Betty LaDuke's
Turtle Wisdom

Personal... Political... Playful

It would not be Turtle Bay without turtles, and this summer, we have bonus turtles! In the main museum, artist Betty LaDuke’s breathtaking Turtle Wisdom features twenty carved and painted turtles exploring human themes such as love, resilience, and how to work together. Read on to discover Betty’s inspiration for creating this incredible set.

“Slowly, as we emerged from our COVID isolation (2021), my doorway opened and 20 TURTLES gradually appeared in my Ashland, Oregon studio. While some TURTLES have been waiting for me in sketchbooks created decades ago in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, new ones now evolved. TURTLES became my symbolic storytellers, commenting on the events currently reshaping our lives.

My imagination awakened as with a skill-saw I shaped wood boards into a variety of TURTLE forms. The stories they each told began with a rough painted outline before sharp gouges defined their interior forms into various depths and textures. Finally, their wood-thirsty surfaces received many layers of acrylic paint. Completed colorful TURTLES now standing on my paint splattered studio floor almost seemed like huggable companions (depending on their story- telling expression).”

Turtle Wisdom themes are...

Personal

Dreams, Resilience, Expectations, Hope, Nostalgia, Water Protector, Heirloom Seed Keeper

Political

Agony, Illusive Peace, Uranium Survivors, River Keepers, Wild Fire Fear, Roe v Wade, After the Storm

Playful

Dreamers, Love-Supreme, Power Play, All the Way Up

Turtle Wisdom pairs exceptionally well with our summer exhibition Cats & Dogs, which educates guests on the scientific, sociological, and cultural knowledge about these beloved pets, while Betty LaDuke’s artwork enlightens guests about human themes through turtles.

We are pleased to be the first venue to feature the entire set. Visit the Turtle Bay Museum to view Turtle Wisdom, on display now through September 4, 2023.