About the Artist

Tom Otterness was born in Wichita, Kansas in 1952. He eventually moved to New York City in 1970 to study art at the Arts Students League, became a member of Whitney Independent Study Program in 1973 and then later joined the Collaborative Projects in 1977.

Over time, Otterness’s main focus has become specific to public sculptures. He has completed 36 sculpture commissions in the United states alone and has done many exhibitions. His artwork is very prominent all around the US because he creates pieces that  appeal to people of all ages. His whimsical characters show playfulness, while their actions prove to have a deeper meaning. The designs he creates are also interactive where people are able to walk around, sit, or even play on them.

“The world’s best public sculptor” – Ken Johnson, New York Times

A Little Bit of History

“Feats of Strength” by Tom Otterness was created in 1999, right before the start of the 21st century. Due to the time the sculpture was created, between these two decades, this piece took inspiration from art movements present throughout the 1990’s and early 2000’s. One of the more prominent movements during this time was postmodernism, a major artistic movement following modernism in the 1970’s. While postmodernism does not have just one distinct style, it is defined by its rejection towards traditional values, ability to question authority, and its use of pluralism. Much of the artwork during the post-modernism era took on an ironic and playful approach towards a dissimilar subject that was actually much more somber. Tom Otterness’ sculptures all have a very playful and childlike vibe at first glance, but allude to a serious and thought-provoking meaning.

Inspiration from this sculpture collection may have also been taken from some of the major historical events that occurred in the 1980’s. This decade was viewed as a troubling time in America due to political strife, corporation greed, and the end of the cold war. Because of these shortcomings, art during this time started to reflect these adversities and served as a form of social commentary for many artists. “Feats of Strength” represents the hardships that men and women had to endure, but also offers a sense of hope in response to these complications.

“His stylized bronze figures combine into sculptural ensembles that explore the range of human experience, from grand ambition to common foibles, plucking imagery and themes from popular culture and subtly transforming them into humorous commentary.” – Unknown 

About Feats of Strength

“Feats of Strength” is a collection of bronze sculptures located on Western Washington University’s campus in front of the business, biology and chemistry buildings. There are a total of 7 small, green people interacting with the surrounding scenery on campus.
Tom Otterness used figures made of bronze amongst the sandstone boulders in his work to combine the natural world with the industrial world. This scene depicts men and women working at different paces in the San Juans today. The whimsical green figures represent “students and faculty”, yet the piece also evokes an element of seriousness due to it’s placement and representation of the overwhelming forces of nature through its tiny size in comparison to the surrounding landscape.

Created by Lauryn Paoli & Sarah Ford

Photography – Lauryn Paoli

Research – Sarah Ford & Lauryn Paoli

Sources:  www.tomotterness.net & https://westerngallery.wwu.edu/pdfs/wheredoesyourstrengthlie.pdf