About the Project

The concept for the Pollination Station was born in January of 2024. The lead creator, Isabel Gibson, has always been fascinated by insects, as well as creatures of all other shapes and sizes, and they have been a common subject of her illustrations and paintings. As her shadow box practice grew, it was a natural progression to start making boxes that featured some of these critters she had been drawing for so long. When the opportunity arose to create an installation piece for Bass Coast Festival, she conceptualized a way to bring them all together into a cohesive body of work, and realized that pollination was a common thread that connected many of the animals she has been drawn to as an artist. Pollination as a concept is so important, not only because of its enormous ecological impact, but because of what it represents: collaboration, connection, and mutual aid. Through this natural process we can live in a verdant world, through this mode of being we can live in communities that thrive.

The process of building the boxes begins with digital illustrations. The concepts are drawn in Procreate, then turned into vector art using Illustrator. These vectors can then be interpreted by a laser cutter, which engraved and cut out shapes in the wood and acrylic used in this piece. The surfaces of these pieces are decorated with paint, artisanal papers, rhinestones, and other materials. Boxes are constructed by hand, and the pieces are then installed into the boxes in a layered format, to create the illusion of depth. LEDs are installed into each box, to define and illuminate the space. A larger prefabricated cabinet was ordered and assembled, in which the boxes, informational placards, additional lighting, and decorative details are all nestled. The overall impact is a dense array of lighting, visuals, and educational materials, an intimate world that invites a soulful sensory experience.

Meet the Team

ISABEL GIBSON

LEAD DESIGNER AND CREATOR

https://www.instagram.com/see.odder

Isabel Gibson is a lifelong artist, designer, and craftsperson. She received her BFA from Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, OR, where she continues to work as the woodshop technician. Her journey through art has taken her through a multitude of media, and she has recently started making shadow boxes as a way of combining her various skills into a cohesive multimedia format. This is her first time designing an installation piece for a festival. When not in the shop, she can often be found in the mountains: hiking, camping, and skiing. She lives in Portland with her two cats, many wonderful friends, and creative community.

ALEX YUST

LIGHTING AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

Automation Engineer by day, contemporary circus acrobat by night, Alex can usually be found creating or building in beautiful Portland, OR. When not working on a project, Alex is usually drinking tea in the garden, listening to the rain, or spending time with his fiance Josie and pet cat Shawn. This will be Alex’s 5th Bass Coast and first time working on an art installation for the festival.

OLUSOLA SITU

WEB DESIGNER AND LOGISTICS

Olu grew up in California and attended college at Stanford University where he received a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He then switched career paths and became a self-taught software engineer, working in the tech industry for over a decade. During the pandemic he sought a change of scenery, and moved to a farm in central Oregon, where he now spends his days growing vegetables, raising animals, working on vehicles, and improving the property.