The Dalles Art Center Unveils New Signage Made by CGCC Students
The Dalles Art Center has a new display in their sculpture garden that proclaims their mission to “inspire all to engage with art.”
By Cole Goodwin
A collaboration with Portland-based artist Shelly Durica-Laiche and a group of metal fabrication students at Columbia Gorge Community College has paid off in a dynamic new display on the corner of 4th and Washington streets in The Dalles.
Robert Wells-Clark led the group of metal fabrication students in transforming Durica-Laiche’s design into a three-dimensional showpiece for The Dalles Art Center through the art of metal fabrication.
“The sign's visual details are really cool,” said Wells-Clark.
“It is nice to be able to see our work out in the field, being able to drive by and see something you worked on,” said Austen Piza, one of the students who participated in the project.
Students in the Columbia Gorge Community College Skills Center hard at work developing the display. Photo Credit: Sarah Cook
“They did an amazing job with it,” said Scott Stephenson, Executive Director of TDAC. “It’s just phenomenal. There’s a lot of skill that went into making it.”
Stephenson shared that the new sign was paid for by an anonymous benefactor that donated nearly $6k to assist the Art Center with the project.
The new display doubles as signage for the art center, and it is a welcome addition to the sculpture garden.
“We wanted to get a sign that clearly signaled that we’re an art center and not a library,” said Stephenson. “We still get people coming in asking about books sometimes.”
Photo Credit: Shelly Durica-Laiche of Indio Metals
Stephenson had high praise for everyone involved in the project.
“This collaboration with Shelly and CGCC just had a really beautiful energy surrounding it. And we’re living our mission by working in collaboration with other local organizations,” said Stephenson.
CGCC teach Wells-Clark confirmed that the collaboration was a win-win-win for all involved and said that the project was, “a great learning experience for students.”
“My favorite part of the project was working with the perforated metal because it made the lettering in the panels and the river looks like it was floating. It’s not a material I've worked with before, and it was a cool result. I like working with new materials,” said Piza.
The Dalles Art Center is located at 220 E. 4th Street and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no admission fee, though donations are accepted and directly support the continuation of its work.
