Early life and higher education

Joe Feddersen was born in Washington state to a German American father and an Okanagan/Sinixt mother.^[1][2]

He was first exposed to printmaking at Wenatchee Valley College under the direction of artist Robert Graves. Feddersen earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in printmaking from the University of Washington in 1983 where he studied under artists Michael Spafford and Glen Alps. In 1989 he obtained his Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Following his Masters he became an art instructor at The Evergreen State College.^[1][3]

Current life

When not creating art or teaching, Feddersen also serves as a writer, curator, consultant and active member of the Colville Confederated Tribal Arts & Humanities Board. He received, in 2001, an Eiteljorg Fellowship for Native American Fine Art award.^[4] In 2009 he left his teaching position at Evergreen State College and returned to Omak, Washington, his hometown. While occasionally teaching at Evergreen, he has been focusing on exploring the medium glass and has become involved with Pilchuck Glass School and the Museum of Glass.^[1][2]

Early work

My prints and mixed media work explore personal perceptions of my surroundings...Earlier prints become the departure for new work. They incorporate printing techniques and the addition of staples, pins, mirrors, oil pastels and acrylics o achieve a rich surface quality white retaining luminosity of previous layers. - 1987^[1]

Horses and Deer (2020) at the Renwick Gallery in Washington, DC in 2022

Feddersen's early creations involved photography and collage self-portraits in the early 1980s, reflecting on the individual and the environment surrounding self. However, his first major work was "Rainscape"; a series of lithographs that were exhibited at the Heard Museum's 3rd Biennial Native American Fine Art Invitational.^[1]

Through "Rainscape" Feddersen incorporated blended colors to form a rain-like landscape, reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest environment. This series launched Feddersen into the major contemporary art world; artists such as Jaune Quick-To-See Smith compared his use of color to Mark Rothko and Seattle Times art critic Deloris Tarzan Ament reflected on the woodblock works of Hiroshige when reviewing the works.^[1][5]

Printwork

In the early 1990s Feddersen created a series of monoprints based on blanket designs of the Plains Indians and Pendleton Woolen Mills. Heavy in geometry and layers and blended colors, the series were described by art scholar W. Jackson Rushing III as "watery veils of color", which brought out further comparisons to Rothko.^[1]

With the series "Plateau Geometrics" Feddersen continued to create prints during the latter half of the 1990s. All of the prints in the series are one of a kind (instead of an edition) and incorporate techniques such as etching, drypoint, aquatint, blind embossing and linocuts. The prints feature a pattern of geometric forms over a gridded layout; some are flat while others have a highly textured appearance. According to the artist the works represent his homesickness and memories of living on the reservation. At the time of creation he was living and working in Seattle, on the opposite side of the Cascade Mountains that serve to separate Colville country from Seattle. The geometric patterns represent designs seen in Colville basketry and cornhusk bags, while the complete series expresses Feddersen's desire to reflect on his communities traditional culture and his modern art background.^[1]

Sculpture and basketry

An Interior Salish basket with patterns similar to what Feddersen creates in his work.

Basketry entered into his catalog in the 2000s, learning Plateau-style techniques from poet and artist Elizabeth Woody. And recently his work has focused on glass making. Drawing influence from designs seen in Plateau Indian art, he creates artworks showing repeating patterns, leaving them with titles such as Cul-de-Sac, Scaffolding and Tire, a critique on contemporary life with a touch of tradition from Colville basketry.^[2][3]