2024 The Big
Artist Statements/ Bios

Trudy Ahbel-Dallas

Trudy says, “I was born in Austria in 1925, the hard time between WW1 and WW2.My parents lived with my grandmother in a house built in the 1840s. My grandfather was a physician, the chief of the hospital. He was my inspiration to become a physician.  These were the war years of my youth, and no doubt influenced the rest of my life and art.  I managed to get my medical doctorate in 1949. Married and had 2 children. After succeeding to come to the US in1956 I had to repeat exams for MD, internship and residency again.  I worked for the VA for 25 years, art only a dream or doodling while on the phone. There were many good times, all of us loved the ocean, sailing was the means to relax and enjoy totally different challenges. We explored the west coast, Canada, US and Mexico to Alaska.”

 

“I’d like to improve- make more “original” paintings  during my 99th year.”

 

Sarah Bird

Bird is an Idaho- and Oregon-based realist oil painter. She draws on nineteenth-century techniques and seventeenth-century imaginative Flemish perspectives to weave still life and landscape into intimate tabletop worlds that sometimes tip into the surreal.   Historically, still life paintings honored material wealth and colonialism; for example, elaborate feasts featuring exotic fare and rare China, crystals, and silks but Bird's paintings instead recenter the natural, local, and marginal: trailside weeds, backyard and feral fruits, found and thrift-store objects. Though done in the studio, her paintings also intentionally evoke and symbolize landscapes, arguing that our experiences of a place are perhaps of greater value than our material obsessions.

 

Demi Bones

My art, limited as it is in skill and breadth, has been inspired by dreams and emotions.

 

Susan Baird

Susan says, "Photography is my passion.  I love photographing portraits of high school seniors, sports team pictures, live-action sports, nature/landscape, old barns/churches, and flowers/macro.  There are so many genres in photography.  If you tire of one, you can move on the the next.  There's always the challenge of something new to learn."

 

Kevin Boylan

Through the years, my work has evolved from my beginnings as a potter to my current stage as a mixed media sculptor and glassblower. Exploring new mediums, learning new techniques, and examining my most immediate surroundings; my process almost always results with a non-objective, abstract form.

 

Tess Cahill

The aesthetic and purpose of streetlights, porch lights and lamps is the same as those of spotlights on a stage. They are beacons that highlight important information; anchor points in a network. They are the origins, destinations, and waypoints that our world boils down to when everything else goes dark. I depict my subjects individually to mimic the feeling of navigating from one landmark to the next. Many of them lie out of reach, beyond boundaries both physical and spiritual. In a void, they become planets of their own. Standing outside their atmosphere, I often feel like I could simply evaporate into darkness and become a breath of wind just passing blissfully through. But I am pulled steadily onward by tangible forces of guilt and urgency, and each waypoint becomes as blurred and fleeting as the last until I reach my destination.

 

Miriam Cecilia

Miriam Cecilia is a former birth doula, a career in public health and executive branch state government, anarchist, and current mother of humans. A self-proclaimed magical-pragmatist, Miriam has recently chosen to embrace her curiosity, creativity and joy and invites you to do the same because the cosmos are waiting.

My place in artistry is to create a space for the redefinition of reality. Did you sign up for your version of reality? Who gets to say that sidewalks are gray and not purple? Do you remember when magic was real?

 

Crystal Collier

Crystal says, "My art is designed to honor the relationship between us and nature, by highlighting the gifts Mother Nature has provided us and to show off her beauty in the best way I know how.

Born in La Grande and raised in Joseph, Oregon I grew up with nature's beauty quite literally all around me.  As part of a logging and ranching  family, my entire childhood was spent in nature.   It has always been my sanctuary and I continue to gather inspiration from the beauty of the natural world around me.  I continue to live, work and create in La Grande, travel extensively, and learn constantly."

 

Shirley Cook

Shirley says, "I like to work with gourds in general. I started learning about them a little over 20 years ago. For a while, I was a member of the American Gourd Society. I have attended classes sponsored by the Washington State Gourd Society and the Idaho State Gourd Society.

