got an A!). Please check out her website to see the art I have described, and more: http://axnessart.com/





November's First Friday event in Baker City, Oregon, was an exciting event for local artists, but especially for Terri Axness, featured solo artist at Crossroads Art Center. Her show, Terri Axness—A Retrospective, was her first show as a Crossroads featured artist, and many of her fans have anticipated this show for a long time. This show displayed a large body of her work, mainly focusing on the beauty of eastern Oregon and rural living. On display were pieces of artwork she created in the past, as well as more current work and commissioned pieces on loan from private collections (Crossroads 5). Viewing her show made it easy to see how Terri's love for rural life has influenced her art and has made her successful.
It seemed as though all of Baker City came out to view Terri's show and celebrate her success. The gallery was crowded with fellow artists, friends, family, clients, and art-lovers in general. A pianist played familiar tunes in the background as guests admired Terri's vast array of artwork, then chatted with familiar faces as they sampled hor d'oeuvres and wine. Terri herself was present for this momentous event, and was kept busy answering questions asked by her guests.
Born and raised in the Baker City area, Terri completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Oregon, and received her Masters in Education at Eastern Oregon University. She taught at Baker public schools for twenty-eight years, and also taught art workshops at a local craft store for twenty years. Although officially retired, she still conducts week-long art workshops for schools (Axness). She also serves on the Crossroads Advisory Committee and has volunteered above and beyond the call of duty to help Crossroads become the successful center for the arts that it is today.

Primarily a painter, Terri has expanded her repertoire to include not only oil and watercolor, but also sculpture and woodworking. She does not limit herself to just one genre, but there is a common theme seen in her work—the rural life and habitat of eastern Oregon. She depicts eastern Oregon in all its beauty, though it is different from what one pictures when Oregon comes to mind. It is not the damp, lush greens and waterfalls of western Oregon, or majestic views of the coast; but it is the farmland, the peaceful pastures spotted with grazing cattle, the cold, snow-covered mountains, and the deer and elk found in the eastern side of the state.
Terri is well-known for her landscapes, especially those featuring the legendary “Indian shadow” in the Elkhorn mountains. The legend says that this area was a spiritual place, and the Guardian of the Valley, a shadow in the mountain that looks like an Indian in profile, foretold the seasons—when to dig roots, and when to leave to prepare for winter (Day Five, Baker City). She has painted this mountain range several times, but no painting is an exact copy of another. Elkhorn Indian Summer shows the mountain range in early to mid-autumn. The sky is a clear bright blue, and the Elkhorns have an early dusting of snow, while the valley is ablaze in vibrant warm golds and oranges. The Indian shadow is present in the mountain, but not quite at its peak at this point in time. However, The Guardian of the Valley is depicted slightly later in the fall season. The atmosphere feels chilled and crisp, and the colors are cooler. There is a feeling as though winter will be here soon. Fog covers the base of the mountains, and the Indian shadow in the snow-capped mountains keeps his faithful vigil, as he watches over the valley below.

Terri finds much of her inspiration right outside of her door at her Muddy Creek Ranch, near Haines, Oregon. She often paints the scenery surrounding her home, including the Elkhorns, and also paints her cows and chickens in various media. Summer Strut and Hightailin' It are roosters oil-painted in bold, bright colors and have thick lines of texture; even though the paint has been applied thickly, these roosters still retain their accuracy and realism. Terri painted Convict, the profile of a crowing rooster, twice from the same subject, but used differing media. One version was painted in watercolor; he is standing in a grassy yellow-green meadow with lush green trees as the backdrop for the song he is performing. She used rose red and violet tones in the rooster itself, and these colors complement and contrast the background successfully. The second version was painted with oil pastels and colored pencil on handmade paper from Mexico. The rooster's colors remain similar to the watercolor version, but are slightly muted; the background is simply the textured paper on which it was painted. Both are beautiful but have different moods. Because of the boldness of the color choices, the watercolor rooster seems more lively, loud, and conceited, whereas the pastel rooster seems slightly more subdued and simple.
As seen in such works as Convict, the other roosters, and her landscapes, Terri has a way of revisiting the same subject matter, but never in the exact same way. One can see repetition in her work; but the variety of media, composition and presentation keeps her work fresh and interesting.
Terri's subject matter and composition are well thought-out, and her years of experience and education are evident in the quality of her craftsmanship. Her art is displayed in galleries across the region, and her work is prized by many. Along with the exceptional quality of her art, applying her love for this little area of Oregon and for the rural life into her paintings is what has made her successful. Seeing this retrospective show of her work gives others a glimpse of the beauty of her world, and makes me appreciate her heart and her passion for this rural life that she lives. After viewing her show, it is not difficult to see Terri Axness and her art as treasure to appreciate and celebrate.




Works Cited
Axness, Terri. “Artist's Biography.” 2010
“Day Five, Baker City” Northeast Oregon Land of Scenic Wonders. 2010. Eastern Oregon Visitor's Association. 9 Dec. 2010. <http://www.eova.com/northeast/tour5.html>.
“Featured Artists for 2010” Crossroads Carnegie Art Center Newsletter Fall 2010:5

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