Printmaker Stirling Gorsuch was raised in the small coastal town of Cannon Beach and has spent his lifetime exploring the forested slopes, sweeping beaches, and rugged headlands of Oregon’s north coast. In Coastal Lexicon he draws on this deep experience to present two distinct series inspired by the ever-changing seasonal drama of land, sea, and sky. His monotypes, which he considers to be meditations on his relationship to the Oregon Coast, reference landscapes, memories, and daydreams. His linocuts celebrate patterns of light in the coastal forests.

Over the years, Gorsuch has devoted himself to exploring and mixing various printmaking processes and experimented with layering multiple techniques into each printed image. In this show, he separates the more painterly monotypes from the linocut relief prints, which emphasize carved line work in their composition.

“I consider my artwork to be a kind of documentation of the spirit of the coast, which in turn somehow captures my own spirit as well,” notes Gorsuch. “If the process is working, then there is harmony between the layers of shape and color and my emotional state at the time of creating each print.” 

Meet the artist in the gallery from 2:00 to 4:00 pm during Artwalk.