Of the Land, On the Land | The House-Poulsen Collection

September 5 – October 26, 2025 | Camas Gallery

Reception: Friday, September 5, 5:30-7:30 pm

Welcome & Introductions, 6:00 pm

This exhibition spotlights a group of eight Oregon artists whose work reflects a reverence for nature and explores the complex relationship between human-made constructions and natural forms. Whether it be the rolling waves of the Pacific Ocean, as portrayed by Manuel Izquierdo and Albert Patecky, the sheets of rain dancing over Ruth Patterson’s Oregonian hills, or the mountains dwarfing city streets painted by Charles Heaney, each artist asks viewers to consider the world around them not as something to be conquered, but as something to be understood as the backdrop to daily life in the Pacific Northwest. 

These works of art come from the decades-spanning collection of Mary Poulsen, Michael House, and their daughter Kirsten Marie Walsh, all of whom have a passion for Northwest art and its themes. This winter, I had the pleasure of seeing these artworks in their natural habitat in House and Poulsen’s Portland home, which they proudly designed themselves. The house displays the same sense of veneration for the natural world as their art, boasting massive windows with views of the lush forested ravine below, a spacious balcony, and lots of skylights for sunlight to shine in. This experience made me think of the importance of nature in the Pacific Northwest– a place so infamous for its weather– and the omnipotence of these natural scenes in the art which depicts the Northwest.

In a world where the climate crisis is at the forefront of the collective consciousness and Indigenous lands are threatened by pipelines and other harmful policies, it is perhaps more crucial than ever to remember and appreciate the natural beauty of the place we live, work, and study in. I invite you to consider the role of nature in your life in the Pacific Northwest through this exhibition, and work to find the balance between the preservation of these unique landscapes and the daily needs of those who live here.