Oregon
‘People are in awe’ as Oregon sculptor Russell Beebe’s Native story poles stand tall in New York
Southern Oregon sculptor Russell Beebe’s highly prized artwork can tower 20 feet into the air, yet more mesmerizing than magnitude are the intricate details, from a beaded necklace to an eagle feather, depicting ancient stories and Indigenous culture.
Over his long and varied career, Beebe, 81 and of Anishinaabe heritage, has created a Lamborghini-inspired sports car body, nature paintings and fine furniture. For the last two decades, however, he has become famous for his teaching and prayer poles praised for their artistry and the emotions they evoke. Each pole, chiseled from a fallen tree, takes more than 1,000 hours to carve using hand tools to achieve a sense of movement, shadows and other dramatic effects.