I was born and raised in Union and Wallowa counties. I worked as a registered nurse for over 40 years. I took up art as a hobby when my kids were teenagers.  I got more serious about gourd art after my kids left home. I have a house full of finished pieces. I have sold and given away a lot, so I can make room for more."

 

Alison Darch

I paint as a hobby.  I enjoy painting in oils for the most part but like anything artistic.  Most of what inspires me is the landscape where we live.  I like trying to capture the many moods and colors where we live and hope that translates to the viewer in my paintings.

 

Hannah Rose Duna

I have often viewed jewelry as armor. You put on the stones you need to help you do the very best you can in the world. Feeling stressed? Blue Lace Agate or Smoky Quartz will bring peace and calm.  Need an extra dose of passion? Ruby and Carnelian are your best friends. Each piece I create comes from a deep place of connection, I access the healing power of colors and metraphysical properties of stones, then I hold space, breathe deeply and allow the piece to flow through my soul and out of my hands.

Hannah Rose is an artist, musician, and creatrix.  Her passion for jewelry lies in working with seed beads and precious gemstones.  Each piece she creates is imbued with intention and love.  Accessing the healing power of gem stones, she sees her creations as an opportunity to spread love and light in the world.  Certified in Reiki, Craniosacral Therapy, and Crystal Healing, Hannah accesses the realms of light and healing as she weaves each stitch. She also takes great joy in creating custom healing necklaces and earrings, designed with stones and intentions uniquely suited to the desires of her patrons.

 

Trevor Durr

My pottery is heavily inspired by the outdoors and the animals within them. As a wild-land firefighter, I travel to different forests around the United States and pull inspiration and imagery from them. My inspiration is not singular to just the local forest but also from all over, from the Redwoods and Giant Sequoias in California to the cacti through Arizona and New Mexico and the long leaf pines of Louisiana for example. Through imagery and textures, I try and give people a piece of where I've been and a small representation of the beauty and fragility of the forests I spend my life conserving.

Trevor L. Durr was born in Baker City, Oregon. He received his Bachelor of Science in Art from Eastern Oregon University in 2014. Trevor currently works as a Wildland Firefighter year round, and makes pottery in his spare time.

 

Elizabeth Forma

Arguably it’s difficult to write a statement about being an artist when you don’t consider yourself one. I photograph because I enjoy capturing memories. I’m working towards becoming a photographer so others can experiencing the moments as well.

 

Kolle Kahle-Riggs

I enjoy focusing on tiny details of the natural world that might go overlooked by most people. I want to show off the beauty of the inside surface of polished beach stones and the beautiful wood grains of various types of wood whether it be firewood or our native curl-leaf mohagony. I am trained as a jeweler and metalsmith and enjoy making minimalistic settings and simple complimentary fabrications to showcase the beauty of natural forms.

 

Maya Kamoshita

I work primarily in watercolor and drawing, inspired by travel, personal experiences, nature, and animals. My art explores the infinite found within the particular, capturing the intricate beauty of microcosms through a blend of realistic and abstract styles with texture and pattern. Growing up in an artistic family, I've always appreciated art, but my own creative journey is just beginning. Currently, the landscapes, seascapes, and diverse creatures of Oregon and Washington are a significant influence on my work. I aim to create pieces that evoke moments of enjoyment and invite personal interpretation. For me, practice is art, and art is practice a way to celebrate humanity's shared capacity for beauty and connection.

 

Tim Knapp

I experience the world with a lot of curiosity and feeling. I search for scenes that illicit an emotional response in me and then do my best to capture what I saw and felt and put it on the page so others can feel it too.

 

Rick LePage

As a photographer, I am always looking for symmetry and simplicity in whatever place I am: cities, farmland, western landscapes, the ocean. I search for the small things in an expansive scene that are showcased by special light. My goal is to feature those smaller elements balanced within the structure of their environment.

