Chinook Power Board Showing Frog and Moon to be Unveiled at CCC

Frog and Moon, Chinook Power Board by Greg Robinson, Chinook Tribal Member ©2012-2013 Greg Robinson

“Shwiq^hiq Pi mun” (Frog and Moon) will at last find its place at Clatsop Community College.  It will be unveiled just before the College Board meeting, Tuesday, April 9, at 5:30pm, in the upper entry to Columbia Hall, 1651 Lexington Avenue, Astoria.

Last fall this unique piece of artwork was presented to the Clatsop Community College Board of Directors at one of their monthly meetings.   “Chinook Power Board Showing Frog and Moon” first came to Clatsop Community College as part of the Pacific Rim Art Exhibit:  Emergence from Place–Neo-Traditional Indigenous Art held a year ago at the College’s Art Center Gallery.

The Chinook Power Board is a panel hand carved from red and yellow cedar.  The artist is Greg Robinson, a Chinook Tribal Member.  It is modeled after traditional panels that leaned against longhouses as a gesture of welcoming, an expression of family identity and spiritual protection.  If one looks closely at the piece one will see two frogs on top carefully holding another anthropomorphic figure in their mouth. 

Several community members who saw the art a year ago felt the piece belonged at Clatsop Community College and helped raise enough money to purchase Robinson’s work as a way for the College to honor the Chinook Nation that included the Clatsop Tribe. They were some of the earliest inhabitants of the Lower Columbia Basin and still maintain a tribal presence here with a local tribal office in Bay Center, Washington.  Frog and Moon will hang in Columbia Hall where it will look to the river as a symbolic gesture toward the original inhabitants of the mouth of the Columbia.

The college and community members, who contributed funds to purchase this work and its accompanying plaque, feel confident that “Chinook Power Board Showing Frog and Moon” will be welcoming, show reverence and reciprocity, and remind us to honor our ancestors.

Please direct inquiries to:  Richard Rowland, 503-338-2449; [email protected].

Attached image:

“Chinook Power Board Showing Frog and Moon” was part of the College’s Pacific Rim Art Exhibit:  Emergence from Place–Neo-Traditional Indigenous Art held a year ago at the Art Center Gallery.

Non-Discrimination: It is the policy of Clatsop Community College that there will be no discrimination or harassment on the grounds of race, color, gender, marital status, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability in any educational programs, activities, or employment. Questions or complaints should be directed to Leslie Lipe, Affirmative Action/Gender Equity (Title IX) Officer in the CCC Library, Suite 108B, 503-338-2450; TDD 503-338-2468. The Title II/Section 504 Coordinator, Christine Riehl, is located in the Student Services Center, 503-338-2474.

Declaración de no-discriminación: Es la política de Clatsop Community College que no habrá ningún tipo de discriminación o acoso por razón de raza, color, género, estado civil, religión, origen nacional, edad, orientación sexual, o discapacidad en los programas educativos, actividades o en la contratación. Preguntas o quejas deben ser dirigidas al Leslie Lipe, Oficial de Acción Afirmativa / Título IX localizado en la Biblioteca oficina número 108, número de teléfono 503-338-2450, TDD (discapacidad auditiva) 503-338-2468. El Coordinador de la Titulo II/Sección 504, Christine Riehl, se encuentra en el Centro de Servicios Estudiantiles, número de teléfono 503-338-2474. Para ADA y otras peticiones de servicios llame al 503-338-2474 o para TDD (discapacidad auditiva) 503-338-2468.

Accommodations: Persons having questions about or a request for special needs and accommodation should contact JoAnn Zahn, Vice President of Finance and Operations, at Clatsop Community College, 1651 Lexington Avenue, Astoria, Oregon 97103, Phone 503-338-2421 or TDD 503-338-2468. Email special needs and accommodation request to [email protected]  Contact should be made at least two business days in advance of the event.