Rick Bartow is a member of the Wiyot tribe of Northern California. The artwork in this exhibit focuses on primarily on his two-dimensional drawings, paintings and prints on loan to HSU from Froelick Gallery in Portland, Ore. Working in his expressionistic style, blending of a variety of drawing materials and paints, Bartow creates vibrant imagery that explores human and animal forms, Native American transformation stories, global mythology and personal experiences.
His work has been featured in exhibits nationally, and internationally throughout the Pacific Northwest. His most recent work, a 20-foot wooden sculpture of chiseled and carved poles titled, “We Were Always Here,” debuted this month at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. In addition, Bartow’s work is in the collections of the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, the Heard Museum, the Hallie Ford Museum, the Portland Art Museum, the de Saisset Museum, and the Westfalisches Landesmuseum in Munster, Germany.
Native American Arts Gallery hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday noon to 5 p.m., Thursday noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday 10 to 2 p.m. The gallery will be closed on Oct. 18 between 5 and 7 p.m., and on Monday, Nov. 12. The Native American Arts Gallery is located on the ground floor of Humboldt State University’s Behavioral & Social Sciences Building near Union and 17th streets. Admission is free and parking day permits are available for $3.50 at parking kiosks with additional metered parking located along the street. A reception for the artist will be held later this fall. Look for future announcements with the event date and time or contact the gallery office for more information, (707) 826-5814.