Sunriver Lodge Betty Gray Gallery joins Sunriver Resort in the annual Traditions celebration with a fine art exhibition. Presenting artists include small works by Bend artists Joanne Donaca Vicki Shuck as well as fanciful animals Barbara Slater.
Joanne Donaca presents small works in various mediums. Recognized for her work in oil, Donaca also revisits earlier of her award-winning medium in the show. A signature member of the Pastel Society of OR, Northwest Pastel Society the Pastel Society of America, pastel was a natural for the artist who worked for years drawing in pencil ink. Desiring to exp her competency in pastel, she explored new painting styles in late 2009 with noted artist Marta Baggetta.
The artist’s renewed interest reflects in her holiday show’s small, expressionistic pastel l scapes with billowing clouds less emphasis on the loosely drawn, blended foregrounds. In addition to pastel, the artist shows small l scapes of Central Oregon as well as floral figurative miniatures in oil watercolor.
Donaca is well known throughout the Northwest from her appearance in both pastel watercolor competitions. Her art appears in numerous private public collections such as Sunriver Resort Pronghorn Golf Resort.
Vicki Shuck presents small figurative images in oil. Shuck’s interest in figurative imagery began during study for her BA in art at OSU. Her professor introduced cubism in drawing that she applied in figurative work drawn from her imagination.
Shuck’s move to Bend in ’89 led to volunteer work later employment with St. Francis School. Here her figurative work began to include realistic drawings related to sacred texts including her well-known “Seven Days of Creation” series. She also began now continues commissioned illustration work for inspirational publishers.
In 2007, the artist’s interest in secular figurative art resumed with small oil paintings of every-day scenes including café patrons, rodeos horses, dogs, outdoor festivals others involving groups of people. She began working from photos of these scenes, painting in an expressionistic style with focus on backlighted images, finding color in the more obscure foregrounds.
The artist shows this style of work in the Sunriver show. She notes that this focus on secular imagery truly continues her devotional work as it celebrates the spiritual nature of our life. Shuck, widely collected in the US, also teaches adult classes at Art Central.
Completing the exhibition is oil painter Barbara Slater with colorful images including playful pigmy pigs, elegant roosters, soulful horses, holiday lambs other barnyard animals. Her affection for animals her skillful grasp of their natures is apparent in the imagery. A lifetime artist, Slater graduated from Utah State University with a minor in art.
Sunriver Betty Gray Gallery welcomes the public to the exhibition from Nov. 18 through the New Year celebrations during Lodge hours. Billye Turner, art consultant, organizes gallery exhibitions for Sunriver Resort provides additional information at 541-382-9398.