>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

Douglas Lynch ().

By Dick Mason

Observer Staff Writer

Eight decades have passed since designer Douglas Lynch was an elementary school student in La Grande showing glimpses of artistic promise.

Lynch's grade school building was torn down years ago. The building lacked timelessness, unlike the contributions Lynch has made to Oregon's artistic fabric.

Lynch, 89, has left an indelible impression on this state, if not his signature.

One of his contributions assumes a myriad of configurations each day at Portland's Pioneer Square— the city's flag.

Lynch, who lives in Portland, designed the flag more than three decades ago. He received only a small stipend for his efforts.

His is a design that subtly captures the essence and beauty of the city. Its focal point is the intersection of two vertical and horizontal blue stripes. The stripes represent the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, which meet in Portland. Lynch strived to show in his design that Portland's essence is the fact that it is a port city.

Flag designing is a process with a complexity all its own. Lynch noted that when creating a flag it is critical to remember that one is not making a static object.

"A flag is not a piece of paper on a desk,'' Lynch said. "It is a piece of cloth which drapes and flutters while hanging from a vertical pole.''

Lynch's goal was to create a design that would be recognized in a variety of shapes and forms.

"The American flag can be recognized in any position, if it is draped or hanging,'' Lynch said.

Timberline connection

Lynch began working as a freelance commercial artist in Oregon about 70 years ago after attending a number of west coast art schools. His reputation quickly grew and in 1937 he was commissioned to do a dozen wall panels for Timberline Lodge at Mount Hood. Timberline Lodge was a major federal project and today is one of Oregon's leading tourist attractions.

Lynch's panels covered 500 square feet when they were first created.

Lynch used white linoleum to craft carvings showing people enjoying the outdoors. Today, most of the carvings remain in the Barlow Room, which originally was a restaurant.

The panels are among the only works of art portraying the time period in which Timberline was built. A portion of them was restored about a decade ago with help from the State Historical Preservation Office, according to the publication Friends of Timberline.

Another milestone in Lynch's career came in the mid-1950s when Lynch was appointed to the new Portland Art Commission. He helped the commission successfully address a variety of issues during his tenure, including the remodeling of Portland's Civic Auditorium. Lynch's contributions did not go unrecognized.

The commission honored Lynch in 1968.

"There is no other single individual who has done more for arts in the community, nor any who has had the cultural welfare of people more at heart,'' commission member Robert O. Lee said in a story that appeared in the Aug. 16, 1998, edition of The Oregonian.

Lynch's work in the corporate and academic worlds has also brought him renown. He has designed trademark logos and publications for Western Kraft Corporation, Willamette Industries, Blitz-Weinhard, Eyrie Vineyards, the University of Oregon, Reed College, the University of Portland and many others.

Lynch is also a successful commercial artist whose drawings and paintings are still sold by dealers.

He said that there is a big difference between creating paintings and sculptures that are offered for sale and creating a design for a company or organization.

"A designer works on assignment. It is more commercial than it is about personal expression,'' he said.

He noted that designers should not expect to be recognized. Lynch recalled that the person who created Nike's successful "Swoosh'' design was a young person who never became famous.

"Nobody remembers who made the design. Everybody knows what it is,'' Lynch said.

Childhood roots

Lynch attended La Grande's Central Elementary School when it was located on Fourth Street. The school was later torn down and one with the same name was built on K Avenue.

Lynch moved with his parents to Portland when he was 14. His most recent return visit to La Grande was earlier this year when he came to see his niece, Marcia Smith.

"He has had such a longing for this valley after he left. He loved everything about it,'' Smith said. "...This is a very special place for him.''