Pacific Index

Pacific University’s own art professor, Stevie Woods, debuts her art exhibit “Natural Consequences” at the Cawein Gallery

Stevie Woods, an art professor at Pacific University, debuted her art exhibition Natural Consequences at the Cawein Gallery. Her encaustic pieces, of both animals and landscapes, draw attention to both endangered species and environmental issues. While many of the animals present in the pieces are not native to Oregon, such as the rhino or elephant, Woods makes it her goal to bring foreign ecological issues closer to home, while also calling action to local acts of community service.

“The only way I could find feelings is to learn and connect,” she explained in a recent interview with The Index. “And it did very much to open me up to being very passionate about those animals.” She adds, “But I wasn’t passionate about them until I learned more about them.”   

In the back of the gallery, lights are posed to expose six encaustic birds, all of which hold a piece of red string in their beaks. Behind the bougie red velvet, stanchion ropes, the birds all are seen in flight, though the sixth bird on the right side has seemingly dropped the string that all the other birds carry. This would be the now extinct imperial wood pecker, seemingly no longer around to carry the string of life. As Woods shares, “I thought if they could fight against the museum, like by grabbing onto the stanchions and yanking, you have this idea of different birds in different places, being connected by the fact that they’re all in a fight.” Woods sat with the idea that these birds, all of which are endangered, were resilient in their fight against nature and human-made issues.

While humans have taken their toll on the well-being of animals in the environment, Woods makes it clear that these species are not victims, rather a source of strength. “These are like strong, beautiful, resilient animals, and I want to show them that way. I don’t want to show them as weak because nature does find a way,” she explains. 

Three pieces are placed side-by-side; the rhinos, elephants and sharks. Each animal has a missing piece, such as the talons of the elephants, whose absence is thoughtfully highlighted in red. These human-made issues of poaching animals for their resources is an extraordinarily large issue, endangering their species further than nature could ever possibly accomplish. But while Woods makes it apparent that this is an issue, she wants to make it clear that this doesn’t diminish the power of these animals. It’s not about the weakness of the elephants, rather the abuse inflicted upon them by people. “The more you learn about these animals, you’re like, they’re brutal too, like [the] rhino. Don’t get close,” Woods jokes. 

On either side of the gallery there are two landscape pieces, one which holds a lock, the other presenting a key. “People are the key to their communities. You might not be able to help a parrot, but you can help at a dog shelter. I mean, there’s things that you can do,” Woods expresses, noting that while her show brings troubling ecological issues to the forefront, it stands as a message to take action where you can. Even though it would be difficult for Oregonians to try and save the rhinos, on a local level, it is still possible to make a positive difference. “You can just be a good person. If you don’t do any volunteering, if you don’t do anything, you could just not be a jerk,” she remarks. 

From encaustic salmon, to elephants, Woods provides a vast, world-wide view of environmental issues. Even when it feels daunting, seeing all of the endangered species and flora, it’s important to take a step back and remember what you can do for your community. Woods created Natural Consequences as a plea for caring more, whether you can save the elephants or not, you can make a difference.

The Natural Consequences exhibit will be up in the Cawein gallery from October 9 to November 14  . Stevie Woods is very willing to do personal explanations of her art to both classes or visitors when requested.