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A Journey Through Felt

Through the soft warmth of natural and acrylic felts, fiber artist Xander Griffith creates compositions that honor and celebrate Pacific Northwest nature-based subject matter in his premier PDX exhibition titled 11.15.1805.

Xander’s exhibition title refers to a particularly challenging date noted in the travel journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition that took place from May 1804 to September 1806. Also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, it was the first American expedition to cross what is now the western portion of the United States. It began near St. Louis, Missouri, made its way westward, and passed through the continental divide to reach the Pacific coast. The Corps of Discovery comprised a selected group of U.S. Army volunteers under the command of Captain Meriwether Lewis and his close friend, Second Lieutenant William Clark.

“Imagine the misery the Lewis and Clark expedition team felt during the final leg of their journey to the Pacific Ocean. The harsh November climate of the Northwest, unforgivingly challenging them at every turn. It would no doubt be hard to fathom that they could fully take in the beauty, or to be able to stop and smell the pines, and relish in the twinkling stars.

What if for the briefest of moments I could gift them something? The gift of illuminating this land and showing its inspiring facets. The endless swirling color combinations, the sheer whimsy of it all might for a moment soothe the struggle and bring a smile to their faces as their bonfire went crackle, crackle.” – Xander Griffith

All pieces are on view at Concourse B at the Portland, OR airport.

More info: xandergriffith.com | pdxart.portofportland.online