Artwork copyright Ellen Steinfeld. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Falling Water, 1998

Ellen Steinfeld
(American, born 1945)

Location: Dayton Elementary School, Dayton

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Falling Water is one of artist Ellen Steinfeld's colorful paper artworks composed using different colors of handmade paper pulp. She notes, "My work is about the environment, how people relate to it and how they are influenced by it. I am interested in Imagery depicting the Insignificance of humanity compared to natural forces. Falling Water is part of a series of paper pieces that depict landscapes of the earth and the universe. The series demonstrates the beauty of hills, flowers, sun showers and the planets, all coexisting in harmony." To create this piece she started with a drawing and a color study. She then layered cotton pulp to create a sculptural relief of the image. Finally, she pressed the pulp between plywood sheets to flatten the image and squeeze out excess water.

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

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Ellen Steinfeld creates paintings, sculptures, mixed media and stained glass. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting and design from Carnegie Mellon University and a master's degree in education from the University of Pittsburgh. Always evolving as an artist, she is "interested in interweaving shapes and colors with imaginary organic forms, combining spatial relationships and exploring the microscopic."