​Lida Penkova has gained fame in Humboldt County for her unique art pieces. Her unusual process of linocut with colors added by acrylics and colored pencils always tells a story, sometimes from mythology, sometimes from real-life moments of a Mexican market or a surf day at a Trinidad beach, and sometimes from her own imagination. This month she is focusing her work on October's Day of the Dead.

Penkova, born in Czechoslovakia and living in countries around the world, was deeply affected as an artist by sixteen years of living in rural mountains of Mexico where she encountered folk art. The style she has developed is perfectly suited to illustrate the many ways that the dead are honored in October's Mexican tradition.


​Her lively scenes show altars adorned with flowers, candles, favorite dishes and drinks for deceased loved ones, families visiting the graves of relatives to honor them, the sugar skulls and skeleton toys sold in outdoor markets and at street stalls, marigold flowers in vases or spread out on pathways or hanging on strings to embellish homes and streets for the remembrance of those who are gone before us.

Donvieve creates amazingly lifelike masks that “gently challenge personal barriers and speak to people's inner places.” She uses only natural and recycled materials such as leather, fibers, metal, clay, and wood to achieve her three-dimensional expressions. “I am committed through my work, to build a deep appreciation of our connection to all things and cultivate awareness of how we each impact our planet and care for one another.”

When Donvieve traveled to countries such as Bali, Mexico, Central America and Europe, she worked with native mask makers, developing deep appreciation for the art of varied exotic cultures. Donvieve generously shares her skills and her ecological consciousness with students in a variety of venues, from high school to university and with private organizations such as the Ink People. 
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When teaching, Donvieve works to help her students become more interested and sensitive to different cultural groups and to what each group considers beautiful and valuable as they observe the world around them.

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Lida Penkova: "Most of those who know my art are familiar with my hand painted linocuts: the complex and very enjoyable process of drawing, carving, printing, and finally making a painting from a black & white print. For this showing I'll add larger painting canvases, some with incorporated fabrics, another passion of mine."

  


​     Trinidad Art Gallery is proud to participate in North Coast Open Studios 2017 as an Artist Hot Spot, where you can visit artists who will be present with their work, some giving demonstrations of their creative process on-site. We will be open during NCOS Friday Art Night, June 2nd from 6 pm - 9 pm, during our regular Trinidad Arts Night featuring two of our member artists. Still more TAG members will be opening their personal art studios for visitors! Available artists and demonstration times are listed below.