Meet
Abuela Camus
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La Abuela Camus representa la conmovedora historia de la Abuela Camus, que, por profundo amor a sus nietos, se transformó en bulbos de camote para salvarlos de la inanición. La escultura sirve como símbolo de unidad y aprecio, encarnando la profunda conexión entre Fourth Plain Forward y la comunidad a la que sirve.
This monumental artwork, located at the intersection of Fourth Plain Boulevard and St. Johns Boulevard in Vancouver, Washington, pays homage to the rich cultural heritage of indigenous tribes and celebrates the significance of camas as a food source for generations.
We were honored to commission Toma Villa, a talented artist from the Yakama Nation, to bring the "Grandmother Camas" project to life. His artwork beautifully captures the spirit of cultural heritage and storytelling, creating a meaningful space for connection, reflection, and appreciation within our community.
To recognize this important installation, the area surrounding the Grandmother Camus welcoming figure has been designated as a City of Vancouver Naturespaces site to preserve and expand native plant habitat along Fourth Plain.
Toma Villa, Yakama Tribal Artist
"Me inspiré en mi suegra y en su relación con mi hija... era su primera nieta y me encantó ver cómo se compenetraban".
“Grandmother Camus gives me hope that our collective community can acknowledge the past, celebrate the present and work together for a future steeped in creativity, sustainability, and vital relationships.”
- Sheila Davis
“The installation of this community art and Naturespace site is symbolic of the power we have as a community, when we unify, collaborate, and generously learn from Indigenous Wisdom,”
– Haily Heath, City of Vancouver
The Community Foundation for Southwest Washington plays a vital role in supporting the arts and fostering creativity in our community. We are deeply grateful for their support in helping us bring the "Grandmother Camas" project to life, a meaningful initiative celebrating cultural heritage, storytelling, and community connection.
