Alison Saar: Bound for Glory

The fall 2010 Hoffman Gallery exhibition features the work of renowned artist Alison Saar, whose sculptures and installations explore themes of race, gender, and identity. September 7-December 12, 2010

Copy Link

Open gallery

This fall, the Hoffman Gallery at Lewis & Clark presents Alison Saar: Bound for Glory, an exhibition exploring the sculptures and works on paper of an important contemporary artist. Opening September 7, the exhibition features Alison Saar’s public artworks and the more personal pieces she creates in her Los Angeles studio.

“Alison Saar is one of few contemporary artists to use the figure almost exclusively in her work—yet figurative representation is not her highest priority,” said Linda Tesner, director of the Hoffman Gallery. “She explores human impulses, cultural prejudices, and life experiences, drawing inspiration from folk art, African and Haitian aesthetics, myths and rituals from diverse cultures, American slave narratives, and music.”

Slideshow of Saar’s work

The following slideshow includes some of the pieces visitors can expect to see at the exhibition, as well as images of her public art installations.

Discord (2009) wool, steel, fiberglass, coal, and Styrofoam, 104 x 40 x 40 inches. Courtesy of LA Louver Gallery and the artist.
Discord (2009) wool, steel, fiberglass, coal, and Styrofoam, 104 x 40 x 40 inches. Courtesy of LA Louver Gallery and the artist.
Bat Boyz (2001) baseball bats and pitch, 34 x 12 x 12 inches. Courtesy of LA Louver Gallery and the artist.
Blood / Sweat / Tears (2005) wood, copper, bronze, paint, and tar, 72 x 24 x 20 inches. Courtesy of LA Louver Gallery and the artist.
Coup (2006) wood, wire, tin, and found objects, overall dimensions 52 x 168 x 52 inches. Courtesy of LA Louver Gallery and the artist.
Lunarseas: Sea of Nectar (2008) cast bronze; edition of five unique variations, 22 x 17 x 8 inches. Courtesy of LA Louver Gallery and the artist.
Cake Walk (1997) wood, tar, and hardware 80 x 24 x 18 inches. Courtesy of LA Louver Gallery and the artist.
Dark Roots (1999) wood, plaster, tar, rope, and paint, 71 x 9 x 7 inches. Courtesy of L.A. Louver Gallery and the artist.
Swing Low (maquette for Harriet Tubman Memorial, 2007) cast bronze 12 x 22.5 x 24 inches. Courtesy of LA Louver Gallery and the artist.
Swing Low: Harriet Tubman Memorial (2008) 122nd and Frederick Douglass Ave. New York, NY, 13’x21’x9’ (with base). Courtesy of LA Louver Gallery and the artist.
York: Terra Incognita (maquette, 2009) cast bronze, 16.5 x 5.5 x 9 inches.
York: Terra Incognita (2010) Lewis & Clark campus, Portland, OR.

Alison Saar: Bound for Glory

Saar at Lewis & Clark: The York Memorial

Saar’s newest public sculpture, York: Terra Incognita, was dedicated on Lewis & Clark’s campus in May 2010. The memorial honors York, William Clark’s slave and a crucial contributor to the Corps of Discovery. Despite his vital service during the expedition, after the completion of the journey, York shared in none of the fame and fortune enjoyed by other members of the corps.

Learn more about the York Memorial Project and see the making of York: Terra Incognita in the following video.

Exhibition details

Alison Saar: Bound for Glory opens at the Ronna and Eric Hoffman Gallery on Tuesday, September 7. Saar will offer an artist talk at 5 p.m. that evening in Miller Center for Humanities, room 105. An opening reception will follow, with refreshments served in the gallery from 6-8 p.m.

The Hoffman Gallery published a 36-page, full-color catalog on the exhibition Bound for Glory, written by Linda Tesner. Visitors can pick up a catalog at the gallery.

The exhibition will be on display until December 12. It is free and open to the public; the gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information, call 503-768-7687.