"Team process was excellent. Everyone has been willing to help and submit ideas. Teaching reinforces my own experiences and the questions asked help me examine further the knowledge I already had." — Bob Forcinio

McKenzie area teens and artists came together this summer to create an interpretive waterwork, McKenzie River Arrival and Departure, located at the McKenzie River Ranger Station. Seven teens and local artists Jim Denney and Bob Forcinio captured the story of the McKenzie River — its course, history, and life cycle of spring chinook salmon. "The beauty of this project as an artist is to take young people through an abstraction of their environment, of their home and in essence making a metaphor for the river and change. Although they (the teens) don't see it now, I hope that as they look back on this project over the years they see the change in themselves," explained lead artist Jim Denney.

While learning about the McKenzie environment, the team built skills and confidence as they gradually carved larger and larger pieces of stone. They explored the river landscape through field trips and heard presentations from botanists, biologists, and archeologists who guided the carving, as well as the use of rocks, vegetation, and concrete. The field trips and presentations "showed me how much art there is in the 'whole world.' Art is fun to do and it is everywhere," shared Ryan Harbick a teen artist-apprentice.

The 50' x 8' waterway carves out the river's course for the 14 stone salmon carved by the teens. The salmon's journey of arrival and departure takes the viewer from the jagged high cascade waterfalls to the rounded cobbles of the lower McKenzie valley. Teens gained valuable work experience while being engaged in a community arts project with professional artists. "The best part of my experience was to know that I put something here that will hopefully stay forever and for the next generation to see," commented James Spangler, teen artist-apprentice.

McKenzie River Arrival and Departure will be dedicated Friday, October 11th at 5:00 p.m. The dedication is a prelude to the Second Annual McKenzie Arts Festival which runs Saturday and Sunday, October 12th and 13th.

McKenzie River Arrival and Departure was developed through ArtsWorks, a YouthArts program of Lane Arts Council, in partnership with McKenzie Arts Forum, McKenzie River Ranger District, McKenzie 21st Century Community Learning Center, McKenzie Watershed Council, and Lane Workforce Partnership—Work Investment Act.

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