September 2 Trinidad Art Night

  Oceana Madrone and Diane Sonderegger
​Featured Artists for September 2016  
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Reception during Trinidad Art Night
​Friday, September 2nd
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Music by: Penny Gun and Son
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​   At the Trinidad Art Gallery, Diane Sonderegger, ceramic sculptor, and Oceana Madrone, fabric and beadwork artist will have work on display. They are both founding members of the gallery. Both create works that can range from whimsy to elegance and their art will be highlighted throughout this month. ​

Why It Took 50 Million Years for Fish to Walk out of the Ocean

     Sonderegger’s art often takes the form of ceramic sculpture which is almost in the form of comic sketch. Her charming animals often satirize the human condition. Her bears are engaged in yoga, her wildly varied hens hatch ceramic eggs, her otters are thoroughly enjoying a gourmet lunch that is perched on their furry bellies, her fish and her dragons wear shiny red shoes. It is nearly impossible to keep from laughing aloud. Every piece strikes a note of recognition in the viewer, either of their own or an acquaintance’s foibles and delights.

     To see this artist create one of her figures is an amazing experience. She starts with a lump of clay that looks a lot like a small potato and begins to pull and push, and soon the unmistakable shape of a familiar animal is seen to emerge.  A seal is sunning itself on an ocean rock, a dog is on point, a skunk is lifting its dangerous tail, a fish is swimming.  Much of Diane’s work is raku fired, a process where the piece is lifted by tongs red hot from the kiln and placed in a bin of combustibles to soak in its smoke. “A surprise always occurs. Sometimes it’s not so good but sometimes it’s fabulous. Kind of like gambling and I love it,” says Sonderegger. Recently she has been using the more usual techniques of high fire as in the fish shown here. This results in a shinier, slightly more predictable finish.

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Hummingbirds

    Oceana Madrone's fabric and beadwork directly and honestly reflect her experience of the emotional and meaningful aspects of life, with an emphasis on healing through the beauty and joy of art. She creates quilts, dreamcatchers, beaded and precious stone necklaces, spirit dolls, prayer flags and collage. As she says, “I love the color, textures and sparkle of fabric and beads.  Life is a magical gift. There is beauty all around us if we take the time to see it and appreciate it.” Madrone clearly appreciates it and interprets its spirit in her many inventions.
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     Madrone has a number of her pieces on display at the Trinidad Art Gallery, and she is also available to make custom orders or to set up private lessons or workshops. She has led a number of day-long sessions where women who have experience violence come together to create a healing quilt. She says, " Art gives women and children a voice to tell their story, a place to put strong emotions like pain, fear, and anger, as well as a chance to find hope while exploring future possibilities." Through this work of Madrone's the Healing Quilt Project was born.

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