Becoming an artist is/was my life’s dream. It wasn’t until later in life that I had the courage to “take the plunge” and recreate myself as an artist. After taking a clay class in 1981, clay has been a continuing outlet for my creative expression. I love getting my hands dirty and creating hopes, dreams and feelings in a three dimensional form.
Until recently, I had been exploring the Native American themes of animal totems and how they applied to me as a woman – a very thoughtful, introspective, spiritual and at times, painful process. Those, along with my 3Sisters series of garden art and Adinkra Shields explored the process of taking symbols and recreating the idea in three dimensions.
Then, a year ago, I was asked to participate in the “Dog Show” – a display of canine imagery. I had a blast making pieces for the show. It was FUN.. I would find myself chortling while working on a dog. And, it is great to see the happy reactions people have to the dogs. They are fun and they make us smile. Not a bad thing during these times.
So, like my dogs, I don’t come with a pedigree. I do what I do because it’s my passion. Working in clay brings me a lot of satisfaction and pleasure. It’s really pretty simple. I hope to help people laugh, feel good and affect their life in a positive way.
Gallery Representation:
DonTerra Gallery - Sisters, OR
High Desert Gallery - Bend, OR
Earthworks Gallery - Lincoln City, Newport, Yachats, OR
Navigator News & Gallery - Sisters, OR
Mirror Pond Gallery - Bend, OR (until closure)
Imaginations Gallery - Madras, OR (until closure)
Shows, Exhibits:
Art Show/Country Fair - Sisters, OR :: August 2006 (juried)
Art Show/Country Fair - Sisters, OR :: August 2007 (juried)
Mirror Pond Gallery :: Onsite Installations:
North Rim Sales Building :: June-Oct 2007 (invitational)
David Evans & Associates Building :: Oct-Dec 2008 (invitational)
Arts Central Education & Resource Center - Sept 2009 :: "Arts Central Educators"
Mirror Pond Gallery :: Bend, OR
June 2007 “Art of Angling” (juried)
May 2007 “On & Off the Wall” (invitational)
Apr 2007 (juried)
Feb 2006 “Sacred Journeys” (juried)
Sept 2006 “Mythical Birds” (juried)
Feb 2006 “Visual Poetry From the Heart” (juried)
Pettibone Custom Framing - Aug 2006 :: “Sacred Pathways” (invitational)
A6 Print Gallery & Studio :: Bend,OR
May 2009 “In the Garden” (juried)
June 2009 “Horses” (invitational)
July 2008 “Fairy Tales” (invitational)
Sisters Artworks :: Sisters, OR
July/Aug 2009 “The Dog Show” (invitational)
Aug/September 2010 “The Dog Show” (invitational)
Navigator News - Sept of 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 “the Sisters She Project” :: Producer for Community Based Art Installation
Oregon Potters Association - Showcase :: 2005, 2006, 2007,2010
Clay Guild of the Cascades - Wildfire :: 2006, 2007
Awards/Honors:
Judges Choice - 2007 :: Art Show Country Fair
Judges Choice - 2006 :: Art Show Country Fair
Award of Merit - 2006 :: “My Own Two Hands”
Best of Show - 2006 :: Clay Guild of the Cascades -Wildfire Pottery Show
Third Place - 2007 :: Clay Guild of the Cascades - Wildfire Pottery Show
Fourth Place - 2006 :: Oregon Potters Association - Showcase
Ben Westland Advocate for the Arts Award - 2010 :: “My Own Two Hands” - Sisters, OR
Studio Tours:
ARTrageous Adventures International Arts Travel Program - September 2007
COCC - Art Adventures - October 2009
Featured/Highlighted in the following publications:
Cascades A&E - January 2008
Central Oregon New Home Living - Summer 2008
The Bulletin - September 2007
Cascades A&E - September 2007
Central Oregon New Home Living - Summer 2007
The Nugget - March 21, 2007
The Nugget - September 27, 2006
Cascades A&E - August 2006
Education: Classes & Workshops in clay
Linn Benton Community College (LBCC) - 1981-1982]
Corvallis Art Center- 1981
Multnomah Art Center - Portland, OR, 1983-1986
Oregon School of Arts & Crafts - Portland, OR 1986 - 1993
Dennis Meiners - Hummingbird Workshop, Applegate, OR (3 days)
Beth Cavener-Stichter - Hummingbird Workshop (3 days)
Pat Webber - Salt Spring Island (6 days)
Ron Meyers - Hummingbird Workshop (3 days)
Terry Inokuma - LBCC (2 days)
Hummingbird Workshop - “Sculpting the Human Head” (3 days)
Work Experience (in clay):
Artist in Schools (clay) - Arts Central, Bend, OR :: 2003 - Present
Instructor (clay) - Art Station, Bend, OR :: 2004 - Present
Deb's work is currently showing at the following galleries.
Please contact the gallery for purchase information. Thank you.
Donterra Gallery :: Sisters, OR
High Desert Gallery :: Bend, OR
Jay Widmer's Alsea Anagama Kiln :: Work that is not fired at my studio is fired in this kiln located in the Oregon Coast Range. A labor and wood intensive firing process that is completed in two days using 4 cords of wood.