In 2010, composer Matthew Packwood embarked on a journey from his Portland home to the stunning Wallowa Mountains in Eastern Oregon. As he experienced the breathtaking landscapes, he felt a profound connection to the land.
“When you have an experience in the outdoors — a mountain, a waterfall, the coast — it creates a sense of wonder, a kind of awe you can’t put words to,” says Packwood.
His Wallowa experience became the catalyst for the Oregon Origins Project, which he conceived and directs. The project’s latest show, “The Birth of Cascadia,” is set for a multimedia concert at Beaverton’s Patricia Reser Center for the Arts on June 21st and 22nd.
Accompanying the concert, an exhibit featuring ten Oregon-based artists will be on display at Portland’s Stelo Arts through July 12. The combination of sounds and visuals reflects the creative interpretations of Oregon’s natural forces, showcasing the beauty that captivated Packwood.
Packwood’s journey to Oregon began long before the project. Originally from Boston, he worked as a radio producer for the public media station WGBH, where he produced the celebrated “Art of the States” program. During his first visit to Oregon, he was enchanted by the landscape and decided to make Portland his home in 2007.
Gradually, his fascination with Oregon’s geological features deepened. “If you haven’t been to the West, it feels like another planet,” Packwood shared, highlighting the region’s geological age and variety compared to places like New England.
After his transformative experience in the Wallowa Mountains, Packwood initiated conversations with fellow artists and Indigenous culture bearers. He sought ways to express Oregon’s history and landscape artistically. The pandemic provided an opportunity for deeper exploration and dialogue during a year-long virtual “listening tour”.
“We spent a year talking to Indigenous culture bearers, asking: How can we take the arts and bring community by exploring the places and things we love?” Packwood explained. This dialogue inspired the Oregon Origins Project, aiming to celebrate Oregon’s first peoples and their connection to the land through creative expression.
Packwood designed the project to be accessible and resonate with Oregonians who share a love of their surroundings. He and his team organized two events per year at Reed College, one focusing on Indigenous creations and the other on performances that channel Oregon’s natural history.
In its inaugural edition in 2022, the project featured stories from five Indigenous culture bearers, while subsequent editions explored the seasonal traditions of Indigenous peoples. Each spring iteration showcases art that draws inspiration from the state’s unique geography.
The current show, “The Birth of Cascadia,” evolved from earlier works, specifically 2023’s “Seven Wonders.” Packwood and geologist Ian Madin aimed to delve into Oregon’s geological history as artistic inspiration. Together, they identified ten significant geological events to frame the project.
Packwood noted that Oregon’s visible geology provided a rich foundation for creativity. “In Oregon, so much of it is visible. We can see the remnant shape of Mt. Hood or the Gorge scablands created by the Missoula Floods,” he indicated.
Understanding geology offers artists a launchpad for imagination. Packwood believes the space between observable landscapes and their geological narratives invites artistic exploration.
The project expanded beyond music and now integrates visual art. Ten Oregon artists were invited to create work inspired by their visits to significant geological locations.
Packwood emphasized the artistic diversity captured throughout this project. “One thing people will find surprising is the incredible variety of geology we’re trying to capture,” he said about the numerous geological processes influencing the landscape.
For the original score of “The Birth of Cascadia,” Packwood adapted his music to reflect geological events. Each movement correlates to a geological phenomenon, using distinct musical techniques to evoke sensations of these events.
Packwood drew comparisons to other composers who have successfully used music to portray historical and natural narratives. He highlighted notable figures like John Luther Adams and noted contemporary composers reflecting Oregon’s landscape.
Through the Oregon Origins Project, Packwood aspires to cultivate community around a shared love of place. This collective artistic effort brings together musicians, visual artists, culture bearers, and scientists to showcase Oregon’s beauty.
The concert, part of the project, takes place on June 21 and 22 at the Reser Center in Beaverton. Tickets and additional information can be found through the concert venue.
image source from：orartswatch
