With leaves already strewn atop the binding willow sticks that form her sculpture in Springbrook Park — and anticipating inevitable spells of snow and insects and other living things enjoying its confines — Rose Covert is content to know her work and the environment within it will change over time. But she hopes it will remain a refuge and a place for kids to let their imaginations run wild.
“I wanted stumps in here because I wanted people to be able to take a rest here and breathe or bring a friend and have lunch,” she said. “I want it to be played in and explored. It could be a castle, a fairy home and so many imaginative things.”
The Arts Council of Lake Oswego recently added this sculpture into its Gallery Without Walls rotating collection and it is the first site-specific piece within this collection (meaning the artist created the work based on the location where it would be displayed). It is also the first piece at Springbrook Park.
“Having preconceived sculptures in the downtown area will always be a part of the Gallery Without Walls rotating collection, but it is important we try new things and test new boundaries. Having a site-specific piece from an artist who has never shown in Gallery Without Walls, in a park where we don’t have artwork, was a fantastic way to stretch the program and bring it to people who visit the park but don’t necessarily walk around downtown as often,” said Norah Creen, the arts council’s public art and collection manager.