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Virginia Chism Darcé 1910 - 1985 | |
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![]() Signature and date ... This painting was trimmed unevenly when we acquired it, and is displayed floated onto a maroon mat to preserve the signature and date. |
Spring Landscape 1944 Watercolor, approximately 15 x 19 1/2, (overall 22 1/2 x 26 1/2) $1,800 |
Virginia Chism Darcé was a watercolorist and active in the Portland, Spokane, and to a lesser degree, Los Angeles. |
![]() Timberline Lodge, Mount Hood, Oregon |
Virginia's famed Paul Bunyan Mural was featured in the concluding episode of the PBS series, Lodges of the Pacific Northwest, which visits historic lodges at Mount Rainier, Mount Hood, Oregon Caves, and Crater Lake. Further down this page are photos of her Timberline Lodge artwork and a shot of Virginia and her assistants working on the mural. Read More |
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Virginia Darcé, creator of the Paul Bunyan mosaic murals for the Blue Ox Bar at the Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood |
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An excerpt of a video documenting the construction of the WPA's building of the Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood, featuring Virginia Darcé's stained glass Paul Bunyan Mural in the Blue Ox Bar. |
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The very bright and bold colors chosen by Virginia's for her mural really enlivened the small cave-like space given for the Blue Ox Bar, noted by the rich cobalt blue of Babe the Blue Ox and the blazingly orange squares in Paul Bunyan's large flannel checker boarded shirt. |
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The Blue Ox bar is small, tucked away in a corner of the first floor, a cozy place to have a pizza and a pint. The Paul Bunion murals really adds fun to the place. Paul Bunyan's orange and black flannel shirt and Babe's white eyes are striking against his cobalt blue head and body. The heavy wooden furnishings are original, crafted by WPA workers some 85 years ago. |
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![]() Like an entrance into a secret chamber of a medieval European castle, the entrance into the Blue Ox Bar gives visitors a feeling they are entering an almost magical place. Paul Bunyan although a figure as large as his legend, his friendly face welcomes visitors with a warm and inviting smile. |
![]() Painting of the month, Spring Landscape, 1944, Virginia Chism Darcê, and yes, its available for sale, just click on the photo. Somewhere in this painting's history, it was cut down in an irregular fashion. We mounted it as it was onto a solid maroon silk mat and framed with an antique darkly stained oak frame. Approximate watercolor measurements, 15 x 19 1/2, overall 22 1/2 x 26 1/2 |
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As a painter, Virginia Darcé worked in watercolors, tempora as well as stained glass. Her paintings are rare in auction. Spring Landscape is a well executed masterful use of wet into wet technique with a pleasing stylistic interpretation of of a rural hill, farm buildings, fences and trees. Its sketchy quality adds to this painting's dreaminess. |
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![]() Virginia Chism Darcé's WPA mural at the Oregon City Library |
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![]() Virginia Darcé, The Market, 1938, tempera on paper Portland Art Museum, Courtesy of the Fine Arts Collection, U.S. General Services Administration / New Deal Art Project |
![]() Virginia Darcé, The Waterfront, 1938, tempera on board Portland Art Museum, Courtesy of the Fine Arts Collection U.S. General Services Administration / New Deal Art Project |
The two paintings above are in the collection of the Portland Art Museum. Both are done tempera, one on paper, the other on board. The Market shows a busy scene of well dressed people milling about with abundant displays of produce and a pickle barrel. The Waterfront appears to have been done on a Sunday, not much going on, only two individuals and a small dog. One can't help but wonder if Virginia Darcé had been influenced by Edward Hopper and his paintings of empty New York streets. The only hint of a ship is a smoke stack behind some wharf styled structure and some cable rigging. |
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More of Virginia Darcé's Timberline Lodge work can be seen at |
visit the Virginia Darcé page on our website | Back to the Top |
![]() Virginia Darce with assistants working on the Timberline Lodge's Paul Bunyun mural |
WPA Artist Virginia Darce and her Glass Mosaic at Mount Hood's Timberline Lodge |
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![]() Working inside the Blue Ox Bar, Virginia fits glass pieces onto the mural. |
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![]() Virginia Darce Signature Paul Bunyan Mural |
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![]() The famous Paul Bunyan Mural by Virginia Darce located in the Blue Ox Bar at the Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood in Oregon. It was done in 1938 as part of the WPA. |
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![]() Paul Bunyan Portrait in Glass Side wall, Blue Ox Bar, Timberline Lodge |
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![]() Paul Bunyan and his Baby Blue Ox Side wall, Blue Ox Bar, Timberline Lodge |
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![]() WPA era painting, Waterfront, 1938 by Virginia Darce Fine Arts Program, Gen. Services Administration |
![]() WPA era painting, The Market 1938 by Virginia Darce Fine Arts Program, Gen. Services Administration |
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![]() The Timberline Lodge today. |
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A History of the Art of the Timberline Lodge, You may fast forward to Virginia Darce's mural, featured at 15:28 into this video. |
![]() Spring Landscape 1944, Virginia Darce currently on view and available for sale at Bodega Bay Heritage Gallery, California Women Artists Exhibition |
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Virginia Darce's page on our site | the Timberline Lodge | Friends of the Timberline | Back to the Top |