I am a photographer who teaches small-group photography workshops around the world and in our National Parks. I am originally from the East Coast, but have called Oregon home for nearly 25 years. I enjoy teaching all aspects of photography, from simply learning how to use your camera, to understanding composition and light, to editing and creating finished prints.

And, while I shoot digitally, my preferred medium remains the printed photograph, which I sadly believe is fast becoming an afterthought in a digital world.

 

Tim Louden

Tim says, "Imagination and experimentation. I love using natural earthy and unusual things. I am married, have children, and born and raised in southern California. The 60s and 70s and Southern California were quite interesting and exciting especially in 1964 when I first heard "I wanna hold your hand" by The Beatles. I believe it changed my life and the way I think from there on. Yes, I am a person who shows the peace sign, I believe in trying to help others as much as I can. I'm retired now and enjoying my life -- my grandchildren, and the time that I have to experiment with art."

 

Christie Lower
As a fiber artist, I draw inspiration from the natural world, especially birds. Their freedom, resilience, and beauty deeply influence my work, which brings these creatures to life through textures and colors that reflect their delicate forms. Each piece is a tribute to the wild spaces around us, encouraging a slower, closer look at nature's wonders.

Through my art, I hope to inspire a deeper appreciation for the beauty that surrounds us every day.

 

Christie Lower is a fiber artist with a focus on birds. Her journey into the world of needle felting began nearly five years ago, when she was seeking a creative outlet to balance the demands of motherhood and find a sense of calm. What started as a simple hobby during her son's activities evolved into a deep passion for needle felting and textile sculptures.

 

Inspired by the animals and nature surrounding her home in Eastern Oregon, she sculpts lifelike birds and wildlife using wool, a needle, and sometimes a base or metal structure. Her work pays homage to her beloved Grandma, who had a special kinship with birds. After her passing, Christie used her leather gloves to protect her hands while felting a serendipitous gift that made her feel connected to Grandma. Her focus on birds and wildlife is a tribute to her Grandmother.

What sets Christie’s work apart is her dedication to creating full-scale sculptures, blending techniques and materials to blur the lines between sculpture and textile art.

 

Candace Martin

My name is Candi and I'm an activist/artist. I was born in Burnaby BC Canada to a third generation Eastern Oregon mother who went to Canada to join her then husband who had gone AWOL from the Vietnam War.

I am a

Mother

Grandmother and

Cookie Baker

Poet

Photograper

Painter and

Bread *Shtick Maker

Red and Blue

Just Like

You

Most of all

I am Me

*Just Me

 

John Mangan

I have been painting since 2010. I began with solely representational landscapes. In Florida I was seduced by the flora and fauna. The brilliant spectrum is never far from my memory. Returning to the PNW I discovered the minimal values of gray and the pearly light of the area. I have been adding these elements to my work for some time. I try to transfer them onto canvas or board.

 

Megan McGuinness

Megan McGuinness (b. Portland, Oregon, 1990) is an acrylic artist. Her practice includes painting, drawing, and ceramics. Starting at the age of nine, Megan studied under professional artist Margarita Leon for five years. Her love for nature propelled her into a profession in the sciences, but Megan always painted between jobs. Megan went back to school in 2016 and received her bachelor's in science in Anthropology/Sociology with a minor in Native American studies from Eastern Oregon University. In 2022, she graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a Master's in Anthropology.

As an anthropologist, McGuinness’ work explores how people interact with the landscapes they live in. Her work also tries to capture moments in time, and bring memories back to life. Megan currently lives and works in La Grande, Oregon but often day dreams of walking relict pluvial lake shores in the Great Basin.

Life goes by fast, and memories get blurry, so I like to take the fine detail out of my paintings and focus on the feeling. I come back to the easel to remember moments I don't want to forget.

 

Scott Nearing
I was born in eastern oregon attended school at embler. I graduated from eastern oregon university. I became a glass artist and helped on a local shop that sells glass in other local made art.

Scott Nearing expresses pop culture through his visuals and sounds while finding his voice through different artistic mediums.

