The Never Ending Nooksack!
“Nooksack Middle Fork” By: Claude Zervas
Located within the lobby of the Performing Arts Center (PAC) at Western Washington University, “Nooksack Middle Fork” is a digital installation created by Washington born artist Claude Zervas. The piece is representative of the Nooksack Middle Fork, inspired by the artists strong personal connection to the local river.
About Claude Zervas
Claude Zervas, a Washington born artist “best known for his light and video works focusing on the Northwest topography and topology (University Public Art Collection, GG)”, was a student at Western Washington two different times during his life. The first, when he was only ten years old, taking geology courses. In the 1980s, Zervas returned to Western with an interest in the arts. Although, he was only in school for a short time. He then moved to Paris where he began a career as a software engineer. While in Paris, he became a French American citizen and also cofounded a “small internet setup”. Even though he spent time away from art, his knowledge as a software engineer is exemplified heavily within his artwork. Claude incorporates technology, while keeping nature in mind, creating inventive and beautifully lit artwork. “An autodidact by nature”, even though “he has had very little formal schooling over the course of his life” (luisdejesus.com), Claude has made a name for himself within the art community, but an even bigger name, specifically, among the Pacific Northwest.
Claude grew up near the Middle Fork of the Nooksack river, which “supplies water for the city of Bellingham, via pipe and tunnel diversion into lake Whatcom” (University Public Art Collection, GG). Claude now feels a sense of “sadness” when he sees the river, as it looks very different from when he enjoyed it as a kid. In the 1970s, Claude grew up exploring in the forest and was always drawn to the river. When asked about the river, from the bellinghamherald.com, Claude said that, “Having grown up there, it has such a deep connection that I cannot help but be influenced by it.” He continued by saying that “Memories and just the sensibility of the places creep through. And maybe because of the change I see in it every time I come to visit, there is a little bit of sadness involved in it (bellinghamherald.com).”
Claude currently resides and works in Seattle Washington. He has his own website, http://www.claudezervas.com, where images of a variety of his artwork is accessible. He is an accomplished artist, featured in various galleries, many within the Pacific Northwest.
Sources:
Western Washington University Public Art Collection, (page) GG.
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/entertainment/article51370735.html
https://luisdejesus.com/docs/artists/c_zervas_full.pdf
http://www.artswa.org/mwebcgi/mweb?request=record;id=12584;type=101
Blog Credits:
Photography: Josephine Barbe
Video Creation / Editing: Jalani Phillips
Music: iMovie Sound Effects
Research: Josephine Barbe, Lauren Lemieux
Artist Statement:
Josephine Barbe, Jalani Phillips, and Lauren Lemieux are three students at WWU, who created this blog post!
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