Back to The Distance Between Us homepage

What If...

Four Corners of Our World: Ravens is one of four different art cards chosen for you by a whimsical fortune teller object. Each card leads to either mythology or factual information about the second most prevalent winged creature in Eugene, (behind the duck). The artist reveals: "The ideas for these cards appeared in a dream, and I wrote them down at 3am. Ravens have appeared to the me throughout my life: knocking on skylights over my bed in the morning when I was a busy student; lying dead on my lawn in the days before my dramatic divorce; in books when I was researching a different topic; in fortunes told by mystics when I went away to the countryside to study holistic health practices; and now in the name of the business and collaborator in this artwork." The mixed nature of the raven, as a tenacious, clever survivor, while also a mystical beast of portent, evokes the energy of many resilient and intrepid humans that have lived and travelled in this valley throughout time.

The Distance Between Us

Sterling Israel:

Introduction:
Sterling was the first artist I met when I re-located here. She is one of the kindest, funniest, most curious, and adaptable people I have ever encountered.

Bio:
Sterling Israel is a visual artist, art teacher, and creative writer born in Cleveland and raised in San Francisco. Academically trained as a painter, she is also trained by community in many types of craft-making, with an emphasis on recycled and found objects. Of her own creative life, she says: "I am a nature-loving ex-urbanite with grassroots and aluminum wings, who sometimes stops in the middle of the road to finish writing an essay, song, or poem." Sterling currently serves as the OSLP Arts & Culture Program Coordinator.

Ravens:

Introduction:
Every time I go into Ravens I am swept up in a whirlwind of imagery. Raven also runs Epic Dream Designs, and that well describes what it is like to walk into his store.

Bio:
Raven Rowley is a spirit of constant creation. He opened Ravens in 2018 to share his epic dreams and visions, and to meet and engage with his community.