Our Photo

"Middle Fork" by Claude Zervas

Our Project:

Our reasoning for this recreation is to portray the important aspects that stand out in “Nooksack Middle Fork” on a smaller scale than the Nooksack River. We kept Zervas’ themes of digital media, the Washington outdoors, and the circular movement of his piece. Each “slice” of photo from our project is a detail from the flora on Western’s campus or the Sehome Arboretum. The circular flow of our images mirror Zervas’ piece; both Zervas and our group are preserving the outdoors in our own ways as we all slowly watch it deteriorate.  

About the Artist:

Claude Zervas is a French-American artist that was born in 1963. He attended Western Washington University. He moved to Paris in the 80s after going to Western. It was in Paris that he got involved in software engineering and then strayed away from that to commit himself to art. His interest in nature stems from his childhood home in Deming, Washington. He currently lives in Seattle, and many of his pieces reflect his Washington home. “Nooksack Middle Fork” is based on his connection with the land around the Nooksack River. He states in a Bellingham Herald article, “Having grown up there, it just has such a deep connection that I can’t help but be influenced by it”.
He is best known for his incorporation of light, nature, and technology into his art. Many of his works embody elements of technology, robotics, programming, and other electronics. There is a definite focus of the topography and topology of the Northwest. Zervas grew up surrounded by nature, which is evident in his work. He spent hours of his childhood wandering through forests and by rivers. Zervas enjoys observing his surroundings and then representing them in his art. Nature is an essential aspect of his person and therefore, his art. Zervas views humans as animals that use tools, so he incorporates their complex technologies into his work. The art is a narrative look at Zervas’ childhood. His art is meant to represent the deep connection he formed with the Nooksack river. It also is intended to represent the relationship of his aging with the changes of the river over time.

Sources:

Bikman, Margaret. “New Public Art by Claude Zervas at WWU.” Bellinghamherald, Bellingham Herald, 12 Jan. 2016,                      www.bellinghamherald.com/entertainment/article51370735.html.
“LUIS DE JESUS LOS ANGELES.” LUIS DE JESUS LOS ANGELES, luisdejesus.com/docs/artists/c_zervas_full.pdf.
Vaca, Bianca, et al. “React. Research. Execute!” React Research Execute, wp.wwu.edu/wwuart109/2018/02/26/nooksack-middle-fork-claude-zervas-4/.
Zervas, Claude. “Claude Zervas.” Claude Zervas, www.claudezervas.com/.
Zervas, Claude. “Oil Painting ‘Le Blaireau’.” City Arts Magazine, 29 Aug. 2018, www.cityartsmagazine.com/oil-painting-le-blaireau/.
“Claude Zervas: Starlings.” The Stranger, www.thestranger.com/events/28427291/claude-zervas-starlings.

Credits:

Photography: Ian McCleary, Jacinda Reckleff, Cassie Zulch
Photo Editing: Ian McCleary
Research: Ian McCleary, Jacinda Reckleff, Cassie Zulch
Blog Admin: Ian McCleary