“Steel Bridge I”
13” h x 19” w on 18” h x 24” w watercolor paper, silkscreen (signed, numbered 8/10) (2021)
Another Portland Saturday Market find, and another serendipitous connection–Kristine Kordell grew up just up the road from me in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Like with Tobin Floom, we appreciated the sense of place in Kristine’s work. This silkscreen–part of a series of three versions of ten impressions each (each version a different color palette)–is a depiction of Portland’s Steel Bridge, which we cross regularly on our way to sporting events at the Moda Center. Despite the fluidity of the lines, it still manages to convey the power and strength of what was (and remains) an architectural marvel.
Indeed, what I like about this piece in particular is that it avoids two common poles one often sees in cityscape art–either being too on-the-nose in presenting sharp, literal piercing lines, or deliberately running all the way in the other direction into fantastical whimsy. Both of those styles can be appealing (and often appeal to me), but this work felt unique in being impressionistic while still maintaining an intense, even foreboding visage.
“Steel Bridge Study in Orange”
23” w x 8” h on a wood block 25” w x 13” h, mixed media (signed, unique) (2018)
As we were ringing up “Steel Bridge I”, we saw this original piece nestled in the corner. Originally part of a study used to create the “Steel Bridge” series, Kristine converted the photos into a unique piece of art that presents the Steel Bridge in a novel and impactful way. Though the photos themselves are “literal”, the juxtaposition (particularly of the Steel Bridge against a robust wooden background) deconstructs the linearity of the bridge and elevates it into something that commands a different sort of attention.
At the time we purchased this, we discovered that it didn’t even have a name yet! So we had the fun experience of collaborating with the artist to give it its formal title: “Steel Bridge Study in Orange.”
“Naito Shenanigans (Waiting for a Train)”
14” h x 6” w, ink, watercolor, and colored pencil on paper (signed, unique) (2022)
Almost a year after purchasing the above two pieces, I ran into Kristine at the NW Marine Art Works open studio and holiday market event. I wanted something original to decorate our upcoming baby’s nursery, but something that could grow with the baby. And what boy doesn’t like motorcycles?
This is another piece that only got a title on request, but I’m glad I did because the story behind it wasn’t what I thought it would be. I thought we were seeing a daredevil performer doing stunts in a stadium. The actual story, though, was a lot more “Portland”: a passing train had stopped traffic on the Naito Parkway, and to pass the time some motorcyclists were popping wheelies and engaging in general shenanigans.
David Schraub 