Orland Arts Commission

In His Own Words

Steve Crane:
"I'm pretty sure that if I started my working life again I might love to be an archaeologist. Digging up bits and pieces of earlier historical times has always been something I'm interested in. When out hiking or antler shed hunting on the Oregon High Desert I never pass a rusty can or broken bottle without digging around to see what other artifacts might be hidden in the dirt. Who left it and when? What were they doing? Working? Hunting? Camping? Travelling to new places?

My paintings reflect this same curiosity when I see old barns, cabins or abandoned houses. Who built it? What were their dreams and plans? How do those structures dovetail with the history of this great nation and the American West? And finally, how can I preserve what time and the elements will ultimately destroy?"

Jeannie Vodden:
"My painting 'O Beautiful' takes inspiration from a photo of my sister's grandaughter reaching up to touch our national flag. It brought to mind the song 'American the Beautiful' and the line 'O beautiful for spacious skies and amber waves of grain..' It was a sweet painting to work through. I thought of our children, of hope for the future, of the beauty of this land. I thought of reaching up and doing our best. And I thought of my sister, too. I think she would have loved this painting."

Denise Granger Kerbs:
"I am the sixth of seven children and I realized over the years that it's because of my larger-than-life family that I am drawn to the details of every subject, just as I was drawn to the nuances of my family. I am equally compelled to capture the life and fervor of each subject I paint. That's where my search for truth lies. I am inspired by the way art moves so uniquely in each of us.

That inspiration drives me to enhance and elevate what I see. I do not attempt to mirror God's creations, but merely pay homage to them and this wonderful gift called life. Art is my refuge and my gift to share."