Artwork copyright Patricia Powers. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

The Desirable Objects, 1983

Patricia Powers
(American, born 1951)

Location: Burley-Glenwood Elementary, Port Orchard

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

The Desirable Objects is a painting by artist Patricia Powers. It is part of her body of paintings of horses. This composition places a horse in an unlikely indoor scene. She notes, "All of the objects in the painting are in my house, and are dear to me. They are old acquisitions, and recent acquisitions, and the house… is the next acquisition, the next desirable object. But the title also reminds me that I am guilty of 'objectifying' a living, feeling creature and that it is wrong for people to 'own' animals. This kind of ambivalence is important in my work."

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

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Patricia Powers is a Hudson Valley, New York-based artist. She focuses on horses as her primary subject matter. Born in New York City, she studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York. She recieved a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1980, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in 1983.