Kelly SALCHOW MACARTHUR (USA)
Olympian Artist - Graphic design: Tokyo 2020
Olympic Games:
Sydney 2000, Athens 2004
Rowing
In SPORT
Progressing from training in our own countries to competing on the world stage, sport is the culmination of our work and sacrifice.
These messages are shared in English and Japanese, as we rejoice with our international neighbours, in admiration for the athletes and in reverence for global harmony.
The Olympics create this collective experience.
© Kelly Salchow MacArthur
In joy
A jovial mixture of colour on a rock face that evokes the wonder of natural and human potential.
© Kelly Salchow MacArthur
In peace
Like plants intermingling, and quietly growing from shared soil.
© Kelly Salchow MacArthur
In honour
On the surface and in the depth of water, we see present and past.
A solemn moment of gravity, as human strength and resilience are unmistakable.
© Kelly Salchow MacArthur
In hope
The sun’s radiance, as a beacon towards promising things ahead.
© Kelly Salchow MacArthur
Kelly Salchow MacArthur is Professor of Graphic Design at Michigan State University and President of international design organisation United Designs Alliance.
She served as President of the Detroit Chapter of AIGA, the professional association for design, from 2009 to 2011 and initiated the AIGA ‘Get Out The Vote: Empowering the Women’s Vote’ poster drive to commemorate 100 years of the women’s vote in 2020.
A retired two-time Olympian who participated at Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004, Salchow continues to balance her passion for design and education with miles of rowing on the Huron River.
In 2022, she was appointed to the IOC Culture and Olympic Heritage Commission.
Artist’s statement
I was indelibly impacted – in mind, body, and spirit – by the all-encompassing adventure of training for and competing in two Olympics. I learned of my own determination and saw it in my competitors. I felt dynamically alive, concurrently proud of myself, my team, my country and the global community that was competing in and engaging with this unparalleled event.
These Noren curtains attempt to capture many things simultaneously. They represent micro and macro moments that may occur during shinrin-yoku (known as forest bathing in English) – calming, balancing, healthful, hopeful, and rich with wonder. The inherent need for humans to connect with the natural environment is a thread that all cultures share. These curtains visualise parallels between our shared experiences with nature, and our shared experiences through the Olympics.
Q&A
Being an Olympian gives me confidence in knowing that I can achieve my goals and reach my potential through determination and focus. It connects me to an honoured and global legacy of sport, where competition inspires enthusiasm, and fair play represents international peace and cooperation. I feel an inherent connection to my team-mates and a deep respect for my competitors, because of what we have been through together.
The Olympic Games are the culmination of many years of sacrifice and effort (in my sport – miles rowed and hours of cross-training). The Olympics are the target after a long, painful, arduous journey that tests physical, spiritual, and mental will. During this brief two-week span, the world turns its attention to the feats of amateur athletes who may generally be otherwise inconspicuous. Olympic culture is a global sisterhood and brotherhood of respect for this peaceful and unparalleled experience.
Recognise that this is extraordinary, and it will be over quickly. Life will roll along afterwards, and other athletes will take my place. But it will always be an accomplishment I am proud of.
There are many parallels. As a graphic design professional, I plan and focus on long-term goals, rely on time-management skills, and consistently try to advance my forward development. As a graphic design educator, I talk to my students about team work, the importance of practice and iteration, and the determination you need, as well as the joy found in learning and growing.
Rowing and design balance each other, and I perform at my best when I have time to spend with each. Some of my strongest design concepts come to me while I’m rowing on a peaceful morning. After a tough workout, my mind is clear to tackle creative work. After a long day in the studio, getting on the water for a workout is rejuvenating.
Thirty+ years of rowing, on bodies of water around the world, has instilled in me a deep connection with the natural environment. In response, the majority of my design work focuses on ecological issues.