Gathering Panes and Shapes, commissioned by Eastern Oregon University through the Oregon Arts Commission, is a 12’ x 50’ x 7’ suspended metal installation that spans the length of a light well in the Pierce Library.

The work draws inspiration from the library’s original 1940s windows, whose stately forms informed the geometry of the piece. Within the long, narrow space, black overlapping elements float in dynamic clusters. Rectangular forms—echoing the proportions of the windows—stretch horizontally alongside heavier, curved hoop-like shapes cut from thick plate steel.

Interspersed among these structural elements are eight large woven volumetric forms, hand-crafted by the artist. As viewers move through the space, the woven shapes reveal shifting moiré patterns, creating a sense of motion and translucency. Light filters through the forms, reinforcing the installation’s interplay of weight and openness.

Vertical movement punctuates the composition through a 12-foot column of heavy-gauge chain at one end, counterbalancing the dominant horizontality. Every component, including the handmade chains from which the elements hang, speaks to the artist’s deep commitment to craftsmanship and working by hand.

Viewed from multiple perspectives—the lower level looking upward, eye-level from the main floor, and overhead from the mezzanine—the piece offers a continually changing experience. Quiet and contemplative, yet visually active, Gathering Panes and Shapes harmonizes with the library’s atmosphere while inviting moments of discovery and reflection.