The Coyote and Multnomah Falls–An American Indian Folk Tale

Marlene Singer of Eugene, Oregon created this piece about a well-loved site in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge.

She explains, “Multnomah Falls has been an inspiration of mine for many years. As I was growing up. my family traveled through the Columbia Gorge on vacation and would stop at Multnomah Falls. On one of those trips, my father took a photograph of the falls, and I used that as the inspiration for this challenge. I had never heard of the fairy tale about the coyote, but enjoyed reading about the legend.”

She created her quilt using commercial fabrics, hand dyed fabric, wool roving and organza. Her techniques include machine appliqué, fabric painting, and ink work. Machine quilting provides additional shading and texture.

Coyote and Multnomah Falls by Marlene Singer

Marlene also provides a lovely description and interesting information about the falls.

“A waterfall as magnificent and memorable as any in the country is located just a 30-minute drive outside of Portland, Oregon. Visiting Multnomah Falls, a 611-foot-tall roaring, awe-inspiring cascade of icy water, lets you experience the power and beauty of nature up close and with ease. From the parking area off of I-84, a 5-minute walk is all that separates you from the exhilarating spray at the base of the falls.

According to Native American lore, Multnomah Falls was created to win the heart of a young princess who wanted a hidden place to bathe.

Although you can see the top portion of the falls from the highway, to view both tiers you have to walk to the viewing area located in a carved-out opening in the rock face. Tilting your head up in the narrow rocky confines of the steep cliffs, you get a mind-boggling perspective on the sheer magnitude of the falls.”