 

Debra Otterstein
Drawing light from the darkness - this is how I describe the art of scratchboard. It is a process of subtraction rather than one of addition and it allows the drama of light and dark to play off each other in fascinating ways. On the other hand painting on feathers adds a touch of magic to the work, a feeling of being a part of nature.  Capturing the drama and the feeling of inclusion are my inspirations and sharing wildlife moments is my passion.

Ever since Debra Otterstein can remember she always had a love of nature. She was raised in the mountains and valleys that surround Sun Valley, Idaho and she grew up enjoying the wildlife that was an everyday encounter. Debra moved to

 

Donna Rainboth

Much of my artistic work is inspired by wildlife and color. I dabble in fiber arts, stained glass and photography. I often have multiple projects going at the same time. My work is sometimes inspired by something I have seen or by my desire to make a special gift for someone. I hope the art pieces help to create an appreciation for the natural world.

 

Annie Robinson

I am a long-time collector of unique beads, stones, and shells from around the world. I fabricate one-of-a-kind jewelry which highlights the beauty of these materials. I believe the inherent function of jewelry is to catch the eye, and I especially like working with shells, pearls, stones, and glass that shimmer and fascinate from afar. I also stamp silver with stamps fashioned from old car parts to create unique bracelets, pendants, and earrings. I like to come up with designs and themes that echo the beauty of the natural world around me. I try to make the world a little more beautiful every day by adorning people in my designs.

 

Sharry Sherman

Sharry says, "My work is inspired by the stones. I am drawn to color, shape and feel of the stone. Then the excitement builds into the creation of the design. Through the years I have enjoyed mixing stones and metals, sometimes including pearls in a particular piece. I find it fascinating that many artists can use the same materials and the finished project is completely different."

 

Stabros

I paint for the joy of it, and I am unabashedly in love with my own art. I'm “self-taught” (huzzah for the internet). Mostly I paint straight from my imagination and let the painting tell me where to go next. I listen to sci-fi-inspired deep ambient mixes and let the weird stuff in my brain out. I like to imagine that someday my art might appear on a sci-fi book cover or prog rock album or suchlike.

 

Jessie Street

I’m always, always observing. I am recording everything I see all day long--beams of light, intricate textures, plants and animals--and I respond to it in a sort of youth-like innocence and wonder. That is something that is echoed in my practice; I learn new methods and break tradition from the craft, experimenting with doing it my own way, as opposed to what I’m told is the correct way. Everything I do is about experiencing something new and diving into my curiosity.

 

Arielle Star

My art embodies the sacred, weaving together visions of goddesses, angels, and nature’s holy majesty, and how this informs our journey as beautiful souls in these human bodies navigating life on planet earth.

Arielle Star is an Oregon-based artist celebrated for her enchanting, spiritually-charged paintings that fuse texture, nature, and the sacredness of the divine feminine.

Her earliest childhood memories are of playing with finger paints and crayons, snuggling her giant Saint Bernard dogs, rescuing kitties, birds and any abandoned or wounded creature, and creating delicious treats in her Easy-Bake-Oven.

Throughout elementary and highschool, she devoured every art, dance, theater and creative course offered.

In her twenties and thirties, she dove into the healing arts, becoming a California Certified Massage Practitioner, a Certified Reiki Master Practitioner and Teacher, and a Certified Shamanic Counselor, with a thriving practice of supporting her clients with compassionate wisdom, love, and deep emotional/spiritual healing.

In her mid forties, Arielle became more and more called to create Sacred Art as another form of Soul Healing. Since then, for over ten years, she has created hundreds of original paintings and sells them, as well as custom commission pieces, prints, and gift items worldwide. Her original paintings have been shipped to Germany, Australia, Hawaii, and all over the continental United States.

Arielle has hosted many transformational art retreats, and co-hosted several online art courses, sharing her creative gifts, passion and loving support to hundreds of women globally.

