Kolieha Bush

Kolieha moved to Eagle Creek in 1977 and has lived out there by the creek ever since. She met her partner, artist Joe Cotter out there the next year. Since 1980 she and Joe have had a studio/shop in Estacada where they’ve had numerous art shows and life drawing sessions. Kolieha’s studio is now in the home she shares with Joe and their two sons, Leon and Noah, and a variety of animals.

Kolieha’s interest in the human figure and the plant world are apparent through her paintings, drawings, paper maché, wood and bronze sculptures.

“My artwork seems to tend in two different directions- one being an inner contemplative mode, which I hope my bronze sculptures convey, and the other direction going towards the exuberant side of life, with the intent of conveying the joyful sense of being alive.”

She has displayed her artwork each July at the Oregon Country Fair for almost 30 years, which has ranged from paper maché piñatas and magic wands to bronze sculpture, from silkscreened cards to prints, paintings and drawings She designed the poster for the 2007 Oregon Country Fair. Her bronze sculpture has been shown in Sheridan, Or. at the Lawrence Gallery, and in Salem, Portland and Estacada

Kolieha is a member of The Artback, a mural cooperative that has painted a mural each year in the town of Estacada since 1994. She was the lead artist in 1998 for the mural titled ‘Celebration 98’, and worked in collaboration with Reeva Wortel and Emily Hyde for the 2002’ Tree of Life’ mural. Kolieha designed and led the painting of this years’ mural called “Bird Party’.

She has worked on two community murals in Portland, “Struggle and Hope” and “For the People”.In 2000 she worked with the 6th grade class at Eagle Creek Elementary School to make a mural about idioms. Kolieha painted a mural in the childrens’ section of the Molalla Public Library in the memory of a local school teacher.

Kolieha has been a painter for the McMenamin Brothers since 1998 working at a number of different pubs including the Grand Lodge in Forest Grove, the Old St. Francis School in Bend and Edgefield in Troutdale. Her work can always be seen at the Spiral Gallery Cooperative located in Estacada where she has been a member since its’ inception.

More Artwork can soon be viewed at: www.chameleonsgarden.com

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