Artwork copyright Alice Van Leunen. Photo courtesy of the artist.

The Coral Reef, 1989

Alice Van Leunen
(American, born 1943)

Location: Olympic View Middle School, Mukilteo

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

The Coral Reef is a paper relief sculpture created by artist Alice Van Leunen. It is the first in a series of artworks created as a “statement about the endangered reefs and their magnificent life forms.” She first composed the design using graph paper. She then carefully collaged squares of paper folded using origami techniques. To finish the artwork, she painted iridescent foils onto the paper. She notes that the iridescent elements “evoke the marvelous colors of the fish, anemones, and other underwater plants and animals which we are in danger of losing forever.”

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Mukilteo School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Oregon-based textile artist Alice Van Leunen creates artworks that explore form and material. She has collaborated with many different textile and sculptural artists to create fiber sculptures, large-scale tapestries, and site-specific installations.