Page 50 - SOM Summer 2017

neck of the woods | art

IMAGINATION

More than just a box

& Lee Juillerat

ho knew that west- Facts and trivia about 13 bird spe- The painted boxes
ern grebes feed their cies common to the Klamath Basin are the result of a
Wvery young adult and Southern Oregon don’t need project launched
feathers for nutrition? Or that the to come from a book. For people by Kendall Bell in
best way to find great horned owl strolling the streets of downtown 2013. Bell—who
nests is to look for on-the-ground Klamath Falls, 13 electrical util- is vice president
deposits of regurgitated pellets of ity boxes feature information and of the Klamath
bone, fur, and feather? Or that the paintings of mallards, great horned Falls Downtown
noisy quacking sounds of mallard owls, western grebes, and 10 other Association, owner
ducks are voiced only by females? frequently seen or heard birds. of Bell Hardware
and, since January,
a Klamath Falls
City Council mem-
ber—wanted to
beautify the city’s Ring Neck Pheasants
downtown. She
describes the 13 black 23x36- proud of all the artists because
inch boxes, which house electrical they put their heart and soul into
systems for streetlights, as having their paintings.”
looked “really trashy.” Inspired
by seeing painted boxes in other Along with Stoehsler, other artists
cities, Bell guided efforts to have were Leslie Rogers, James Beene,
the downtown association part- Joyce Miles, Paula Walborn,
ner with the Klamath Audubon Sharon Rajnus, Judy Phearson,
Society and Klamath Community Chris Young, Glenda Lehrman,
Foundation. The three groups and Martha Waardenburg. Some,
raised the $9,000 used to cover including Stoehsler, painted two
project costs. boxes.

The colorful paintings were done The paintings cover three sides
in 2014 by 10 Klamath Basin art- of the formerly all black boxes.
ists, including Pam Stoehsler, who Some, like the great blue heron
worked with the Audubon Society on Eighth and Main streets, wrap
to select potential birds and com- around two sides, which helps
mission artists. Although she and illustrate the bird’s size. Each
the other received stipends for box includes text with the names
their work, it wasn’t about the of the birds and facts about their
money. “Anytime I get to paint,” habitats and characteristics. The
Stoehsler says, “I’m happy.” great blue, as is explained, is the
largest North American heron,
There were other rewards. standing up to four and a half
“People driving by would honk feet tall, with wingspans up to six
and wave. It was fulfilling for the feet. As the text informs, hunting
artists,” remembers Stoehsler herons “wade slowly or statue-
of the painting process. “I’m so like, then strike like lightning at

Mallard Duck
48 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | summer 2017