Ben's Den

Oak & Fused Glass

This work was created circa 1962 by the incomparable Oregon wood carver Leroy Setziol. The multicolored glass pieces in varying dimensions are "backlit" with stunning effect. The library has on reserve both a CD and a retrospective exhibition book on Leroy Setziol's wood sculpture. The 7-1/l2' x 7-1/2' sculpture was a generous gift from long-time Salem attorney Bruce Williams, class of 1948.

Corridor

Horse Shoe Basin

See America First! At the suggestion of renowned Northwest photographer Fred Kiser, the Great Northern Railway adopted this slogan in 1906 to promote its resort facilities in Montana and subsequently all its resorts along its national parks route.

"Horse Shoe Basin," located in the North Cascades, was one of the "See America First!" series of landscape photos produced for the railroad. The photo is hand-colored in oil and encased in a reproduction antique frame. The piece was donated to the law library by Seattle attorney Gordon Woodley, class of 1977.

North Wall -
Light Well Area

Bamboo Sculpture - "ALLEGRO - SERIES V"


The extraordinary bamboo sculpture on the north wall of the library was created in 2005 by Cal Hashimoto, Sculptor, Hawaii, whose resume, gallery and artist statement can be found at http://www.bamboofinearts.com/.

In Mr. Hashimoto's words, "the piece is a complex yet contemplative statement. It is also largely transparent to blend in with its setting and not conflict with other artistic or architectural gestures. This piece was designed as part of the Allegro series, and as such contains elements of music. The black ovals of the exposed ends of the verticals represents notes complemented by other bamboo elements that represent timbre, score, rhythm and scale and are abstract in placement."

You may also be interested to know that the vertical elements are made of a bamboo species called Phyllostachys pubescens from the mainland of China and is roughly 3-3/4" in diameter and has been flame treated to create a medium chocolate color to compliment the cream color of the wall surface. The larger horizontal elements (2" in diameter) are of a species of bamboo personally selected by the artist and harvested from bamboo groves in Hawaii and is called Phyllostachys aurea. The smaller horizontal 1" diameter bamboo have been flame treated to produce a light to dark brown variegated hue. The horizontal elements are set into carefully cut grooves in the verticals and glued. They are also secured with mechanical fasteners and lashed with cord. The exposed hollows of the bamboo are lacquered black. As you can see, the result of all these natural elements together is a rich and complex blend of organic hues and textures. The entire work is finished with two coats of high quality hand rubbed lacquer and waxed.

North Wall -
Light Well Area

Sea Swirl

This 60' diameter stainless steel sculpture with a golden-hued heat patina finish ws created in 2006 by Oregon artist Walt Mendenhall.

http://www.mendenhallstudio.com/walt/index.html

Second Floor:

Copy Room, Main Hallway

Ecuadorian Tapestry


The woven tapestry that hangs in the copy room was donated by a visiting Ecuadorian scholar, Maria Carmen Vivar, who studied here for one year in 2002-2003.

Arched Windows Room

Table Rock

This work was created in 1979 by Byron Gardner (1930-1992), one of Oregon's leading abstract expressionists of the 20th Century. Donated in memory of Professor Hugh Dick L'72 (1944 -1979) by his friends at the Oregon Supreme Court and Oregon Court of Appeals, 1971-72.

Arched Windows Room

Mt. Jefferson From Sage Brush Country

This work was done by Salem artist Nadine Bredehoeft in 1979.