|
SUMMER EXHIBITS AT THE DIVA CENTER - STARTING JULY 7TH
Amy Beller and Jane MacQueen Amy Beller and Jane MacQueen offer the people of Eugene a unique look on life, nature, and art. Both artists have a deep love of nature, sharing many hobbies such as hiking and exploring the great outdoors. Jane's work focuses mainly on the big skies and open spaces of Montana while Amy’s love of the intimate and quiet grandeur of Canyon de Chelly in the Navajo Nation. Each paints as a way of loving and honoring mother Earth and father Sky. Amy Beller grew up being exposed to art and nature—from summer road trips and regular hikes to posters of Picasso adorning the walls of her home. Her artwork shows her background and admiration of Frenchin Impressionists like Cezanne, Matisse, and Renoir. Working with realism and abstraction, she expresses her love of life and nature in her paintings. For Jane MacQueen, capturing the essence of landscapes is the epitome of her craft, through which she can express her admiration of nature. It is her goal to paint a soulful sense of space and time, so that we can evaluate ourselves in regards to a larger, more worldly picture. Manipulating light, layers, rhythms, and the natural balance of composition, she hopes to draw the viewer into the art so they can deeply feel the spirit the art is meant to portray. Peggy Spiess Born September 16, 1956 in San Diego, Peggy Spiess later moved to Oregon in 1975. Following her move, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Fine arts from the University of Oregon in 1980 with an emphasis in printmaking, specifically etching. The 80s saw her shift focus from her art to parenting. When she moved to a studio in Eugene, though it was equipped with an etching press, she decided to make a shift from etching to acrylics. Her acrylic style was self-taught though influenced by her knowledge and experiences working in a printmaking studio. The particular style, she states, has been shaped by necessity; each step in the process is clearly defined; allowing her to leave and return to a work in progress with relative ease and minimal clean-up. Faced with an increasingly soulless society, she has chosen in her paintings to deeply inhabit a small portion of the world in which she finds herself; focusing on those subjects embodying qualities which she can resonate with and rejoice in. These have invariably proven to be familiar and often local flora whose leaves, thorns, stems, and seeds are all analogous to points of struggle and ease at play in life at the moment of painting. The paintings offer a road map of her journey, a diary translated into plants, and an oasis along the way. Keith Legg Keith Legg is a self taught artist that specializes in digital media and pencil drawing with over 15 years of experience. His work focuses on the metaphysical aspect of dreams and the dynamic relationship between memory and human consciousness. Keith draws upon the inspiration of his dreams to craft art that wishes to express the hyper-emotional states triggered by vivid dreams. He desires that his art be something that the viewer can study and take apart, exploring the relationship of their own memories and thoughts. Valley Calligraphy Guild The Valley Calligraphy Guild is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. In l976, six of us gathered in Eugene, with our teacher Fran Strom Sloan, to talk about plans & possibilities for a group dedicated to sharing calligraphic information and supplies (in those days, calligraphy supplies were scarce locally; now they're easily available, even in supermarkets and bookstores). Lane Arts Council/Greenhill Humane Society Greenhill Humane Society, SPCA works to provide safe shelter for animals in transition, serve as advocates for animals and their people, work to end animal overpopulation and educate the public about compassion and responsibility towards all animals. Greenhill Humane Society is a private, non-profit animal shelter. Lane Arts Council, a non-profit organization, relies on the financial, in-kind and volunteer support of individuals, businesses and agencies. Their programs keep the arts alive in Lane County by bringing arts enjoyment to the community, supporting the efforts of artists and arts organizations, and inspiring Lane County youth. On June 17th, Greenhill Humane Society along with the Lane Arts Council hosted PAWSitive Strokes, a charity event that raised money for both non-profit organizations. Event goers who participated eagerly let there pets paw-paint, creating the unlikely fusion of pet, paint, and artist to create art that is truly unique. Renee Manford Renee Manford studied Fine arts and Graphic design at Lane Community College. She uses the monoprint method to create her prints using a relief black printer’s ink or oil paints, then runs it through the press. The pieces labeled multimedia/monoprint refer to the addition over the top of the monoprint a layer or layers of oil paint, pen, watercolor, or pencil. She enjoys painting people, landscapes, town/cityspaces, and water scenes. Furthermore, she also creates watercolors, acrylic ink, and oil painted pictures as well as dabbling in photography. |