Abandoned, Images of What Remains
September 3 – October 29, 2021

Abandoned Treasures of the Pacific Northwest

The west coast of America has a unique history—from Indigenous Peoples, early frontier days and the Oregon Trail, to the boom and bust industries of logging, mining, and agriculture. As a result, the landscape is dotted with abandoned sites and structures. Once thriving and burgeoning, these now discarded, neglected places bear the mark of past human presence. 

“The call for art and theme for this exhibition was inspired by having lived in boom and bust towns of New Mexico and Colorado near abandoned mines and ghost towns. I enjoyed exploring and learning their history. There’s something so hauntingly beautiful about an empty house that used to be someone’s home standing alone on the landscape. Many other people share this fascination and create artistic images of what they see and how it makes them feel. There are several Facebook groups and Instagram tags dedicated to abandoned places around the west. I think it’s great that people share their explorations and, in turn, share some forgotten history,” Stephanie Johnson, Public Art and Program Manager stated.

This exhibition features 43 artists from around the Western region with about 90 works of art in various mediums including photography, paint, ink, collage, and 3-d works. The submissions received are diverse in their interpretation of the theme, and include images of abandoned roads, mills, ghost towns, derelict houses, and old cars. All work is available for sale.