I hope you are staying safe and healthy. That seems to be the goal these days: “safe and healthy.” With your help, Crow’s Shadow has remained safe and healthy, and I hope you will continue your support to make that true for 2021. Personally, Crow’s Shadow has been a steadying reminder of the importance of art in a trying time and the power of good that creativity can bring to a community.
Staying healthy as an organization hasn’t been easy, but we’ve managed to weather all that 2020 has thrown at us. Although we had to cancel or reschedule our normal public activities at Crow’s Shadow, we were able to continue the Oregon-based artist-in-residence program with some modifications. In July, we had Jovencio de la Paz in the studio; in August, Ralph Pugay was here; and finally, in early October, we were honored to host Wendy Red Star again. Each artist produced three series or editions, and all three say their time with us was an amazing and productive experience. You can find videos of all their residencies on our YouTube channel.
Before the pandemic, we had been approved for two different grants to purchase major assets for the business: in July, we saw the delivery and installation of our brand-new Takach litho press, which replaced the original publishing press that we had been using since 2001. The new press has a motorized press bed and is larger than the earlier model. We are already producing larger prints, such as Natalie Ball’s latest works. In September, we purchased a new company van thanks to funding from the Wildhorse Foundation. In the studio, Judith Baumann and her assistants have caught up on the print schedule; new lithographs from Yoonhee Choi, Yoshihiro Kitai, and Natalie Ball are now available on our website, as well as monoprints from Jovencio de la Paz and Ralph Pugay.
And finally, once the smoke from the wildfires cleared, we were able to hold our long-planned Cree-style Round Drum making workshop for Tribal members, taught by Charles Wood III. The workshop was held outdoors, and was sponsored by a generous grant from the Pendleton High School Communicare Club.
2020 has been challenging, and without a clear end to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 is shaping up to be just as difficult. Our goal is to continue safely hosting the artist-in-residence program, expand our live-streamed events, and produce a series of socially distanced Traditional Arts workshops.
We are grateful and humbled by your support and look forward to the day we can see you in person once again.
Thank you,
Karl Davis
Executive Director
Three ways to support CSIA
1. DONATE TO CROW'S SHADOW
Make a direct donation to Crow's Shadow. Alternately, you can call us, or mail a check to Crow's Shadow, 48004 St Andrew's Rd, Pendleton OR 97801. Your contributions are tax-deductible and you will receive a total annual giving letter in January.
2. BUY ART Our full inventory is online where you can find beautiful, museum-quality hand-pulled limited edition prints at a range of prices.
3. SUPPORT CROW'S SHADOW WHEN SHOPPING ON AMAZON Save this link in your bookmarks and start shopping through Amazon Smile, which will donate a percentage of your regular purchases towards your favorite registered non-profit organization. Remember to always start on the Amazon Smile page so that your purchases are credited for donations (note that the mobile app does not support Smile).
Crow’s Shadow is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to provide a creative conduit for educational, social and economic opportunities to Native Americans through artistic development.
