Images

A Scottish Proverb

2009

Burmese

2008

Dear Sister (detail)

2008

Donkey Retired

2008

Heir Apparent

2008

Korat

2008

Music Box

2008

Nine Spot

2008

Siamese

2008

Siamese

2008

Spinning Jenny

2008

Tartuffe

2008

A Good Dog (front)

2006

A Good Dog (open)

2006

Snowy Plover

2006

Ur Dog

2006

Rabbit as King of Ghosts

2005

Wolfhound

2005

Dutch Rabbit

2004

Fawn

2004

Magpie pica pica

2004

Opus

2004

Self portrait

2004

Argus (After Kimse)

2002

Cupids After Watteau (detail)

2002

Kao Taem

2002

Antique Rabbit

2000

Tayside's Georgie

2000

Exhibitions

Past

Animal History Boxes

August, 2008

Group Show

May, 2005

Toys and Totems

December, 2004

Influenced

June, 2002

Illuminations

April, 2002

Statement

Before Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, we had no knowledge of our separateness from ourselves, from one another and from nature. Each of us suffers that loss; we wake each morning as refugees.
Once people traveled underground into the dark caves of Lascaux to draw horses on the wall. It was the need to reconnect that drove them down into the dark with their weak torches.
As children we have an innate understanding and desire to get close to the primal power (and identification with the abject powerlessness) of the animal. The bear is made benevolent in its childlikeness and becomes the attaché to the private world of the child. The young heroine of National Velvet keeps a shoe box under her bed filled with paper cutouts of horses; when she takes them out to play with them the air becomes charged with ritual and desire. Toys become totems.
The dog entered my circle of fire very early on, offering to become my closest friend, my teacher, and still…no matter how many mindful hours we spend together there remains between us a space that no language can cross.
Art, for me, remains a way to meet the animal, perhaps within myself, perhaps to mourn what’s lost.
- Elizabeth Knight

Bio

ELIZABETH KNIGHT

Education

1989
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MFA
1982-83
School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
1979
University of New Hampshire, Durham; BA
1992-99
Independent study and workshops in embroidery, weaving and antique
American samplers and textiles.

Exhibitions

2008
Animal History Boxes, PDX Contemporary Art

2005
Next, Grand Opening Show, PDX, Portland OR, Oct 2005

2004
Toys and Totems, PDX, Portland, OR
Gender in Conflict, 24th Annual Gender Symposium, Lewis and Clark College,Portland, OR. Curated by Barbara Bartholomew
Summer Group Show, PDX, Portland, OR

2003
Dog Show, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI

2002
Illuminations, PDX,Portland,OR
The Dog and Pony Show, Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay, OR

2001
Oregon College of Art and Craft, Portland, OR

2000
Mortal Frames, PDX, Portland, OR
Samplers, Contemporary Crafts Gallery, Portland, OR
Drawing at the Zoo, Portland Community College Gallery

1999
Willamette Valley Juried Exhibition, Corvallis, OR-Juror’s Prize

1998
Gallery 114, Portland, OR

1997
Multnomah Art Center, Portland, OR

1996
Convergence ‘96, Portland, OR

1995
Strange Angels, Portland Community College Gallery, Portland, OR

1988
Art Show at the Dog Show, American Dog Museum, St. Louis, MO

Grants

1990
Massachusetts Artists Foundation Fellowship

Publications

2004
he Oregonian, “Felt Like an Animal to Her” D. K. Row, Dec. 24, page25

2000
The Oregonian, “Pooch Portraits” November 27
American Craft, “Portfolio,” Oct/Nov ‘00

1997
Fiberarts Magazine, “Sleight of Hand.” Sept./Oct. issue