TOKELAND — Art by Shoalwater Bay tribal artist Eugene Landry continues to be discovered and placed on exhibit in his hometown.
The Shoalwater Bay Nahms-chats Museum is showing “Portrait of Gene, an Artist, a Tribe and a Time.”
Eugene Landry lived from 1937 to 1988 and was remarkable in creating art despite a significant disability that saw his health deteriorating to the point where in his later life he held a paintbrush in his mouth.
Judith Altruda, who discovered a cache of Landry paintings some while ago, noted the exhibit “presents a powerful story of mid-20th century life on the Shoalwater Bay reservation.”
She said a recently discovered Landry drawing has been added to the collection.
On the wall in the photo accompanying this article is an oil portrait of a young man, Malcolm “Dubby” Shale. Altruda noted that Shale was a great grandson of Chief George Allen Charley of Shoalwater Bay.
“The portrait was painted in 1964 by Gene Landry’s art teacher, Leon Derbyshire,” she said. “Tragically, the following summer, ‘Dubby’ died in a car wreck. He had just turned 17.
“Recently, this portrait drawing by Landry was found in Taholah. It dates from about 1962. It is now framed and on display.”
The art will be among items featured in a Tokeland North Cove Chamber of Commerce artists’ studio tour and auction May 28. The event is a fundraiser to benefit Ocosta High School art department.
During the studio tour, the museum’s newly-opened gift shop will display art by tribal members, carvings by Earl Davis, the museum director, and beadwork by Mary Johnson. Altruda, a metalsmith, will show handcrafted jewelry. The artists will be at the museum 4115 State Route 105, Tokeland. Admission is free.