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Carol M. Highsmith Photography
Photo CreditCarol M. Highsmith Photography
Oregon
Photo CreditCarol M. Highsmith Photography

Oregon

Year1997
Classification textile
Medium linen
Dimensions83 x 93 in. (210.8 x 236.2 cm)
Credits Commissioned through the Art in Architecture Program
Fine Arts Collection
U.S. General Services Administration




  • The purpose of the tapestries is to warm, enrich, calm and dignify the 16th floor public lobby and the Special Proceedings Courtroom.



    The "Oregon" and "Justice" pendants in the lobby flank the entrance to the Special Proceedings courtroom and symbolically announce the purpose of the building.  Each 7'x8' tapestry hangs to the right of the vestibule leading to the district/judge's chambers and to the left of the entrance to the Special Proceedings Courtroom.  The left tapestry is a topographical map of Oregon and the right tapestry is the figure of Justice.  Both have two borders: a 9" decorative geometric border surrounding the entire fiber work is a thin oval border around the central image of each piece the state of Oregon and the figure of Justice.  The two borders playfully and dimensionally intersect.



    The map of Oregon is primarily green on the west and gold on the east.  The horizontal oval around the perimeter of the state, which overlaps the decorative border, is intended to suggest a larger, global context.  The justice figure, in silhouette, is turned toward the "Oregon" tapestry.  Her right hand, holding the scales of justice, is raised, her eyes blindfolded, her left hand holds a sword.  The figure is enclosed in a vertical oval surrounded by native Oregon foliage over an abstract water/wave pattern background.