Dayna J Collins – Page 19

Scattered By the Wind: Teaching at Hillcrest

Last September, my Scattered By the Wind Prayer Flag Project came to a close. The project was sponsored by Salem Art Association through their Project Space program. If interested, you can read about the 2014 summer project by clicking here.

One of the outcomes of my project was that we raised over $2,000 by selling flags, and that money, along with grant money obtained by Salem Art Association, allowed me to buy supplies and go into Hillcrest Youth Correctional Facility to guide the incarcerated young men in creating a series of prayer flags. I invited my good friend Tory Brokenshire to join me in weekly visits to Hillcrest.

Because cameras and phones are not allowed inside the secure facility, we had to rely on a corrections officer to snap a few photos of the sessions. Also, without permission and authorizations, we weren’t able to take photos of any of the guys.

Tory and I did two session per week for eight weeks and the guys created 82 flags!

Here are a few close ups of flags…..

In the middle of our residency at Hillcrest, Salem Art Association held their Young Artists Showcase and they asked that some of the flags created by the Hillcrest boys be featured. It was exciting to have so many flags on display at the Bush Barn Gallery.

Last Thursday, Tory and I went into the facility’s canteen and hung the 82 flags. Again, our photos are limited due to not having phones or cameras inside (we were tempted to smuggle in a phone as we felt a bit naked without one!).

On Thursday evening, the community, family, friends, along with the guys, were invited to view the flags.

A nice spread of food was prepared by the manager of the canteen and a group of boys to celebrate the show. A few parents showed up and several groups of guys came through. One young man, who came every week to make a flag, had his mother and grandparents attend. He was so excited to share his flags, including the pink poodle he created. When he created that flag, under the theme of things found in nature (what!?!?), he said, “I can’t wait to give this flag to my grandma.”

PS The Oregon Youth Authority had a professional photographer attend the reception and he shot some amazing photos of the flags and the guys. If I’m able to obtain a few of those photos, I’ll post them here.

Road Trip! Teaching in San Diego

I was invited by the San Diego Book Arts to teach my plaster and acrylic class, Layers of Memory. It seemed so long ago that we scheduled a date, signed the contract, and made arrangements for travel. And before I knew it, I was packing four large suitcases with art supplies, handouts, and 34 pre-painted and plastered cradled boards.

I was also invited to give an artist talk on the Friday night before the class began. I gulped big and said yes. The art talk was held at the La Jolla Athenaeum, a beautiful facility.

I arrived early to get everything set up, and thank heavens my husband was along to take care of the technical side of getting the laptop connected to the projector.

A small group attended my talk, but I think it went well.

Saturday morning arrived and I made my way to Miramar College in the Mira Mesa area of San Diego, where we had a nice, spacious room on the second floor with plenty of room to spread out.

After a quick introduction to the class and the first of several demos, the ladies were off and running, getting their boards ready for plaster.

Before lunch on Saturday, plaster had been applied, and by afternoon, they were sanding and applying layers of acrylic paint, adding texture, drawing, and making marks. It was a hive of happy activity.

On Sunday, after a review of processes from the day before, and a few demos of new techniques, the ladies were once again off and running, making the most of every minute they had available to them.

At the end of the workshop, after everyone had cleaned up their supplies, we had a walkabout, where everyone could take photos; then everyone shared about the work they created.

Here is a sampling of the fantastic work created by these talented, creative, generous women:

Thank you, San Diego Book Arts! It was so much fun and very energizing.

Visual Journaling: Making a Mess

Late last summer, II was invited to participate in a pilot project between the Salem Art Association and Salem Hospital Cancer Institute. I did a session on creating art dolls last December, and this month I offered three sessions of visual journaling.

I provided all the materials for the ladies to make a simple journal and each week they jumped in fearlessly. Many of the women were undergoing chemo and they shared that for the hour and a half they forgot about their treatment and just had fun.

Their pages were beautiful, some completed, most just backgrounds waiting for words and images to be added.

And many vowed to continue working on their journals at home. One woman confided she planned to add pockets and was going to insert the messages she received from friends as she went through chemo.

One of the participants wrote me the sweetest note after the last class and with her permission I’ll share it here as it sums up so beautifully what the experience was like for her:

My observation was that this offering certainly has a healing place in the lives of – well anyone who needs healing. It is in the process – not necessarily the art and certainly not the finished product, but the individual elements in combination – side by side with people sharing a bit of their life even through illness and disease.

