A beadwork, screenprint, and acrylic painting on paper, depicting a black rat with a round, blue "window" in its abdomen which contains another smaller, golden rat, by artist Stella Nall. Stella Nall is a Montana-based multimedia artist and poet. Her website states, "She is a First Descendant of the Úuwuutasshe (Greasy Mouth) clan of the Apsáalooke (Crow) Tribe, and her Crow name is Bisháakinnesh (Rode Buffalo) and was given to her by Ronnie Yellowmule. Her work often engages with current issues pertaining to Indigenous identity, visibility and representation; while also inviting connection from people of all backgrounds by discussing ubiquitous human experiences such as love, loss, joy and grief."
"Original hand colored limited edition drypoint etching on paper," per a certificate mounted on the verso of the frame. The image by artist William Papas is also signed and numbered on the front. Papas was a political cartoonist and caricaturist, book author and illustrator, and watercolorist. In the 1960s and 1970s he worked for The Guardian, The Sunday Times, and Punch. This particular image is done in a caricature-like style, and depicts two male coal miners wearing red helmets, standing in front of a mining structure and vehicle. The image dates from 1987. Several notes on the verso dated 2020-2022 refer to the print's sale and framing.
Signed limited edition print of a watercolor depicting a purple and green horse on a white background, by artist William Papas. Numbered 33/35. Papas was a political cartoonist and caricaturist, book author and illustrator, and watercolorist. In the 1960s and 1970s he worked for The Guardian, The Sunday Times, and Punch.
Signed limited edition print of a watercolor depicting a horse resting in a seated position looking over its right shoulder, by artist William Papas. Papas was a political cartoonist and caricaturist, book author and illustrator, and watercolorist. In the 1960s and 1970s he worked for The Guardian, The Sunday Times, and Punch. The horse is a chestnut color on a white background. Numbered 2/35.
Signed limited edition print of a watercolor depicting two horses on a white background, by artist William Papas. Papas was a political cartoonist and caricaturist, book author and illustrator, and watercolorist. In the 1960s and 1970s he worked for The Guardian, The Sunday Times, and Punch. Numbered 12/50. A certificate of authenticity is mounted on the back. Framed.
Signed limited edition print of a watercolor depicting four horses running on a white and multicolored background, by artist William Papas. Papas was a political cartoonist and caricaturist, book author and illustrator, and watercolorist. In the 1960s and 1970s he worked for The Guardian, The Sunday Times, and Punch. Numbered 6/295.
A large block print created by local artist, Jeanne Fenimore Levy, during Forest Grove's 150th Celebration "Print Day", hosted by the Valley Art Association. This print is based on a photograph in the Pacific University Archives titled: "Spokane students, 'new recruits' to the Indian Training School". The original photograph depicts a group of Spokane students forcibly taken to the Forest Grove Indian School.
An acrylic painting on canvas by Ceija Stojka. Stojka was a Romani Holocaust survivor from Austria. She became an artist later in life with much of her art depicting Roma life prior to the Nazi occupation of Austria.
A 6-strand Ni'ihau shell lei with a large shell pendant likely created between 1900 and 1960. According to Ni'ihau Cultural Heritage Foundation, the term 'Ni'ihau shell' legally refers only to shells gathered on the shores of the Forbidden Island, or Ni'ihau in Hawaii. Access to this island is highly restricted to preserve its unique culture and environment, making this style of lei both culturally significant and highly valuable.
There are three different shells that are commonly used to make Ni‘ihau shell lei: kahelelani, momi, and lāiki, as well as a fourth one, kāmoa, which is frequently used to add contrasting color.
This particular lei appears to be made primarily of momi or lāiki shells with a pōleholeho lenalena pendant.
Donated by Charlotte Phillips in honor of her mother.
"You Are Here" is a digital art piece printed on canvas by artist Steph Littlebird. The piece depicts plants and animals native to the land that Pacific University’s Forest Grove and Hillsboro campuses are situated; the land of the Tualatin Kalapuyas, or Atfalati, now part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
Littlebird's statement on "You Are Here": "This design combines a landscape and topographical view of the land Pacific University is situated on. Overlapping depictions of Indigenous plants and animals with maps of the local river systems remind viewers of where they are, focusing their awareness on the present with a mindful message 'You are here.'"
"You Are Here" was commissioned by the University Cultural Collections Committee in 2024 for the entryway of Les AuCoin Hall. Created by Steph Littlebird, an artist, author, curator and enrolled member of Oregon’s Grand Ronde Confederated Tribes. Steph earned her B.F.A. in Painting and Printmaking from the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) in Portland, Oregon, she currently lives and works in Las Vegas.
Littlebird is known for her vibrant graphic imagery that combines traditional styles of her Indigenous ancestors with contemporary illustration aesthetics. Her work often examines issues related to Native identity, cultural resilience, and responsible land stewardship.
