Since 1996 the Communications Building of Western Washington University has exhibited “Offshoot and Couplet,” a sculpture by distinguished Seattle artist Cris Bruch.

In over 3 decades of practice, Bruch celebrated work has received many awards, including:

“The Pollock Krasner Foundation award, The Northwest Major Works Award from the Seattle Arts Commission, The Seattle Art Museum’s Betty Bowen Memorial Award and The Neddy Fellowship from the Behnke Foundation”

-Artisttrust.org

Often using nontraditional and recycled materials for his art, Cris Bruch’s art is often inspired by his dislike of consumer culture. His work can be found all over the Pacific Northwest territory. Some examples include:

  • Shortest Distance: A twisting steel sculpture made in 2006. Eugene Oregon
  • North Fork: A pipe like sculpture made for Brightwater Environmental and Community Center
  • South Branch: A Branchlike sculpture also designed for Brightwater Environmental and Community Center. South Branch and North fork are similar and theme connected
  • Universal Adaptor: A large curvy block sculpture based on trash, Seattle Washington

The Sculpture “Offshoot and Couplet” was created in 1992 and hung in Bruch’s studio until it was donated to the university in 1996. Bruch used this piece to show how language is treated in a consumer culture. Much is said without meaning, such as much is bought without need. Bruch explores how language can be powerful or gibberish just as material things can be important, or over indulged. These sculptures have poetry, one of the most powerful uses of language, along with nonsense, presented on scrap material formed into tense expressionistic sculptures. Bruch created a sense of movement and uncertainty in his work with repurposed materials creating something that is very deliberately created yet organic in form taking on very natural forms in the steel banding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

List of awards: http://artisttrust.org/index.php/award-winners/artist-profile/cris_bruch

 

Group Members:

Nicholas Sogge

Christopher Bowman