It has purpose, and I suppose gives us permission to ‘let go, and treat ourselves’ as the time flew by without a thought other than what color to use, where to put it.

The open format you offered covered many art forms and medium – a great introduction, or experience for all levels to both find comfort and step out of that familiar place.

I have begun a journal project at home using felt, and fine paper. It feels more like I am in control – so I can introduce – at a slower pace – all of the delicious things that I tried to put onto one page…

Talking About Art

I was invited by photographer Joel Zak, to be interviewed on his Talking About Art show on radio station KMUZ. It happened today. I was a bit nervous, but not too much. I arrived at the studio right on time, but managed to go to the wrong door.

Joel set me straight.

I got settled into the sound booth. Is it called that?

And monkeyed around with the headphones.

Until they were just so (and my hair wasn’t too messed up!).

Phil was the sound engineer (I really don’t know the appropriate lingo for any of this), but he was more like the Wizard behind the curtain, only he was sitting right there in the room with us.

At 9:00 am, the iconic sign went on.

Joel made some art announcements for about five minutes.

And then it was my turn.

I must admit, it was kind of fun.

Here is a LINK to the interview.

Once you listen to the interview, you might be curious about the two pieces of art I mentioned. So I’ll go ahead and share them with you and do a little promotion for my upcoming show at Guardino Gallery in June. Here is the large 36×48 inch piece that represents transformation. The title is Singed By Fire and Light.

This next one I mention as being one of my favorites. It is 10×10 inches and is titled The Glow of Expectation.

Joel does his show, Talking About Art, the second and fourth Fridays of every month; his commentary and interviews are a great addition to the Salem art scene.

Art After Dark Open Studios

Last night was our monthly Open Studios at The Art Studios at Mission Mill. All of the events, referred to as Art After Dark, took place at the Willamette Heritage Center. Two galleries had openings . . . .

New show by Molly Reeves was happening in the Compass Gallery

Mission Mill's newest gallery: The Willamette Trading Company — Mission Mill’s newest gallery: The Willamette Trading Company

Max Marbles did a book-binding demo.

And I did a demo on using oil and cold wax. Not only did I demo how to use the mediums, I provided little canvases and 300 lb. watercolor paper for anyone who wanted to give it a try. I had lots of takers.

Molly Reeves, who was having a reception for her work in Compass Gallery downstairs, popped upstairs to see what I was doing.

Delores Wisbrock showed no fear and created a beautiful little abstract. Watch out Rollie!

Delores and Tanna choosing paint colors.

At the end of the evening, I snapped this photo of the view from my studio.

Curious About Oil and Cold Wax?

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be teaching my Plaster, Oil, and Cold Wax: Abstracted Play class in August. It will be held at the wonderful studio of Stacey Mattraw, Arcangelo Productions, located in a hip, diverse, funky area of North Portland.

The class will be held Friday-Sunday, August 14-16, 10 am-5 pm every day.

The first day we’ll be painting our boards and applying plaster and by Friday afternoon we’ll be learning oil and cold wax techniques (I provide you with a pre plastered board so we don’t waste a minute of our precious time.)

On Saturday morning, we’ll sand our plastered boards.

And quickly seal them with acrylic paint.

By Saturday afternoon, we’ll be applying layers and layers of luminous, buttery, oil and cold wax.

I’ll be sharing lots of techniques throughout the weekend on how to add interesting texture, add text, scrape back, and so much more.

As an added special bonus, on Thursday evening, 5-6:30 pm, we’ll meet at Arcangelo Productions for a pre-workshop gathering hosted by Stacey. We’ll have snacks and drinks and get to know each other in advance of the class beginning on Friday morning. We have also scheduled a field trip to Collage, a delightful, and full-to-the-brim art supply store on NE Alberta, where Maria is offering a 10% discount on all purchases.

The cost of the three-day class (with some supplies included) is $375. A $100 deposit holds your space, with the balance due on July 14, 2015. If you are interested, please contact me: dayna@alleyartstudio.com and I’ll e-mail detailed information about what supplies are included, what you need to bring, and my refund policy. Also, if you’re coming from out of town, I can send you information on places to stay in the surrounding area.

The maximum number of students will be 12 and five spaces are available as of this posting.

Me teaching the Abstracted Play class in Gig Harbor, WA

If you’d like to see photos from previous classes, here are two links. Number one and number two.

