Mercier’s artwork on display in Lake Oswego

Mercier’s artwork on display in Lake Oswego

Tribal artist Bobby Mercier’s traditional Chinook woodcarving is on display at the Arts Council of Lake Oswego’s Artspace until Friday, July 11, as part of an exhibit called “Woodcore,” featuring seven Oregon artists and woodworkers.

According to the Arts Council, “Each of the artists find pleasure in scraps of wood – respectfully sourced from fallen or salvaged trees, road shoulders or job sites, often obtained through personal connections or happenstance. They share a reverence for wood – not just as a material, but as an enchanting remnant of life, place and histories.”

Chinook carving traditions were nearly lost, but Mercier is among a handful of artists who have painstakingly taught themselves the style by studying the few surviving pieces.

The exhibit is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday at the Arts Council, 380 A Avenue, Suite A, in Lake Oswego.

For more information, visit artscouncillo.org/upcoming.