What an amazing honor to be invited to
participate in the 2008 White House Christmas!
When Senator Smith's office contacted
me this summer to ask if I would create the Oregon State Christmas
Ornament for the White House Tree I had to think about my feelings
for awhile. A lifelong Democrat, I wondered how the heck a sitting
Republican Senator had chosen me to represent the state of Oregon.
The political scene this year was often more like a battlefield --
with candidates sending flak back and forth even within their own
parties.... did I want to jump into the fracas too? Like many others
I just had become weary of the constant barrage of negativity and
examples of the myriad of ways we should be ashamed as Americans for
our actions at home and abroad.
After some thought I realized that I
was being offered an opportunity to focus on what is good and healthy
about our state and I gladly accepted the challenge. The assignment
was to feature what we considered to be things of national pride in
our state. I decided that the work I have been doing with Oregon
Specialty Farms should get a national showcase... all those days
painting in the berry fields and vineyards, the trips to the ranches
and orchards around Oregon should be featured on this nine inch
Christmas Ball--proclaiming to all that farmers and ranchers are the
true patriots here in Oregon. Working hard every day, all year
long,to bring quality produce and foods to the nation's table.
I received the shiny plastic orb in
July and spent the next couple of months learning about materials
that would actually stick and remain on the surface. Painting on
flat paper is a whole lot different that a rounded surface! With
help from my friend, Kimry Jelen - a fine artist who lives near me, we
were able to find a solution to the problems of making this project
have the look and feel of my work. By adding liquid brilliant
watercolor to a polymer base we solved the mystery and got the
vibrant but transparent color that I love.
The finished piece is divided into
thirds: the upper third depicts both sides of the Cascade Mountain
Range-- Mt Hood and the Portland Skyline and the Three Sisters and
the rolling
hills and fields of Central Oregon with a swirling blue
sky; the lower two thirds looks just like a big bowl of fresh Oregon
berries-- blueberries, strawberries, marionberries, and cranberries
under the Portland skyline; the eastern side has grains, pears,
apples and cherries and even a few peas to represent the agribusiness
that Senator Smith owns in Pendleton. I like to say it's a "Berry
Merry Christmas from Oregon"!
I was thrilled to be asked to
participate and humbled by the experience of attending the White
House Artist reception in Washington DC on December 2nd. Being in
Washington made me proud to be an American again. It was exciting to
see the wonderful museums that line the mall and to tour the Senate
buildings. But most of all it was a renewal of spirit that seems to
be in the air.... everyone is so excited about the possibilities for
change and a new focus under the Obama leadership. I was sad to see
that Senator Smith would no longer be representing us in the Senate
-- he has been a powerful source for good for Oregonians. I hope he
will return to Oregon and continue his service to us in new and
exciting ways. I hope he is proud of the piece that I created and
feels it represents what he too loves about our state.
Thanks Gordon for the opportunity and
thank you Oregonians for making this such a wonderful place to live.
Kathy Deggendorfer – December 2008
Images:
- 2008 Oregon State Ornament
- Sally and Kathy on the Steps of the
White House
- Sally, Kathy, and Alex (Artist from North Carolina)
at the White House Green Room.
- The Tree!
Nugget News Article: Sisters Visits The White House
The Bend Bulletin News Article: Sisters artist gives Oregon its spot in the White House
Oregon Live Article: Five Oregon ornaments are on the White House Christmas tree
About Kathy Deggendorfer: Kathy
Deggendorfer lives on a cattle and hay ranch just outside of Sisters,
Oregon. Inspired by the color, pattern and texture of her
surroundings, she creates vibrant and colorful watercolor paintings.
Whimsical images of flowers and ranch life fill the paintings with
color and life. "Folks tell me they just feel happy when they
look at my work-- that makes me happy."
Raised in Portland, Oregon, in a
clothing manufacturing family, she says ,"Sewing skills skipped
a generation with me... but I love fabric. I like to call my
creations 'Painters Quilts.' I can prowl around the rounders full of
prints at the Stitchin' Post with the best of 'em... I just put my
fabrics in with a paintbrush." Kathy's collaborative work with
master quilter, Tonye Belinda Phillips, is another fun combination of
painted image and textile interpretation.
Kathy is currently working on a project
about Oregon Specialty Farming and sustainable farm practices. This
project takes her out into the fields of Oregon farms to paint and
learn about what makes Oregon agricultural practices and people
unique. Trips to the cattle ranches of Eastern Oregon and vineyards
of the Willamette Valley provide her with plenty of rich and colorful
images.
Kathy's work is collected throughout
the Pacific Northwest and reaches out to all corners of the United
States. Represented by High Desert Gallery of Central Oregon, she has
pieces in the permanent collection at Redmond Airport, 2007 Sisters
Outdoor Quilt Show Poster Artist, she wrote and illustrated a
children's book for St. Charles Medical Center, and her work has been
translated into clothing and fabric for Columbia Sportswear. In 2005,
Kathy was awarded 'Citizen of the Year' in Sisters Oregon for her
contributions to the community and the arts. High Desert Gallery &
Custom Framing of Central Oregon is honored to represent Kathy
Deggendorfer exclusively in Central Oregon.
