My mural is an exploration of Weed’s past and present and integrates the unique elements that I see as the foundation of the community, such as the native plants, the animals, the vast night skies, and the wind that supports the local lumber industry and helped drive the town into existence. 

I chose a quilt because not only is it created by stitching together many small pieces, it is also a long standing symbol of community that can serve as a window into the past; the empty squares allows viewers to see into the storefront or out into the streets, thus creating a quilt that integrates the art with the living community.

About the Artist

This installation serves as a nod to the beautiful artform of poetry with the intent to inspire others to express themselves through creative writing.

Ode to the Wind represents a personification of the force that has been so consequential to both the establishment and destruction of the town of Weed. Much like Shelly’s poem Ode to the West Wind, it reminds us of its power to bring change to the natural world.

About the Artist:

Yreka sculptor, Sharon Swingle, creates figurative sculptures and embellished functional ware from high fire stoneware, wood and other mixed media often used in set design. She spent most of her career designing for the stage. She thinks of each piece as a silent play merging stories of triumph and tragedy with those of our collective past.

You can see more of her work on her website sharonswingle.com or on instagram at: @sharonswingle.

“Somewhere among the weaving mountains is a magical grove dripping with color. It is said that if you are lucky enough to find the Rainbow Grove, you might catch a glimpse of the frog wizard responsible for the rainbow magic that drips from the birch trees.”

About the Artist:

Bianca is a self-taught mixed media artist who grew up in Mount Shasta. After moving away from Siskiyou county and witnessing a decade of seasonal forest fires, their appreciation for nature back at home only deepened. Bianca’s newest work explores their experience of the natural world through abstraction and playful colors in an attempt to render something that can only be felt when outdoors.

 IG: https://www.instagram.com/glitch.bun/

Website: https://glitchbun.com/

This installation was inspired by the town of Weed’s conflicted relationship with the mill and Thomas’ experience growing up in a former mill house on Liberty Ave., playing (and trespassing on Roseburg property) in the wind near the Beaughan Spring.  The mundane materials (scrap wood, cardboard, paper, and a glue derived from packing peanuts) allude to the lumber industry, and to the resilience of the residents of Weed and their ability to make do with what they have.

About the Artist:

Amanda Thomas is a visual artist from rural Northern California.  Her practice spans photography, sculpture, painting, video, music, and more.  Fascinated by the devalued and forgotten, Thomas often incorporates discarded materials in her work, and questions who and what is considered valuable. She is currently experimenting with long-expired photographic materials, using trash as textiles, and intentional connections between materials and concept.  She works in the Art Department of the College of the Siskiyous, and is a current graduate student in Art at Northwestern State University of Louisiana.  Her graduate work uses abandoned mining sites to reflect on the environmental legacy of extraction in the American West.

This piece serves as a tribute to the abstract art of Jackson Pollock with the intention of inspiring the community to collaborate on the display. Free art supplies can be found in the nearby Art DROP Station. Members of the community may utilize these supplies to create their own artworks to hang in the window display.

This display showcases the beautiful work of our students from the Weed Summer Camp program. Included in this display is a collaborative sculpture, paper mache masks, and painted eyes on wood.