And I’ll leave you with a few more samples of my plaster, oil, and cold wax pieces.

"The Journey Home: The Ease of Slumber" Venetian plaster, oil, cold wax — “The Journey Home: The Ease of Slumber”
Venetian plaster, oil, cold wax

"Insatiably Curious" 16x16, plaster, oil, and cold wax — “Insatiably Curious”
16×16, plaster, oil, and cold wax

New Show: Entering the Final Stretch

The title has been chosen. EVOKE

Thank you everyone who responded as to whether I should title the show EVOKE or RESONATE.

The Artist Statement has been written.

It has been sent to Donna at Guardino Gallery.

The initial photos for publicity have been taken.

Thank you, Tory.

All that remains is to continue working.

I’ve been spending a lot of time in my studio.

And adding layers of paint.

I bought new paint over the weekend.

And then do a final coat of wax.

Not quite ready to do this.

And remember to sleep.

The opening reception will be Thursday, May 28, 6-9 pm. But I’ll write more about that when it gets a bit closer.

Panoramic View of My Studio

Dennis Galloway is a world renowned photographer who happened to visit the art exhibit, Ricochet, that Cynthia and I had up during January and February, in downtown Salem. Dennis liked our art and sent both of us an e-mail asking if we would be interested in having him create a panoramic studio shot of our studies. He sent some photos of a series of studios and artists he photographed in Eugene, Oregon, for an exhibit, and his work was stunning. Both of us said yes.

Cynthia chose to use her “outdoor” studio for her shoot.

For my shoot, Dennis wanted to take the necessary series of photographs at dusk so the light through the big windows in my studio would read as a dark blue. He came three times to get just the right light.

And then he got it and stitched together this awesome photo of my studio!

And here is a link to a You Tube interview with Dennis.

Eco Icon: Art About Environmentalism

A new show opens on Thursday, March 12, 2015 at Compass Gallery, located at the Willamette Heritage Center. The show, Eco Icon: Art About Environmentalism, opens with a reception on Thursday, 5-7 pm. From 5:30-6:15 pm there will be a panel discussion, Environmentalism Then & Now.

I was invited to submit a painting to this juried group show and I chose Aldo Leopold as my Eco Icon.

All entries had to be 10×10 inches, so I chose a board that I had already applied plaster and some initial layers of oil and cold wax. I did some research on Aldo Leopold and pulled out his book, A Sand County Almanac.

Here is what I wrote to accompany my submission:

Aldo Leopold is known as a fierce environmentalist and one of the foremost conservationists of our century, with a deep love and respect for the land. I have created an abstraction representing the restoration of natural habitats and man’s relationship to the land.

"Some Other Explanation" 10x10 inches, plaster, oil, and cold wax — “Some Other Explanation”
10×10 inches, plaster, oil, and cold wax

The show is hanging and it is beautiful.

We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.

Aldo Leopold

Work Continues . . . . after a brief pause

Being sick is no fun. Here is what I’ve been working on after about a three week hiatus. I battled pneumonia for most of February, and although I wanted to get back to painting, my body screamed NO. But I’m back on an abbreviated schedule, hoping to ramp up my time as I continue to mend.

I’ve been working on about 27 boards ranging in size from 8×8 inches up to 36×48 inches, all in plaster, oil, and cold wax. During each painting session, I work on several boards (not all 27!), adding swaths of paint, scraping it away, scratching into the paint with my awl, blotting paint from one board to another, adding marks using graphite pencils. and drawing with oil paint sticks.

Slowly my boards are beginning to take on a personality, a unique identity. As I wrote in my journal this morning, my hope is that each painting will evoke a feeling of intrigue, mystery, and curiosity. They aren’t there yet, but as I often tell my students: It’s just a layer.

This series of paintings is for my June show at Guardino Gallery on NE Alberta in Portland. My work will be in the Main Gallery, so I have a fairly sophisticated schematic in place to fill the many walls. This afternoon, my big paintings got some attention.

I recently acquired this three-tier, light weight cart. I painted it red and put it to use as a place to put my palette; it is easily maneuverable so I can take my palette to the boards all around my studio.

I also worked on my smallest boards. Here is a peek at sections from six in various stages of layers and completion.

Tomorrow, I’ll be adding more layers and marks. At the end of my painting session today, this is how one of my 30×30 inch boards looked; it started out as something entirely different.

And then it was time to end. A final look into the studio from two different doors.