She currently resides in Northeastern Oregon where she lives with her 2 Border Collies and 4 cats, painting in her home studio, and creating exquisite homemade botanical skincare products with medicinal herbs collected from the surrounding mountains and grown on her sweet little creekside farm. She also continues to serve her local and global community with spiritual counsel and emotional support, and her unique Star Touch Holistic Healing Sessions that have evolved out of the decades of healing work she has explored and practiced.

 

Nick Stoltz

Nick says, "I primarily use an Oxygen/Acetylene torch, MIG + arc welding, plasma torches and angle grinders to create with. The larger pieces I have done are more challenging (I’m a one-man show), but I get creative with joists, straps and jacks to get the job done. I’m huge on recycling older steel findings from farm implements, antique items, etc and incorporating them into my pieces when it works. Who needs paint when the alloys I chose have their own beautiful spectrum of colors waiting to be unleashed with a little well-placed heat? I take much inspiration from history and the beauty of the nature I have surrounded myself with."

 

Terri Stoltz

Soft chalk pastel is my favorite medium. I’m exploring different pastel papers to use. I like when a piece connects with someone.

 

Denise Elizabeth Stone

Through a span of years, changing mediums, and varying themes, the continuous thread in my work is a reverence for Mother Nature, seasoned with a quirky humor. I follow the whims of the paint and paper to create landscapes of my memory, imagination, and dreams. Through the use of color, texture, light and shadow, my art’s intent is to convey a sense of reverence for the natural world in its unspoiled state. Living in a beautiful Eastern Oregon river valley, my art is lovingly grounded in the ongoing and ever-changing stories of the land and waters and critters. Even my abstract work has an organic quality, drawn from the forms, light, and colors of nature. I see each painting as a small piece of a single, larger ongoing work. I am always inspired by the group Convergence, where we share ideas, critiques, and challenge work that stimulates me to create better art.These pieces are examples of my artful explorations.

 

Jason Walker/Nick Pappagiorgio

I like gold and silver fume glass.

 

Una Walker
Una is a Fiber Artist from La Grande, Oregon whose fashion and artwork has been exhibited nationally to rave reviews. As a sought after fiber arts teacher, her classes range from beginning to advanced techniques in a variety of mediums. Una grew up in her parents’ craft supply store where she gained experience in a wide range of crafts as both an artist and teacher. An example being her appearance on HGTV’s ‘That’s Clever’ in 2009, making a pair of shoes! She got started punching over a decade ago at a craft show “make and take” where she first worked with the Oxford Punch Needle. Combining unique materials is Una’s most inspiring challenge in her work; she loves “figuring it all out”. From raw wool, to sewing the finishing stitch, she is always looking ahead to new and creative approaches. Una’s latest fiber experiments include explorations in dyeing and seeing how the color and texture bring life to her designs. Una’s work has been exhibited at craft shows across the country where she also sells under her business name of Wooly Walkers.

Una has completed her Advanced Oxford Punch Needle training and has been teaching punch needle for the past 10 years. She has taught at Estes Park Wool Market, Toas Wool Festival, Oregon Flock and Fiber, Black Sheep gathering, Fiber in the Forest, Stitches West and SoCal.

She teaches with both patience and an attention to detail, that combined with her easy-going sense of humor results in a fun and rewarding experience for all. Una thrives on problem solving and she loves working with beginners. She can be reached through her website, www.woolywalkers.com or directly by email at [email protected]

Haydyn Wallender

Haydyn Wallender is an insatiable reader, writer, and reviewer. Her experience with written works extends back through her undergraduate studies at Washington State University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Creative Writing and certificate in Editing and Publishing.

Haydyn held an internship for the infamous literary journal “Blood Orange Review” at WSU as copy editor and social media guru, as well as accepted an internship with the Visiting Writers Series, where she would interview authors, publicists, and literary agencies. She has had reviews published in Kirkus, as well as in the NewPages Blog online.

Haydyn attended graduate school at Eastern Oregon University, receiving a Masters of Arts in Teaching degree, and went on to teach two years of secondary education in the Treasure Valley before returning to the Grande Ronde Valley.