Shoal of Returning Hope, 2024

Oregon Institute of Technology, Klamath Falls, OR
Dichroic glass and stainless steel
H 17′ x W 40′ x D 25′

In this project Shoal of Returning Hope, I aim to visually represent the hope the Klamath Basin community has held for many years. The installation consists of shining salmon-like glass pieces suspended in
midair within Boivin Hall, anticipating the ecological recovery of the Klamath River after the removal of tour dams in 2024 on the Oregon-Calitornia border, in the country’s largest-ever dam removal proiect.

Inspired by Coho and Chinook salmon, which change their body color during their journey upstream, I use dichroic glass to create a spectrum of colors, symbolizing the transformative journey of the salmon and the resilience of the river. Additionally, the sacred and endangered local fish of the Klamath Tribes, c’waam and koptu, are represented in the installation, reflecting the cultural significance and hope for their
reservation.

The installation layout is inspired by the Klamath Basin the Pacific Ocean, and the broader region, guiding the visual narrative of the fish swimming from the lower (southwest) to the higher (northeast) points.
The central gray beam symbolizes a dam that salmon must overcome. echoing the community’s hope for the river’s future.

Commissioned through Oregon’s Percent for Art in Public Places Program managed by the Oregon Arts Commiccion