Kolieha Bush
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I am an artist based in Eagle Creek, Oregon, and have been producing art professionally for over 30 years. There are several different mediums that I work with; papier mache', paint, oil clay, bronze, pen and pencil. My artwork ranges from quiet and contemplative pieces, to work portraying the more exuberant and joyful side of life. I like to paint people, plants, birds... I like music and movement. I keep working until the piece feels ‘true’ to me.   

I have displayed my artwork at the Oregon Country Fair since 1979. The free, creative spirit of the fair has had a definite influence on me and what I do as an artist. Originally I sold papier mache' in the form of Peculiar Pinatas, and gradually moved toward more sculptural pieces, many incorporating natural objects such as sticks, vines and moss.

My figurative bronze works developed after I made a life-sized papier mache' sculpture of a woman in 1985. My friend, the sculptor Nano Lopez, worked at an art foundry. He encouraged me to refine the piece and to have her  cast in bronze. I learned all about the lost wax bronze casting process and in 1986 The Young Woman was my first bronze sculpture cast at a foundry in Walla Walla, WA.

Beginning in 1980 my partner, Joe Cotter, and I shared a studio/gallery space called the Chameleons Garden in Estacada, OR. Joe painted, made silk-screened prints and cards and worked with ceramics, and I painted, made various papier mache' creations, and sculpted. We also held years of weekly life drawing sessions.  My brother Peter Bush owner of Rosebush Marimbas, joined us in 1986, making fine hand-crafted marimbas. The Chameleons Garden was a great work place and the site of many art gatherings in the 80's and early 90’s.
 
In 1988 I worked on Struggle and Hope, my first mural, sponsored by the Portland Central American Solidarity Committee and designed by Bill Garnett.  I am a founding member of the Artback Artists Cooperative in Estacada, OR. Organized in 1993, we have painted a large scale, outdoor mural in our small, rural community each year since 1994. I have been the lead artist on four of them: Celebration '98, Tree of Life 2003 (in collaboration with Reeva Wortel and Emily Hyde), Bird Party 2007 and most recently on the renovation of Joe Cotter's the Cycle of Wood mural. I also have murals in the the National College of Natural Medicine, the Molalla Public Library and Eagle Creek Elementary school.


In 1997 I had the good fortune to begin working for McMenamins as one of the artists painting in their historic hotels and pubs. I am grateful to Mike McMenamin for being so supportive of the arts. I enjoy the opportunity to work with the other artists, who have become friends as well. As a group, we have had three shows together in the Portland area. 
 
My artwork has been in the Spiral Gallery, a cooperative in downtown Estacada, OR, since its inception in 2003. The Gallery provides a much needed and much appreciated gathering space for artists and their supporters.

I would not be the artist I am today if it were not for the long and loving relationship I had with my husband Joe Cotter, who passed away in 2012. Joe encouraged me, challenged me and supported me in every way.  We raised our sons, Leon and Noah together. My family and friends have been an inspiration in my life and my art. 



Curriculum Vitae

Education
1983-84   Portland State University, Portland, OR 
1977-78   Museum Art School, Portland, OR

Affiliations
2003 to present   Spiral Gallery Cooperative, Estacada, OR
!997- present       McMenamins Artist
1993 - present    Artback Artists Cooperative, Eagle Creek, OR
1979-present      Art vendor, Oregon Country Fair, Veneta, OR
2001-2012          Performing Arts Group of Estacada,  Estacada, OR
1981-2011          Chameleons Garden studio/gallery, Estacada, OR
1981-1983          Peculiar Pinatas,  Portland Saturday Market,  Portland, OR

Art Shows
2013 Group Show     Spiral Gallery Cooperative, Estacada, OR
2012 Group Show     Spiral Gallery Cooperative, Estacada, OR
2011 Group Show     Spiral Gallery Cooperative, Estacada, OR
2010 Group Show    Spiral Gallery Cooperative, Estacada, OR
2009  McMenamins Artists Showcase     Linfield College, McMinnville, OR
2009  McMenamins Artists Showcase     Portland International Airport, Portland, OR
2008  Kolieha Bush and Joe Cotter     The Spiral Gallery, Estacada, OR 
2007  McMenamins Artists Showcase     Gallery Portland, OR
2006  Joe Cotter and Kolieha Bush    The Spiral Gallery, Estacada, OR
2003  The Family Show    The Spiral Gallery, Estacada,OR
1997  Life Drawing Show    The Chameleons Gallery, Estacada, OR
1996   ArtPARTy     West Linn, OR
1992  Bronze Invitational     Chemeketa Community College, Salem, OR
1991   Six Artists Six Visions     The Chameleons Garden,  Estacada, OR
1991  Art Gathering    The Chameleons Garden,  Estacada, OR 
1988  Creative Visualizations     Westhills Unitarian Fellowship, Portland, OR 
1988  Art Gathering     The Chameleons Garden, Estacada, OR
1987  Volume, Light and Color    The Elusive Trout Pub, Sandy, OR
1987  Art Gathering    The Chameleons Garden,  Estacada, OR
1987  Public Hanging    Portland Center for the Visual Arts, Portland, OR 
1986  Art Gathering     The Chameleons Garden , Estacada, OR
1985  Public Hanging    Portland Center for the Visual Arts, Portland, OR
1985  Joe Cotter and Kolieha Bush    Hillsdale Brew Pub, Portland, OR
1985  Paintings, Pastels and Papier Mache´     Sandpiper Gallery, Cannon Beach, OR


Murals
2013  The Cycle of Wood  designed by Joe Cotter in 1996, Artback Artists Cooperative lead artist for restoration 
2009  History of Natural Medicine  2nd floor National College of Natural Medicine, Portland, OR
2007  Bird Party   Artback Artists Cooperative,  Estacada, OR
2002  Tree of Life  Collaboration with Reeva Wortel and Emily Hyde   Artback Artists Cooperative,  Estacada, OR
2001  Alice O'Black Memorial Mural   Mollala Public Library, Mollala, OR
2000  Ideas and Idioms   Eagle Creek Elementary School, Eagle Creek, OR
1998  Celebration '98   Artback  Artists Cooperative,  Estacada, OR
1997  All the World   Kids Klub Art School,  Barton, OR