Carrie Moore: One Artist Working in Three Mediums

ASTORIA — Oregon artist Carrie Moore will showcase her relief prints, copper sculpture and leather handbags in a solo show in the Alcove at RiverSea Gallery opening Sept. 13 and continuing through Oct. 7. Meet the artist at the opening reception during Astoria’s Second Saturday Art Walk from 5:30 to 8 p.m Saturday, Sept. 13.

Moore is primarily a printmaker with strong roots in graphic design. Her work is deeply grounded in simple line, shape and form, and images from nature are central to her work. Her relief prints feature her impressions of wild creatures and flora from the Northwest. Rhythmic and undulating line combined with emphatic negative space creates mesmerizing images teeming with life.

One of Moore’s favorite techniques becomes apparent only upon close inspection; some designs contain stylized forms of animals and plants nestled within the outlines of other forms. A wolf’s head may be found tucked into the body of a salmon or coiled lines inside a dragonfly wing may represent a flower.

Love of carving has led Moore from chiseling linoleum blocks for relief prints to expand into other mediums. For this show, she has created a series of one-of-a-kind leather handbags and clutches that feature impressions embossed from portions of her linoleum blocks. Each is a wearable work of art stitched from buffalo leather and other premium hides, often tanned and conditioned by friends. She has also turned to metalwork, and she used her skill with line and form to embellish wall-mounted copper salmon sculptures with intricate pierced-work designs.

This multi-talented artist lives by the Willamette River on acreage near Oregon City where she maintains her Studio on the Knoll, a space for creating her artwork as well as teaching workshops and hosting visiting and teaching artists.

RiverSea Gallery is located at 1160 Commercial St. The gallery offers contemporary works in original art, fine craft and jewelry by established and emerging artists from the northwest and around the nation. For more information, call the gallery at 503-325-1270 or visit riverseagallery.com