Desert Crossings

Theses mixed media works comprise of etchings mounted on wood panel with encaustic. Layered within these works are the representation of desert vegetation and the patchwork patterns of simple shapes – squares, wide strips and lines – that call to mind the traditional weavings inspired by the deserts of North America. Desert Crossings was inspired by my many travels—my many desert crossings-- throughout the southwest.

I work as a contemporary mixed media artist. I am interested in printmaking, painting, and encaustic and work in a combination of the mediums. This current work is a collage of a variety of works on paper, which may include monoprints, monotypes, and solar plate etchings. These are then mounted on wood panel and encaustic is then added which adds a smooth dull transparent surface to the work.

Desert Crossings is inspired by my many trips into the desert landscape. Over the last 15 years I have, on a yearly basis, traveled in the deserts of the southwest. I now live outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico. These landscapes and the plants that live in the desert haunt me. Their means of survival in the harsh environment fascinate me. Parts of these images are ending up in my work. I am very interested in the panoramic vistas, the plants that survive there and the water and lack of water that is there.

I take my camera with me and bring back a variety of images. I’ve taken many pictures of cactus and am fascinated by the patterns the needles make. From the snap shots I take, I select some of the images and then abstract them into drawings that are textural and have a certain graphic quality to them. I then make a solar plate etching. To make a solar etching plate, an image is exposed onto a photosensitive plate and then developed in water. Once the plate is made then I individually ink the plate and then pull a print using my etching press. I do multiples of hand pulled prints. From there I collage the prints onto wood panels.

After the pieces are dry, then I put a coating of hot wax and resin and pigment onto the image and then 'burn' the wax in with heat. This gives the piece a transparent look to it. This process is called encaustic and it dates back to the early Greeks.

Select Solo and Two Person Exhibitions

2007
New Mexico Printmakers/Works on Paper Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

2006
Institute for the Study of Western Civilization, Cupertino, CA
Santa Cruz Government Center, Santa Cruz, CA; Juror: Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County

2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
The Main Gallery, Redwood City, CA

2000
Serra House, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

1999
Tied House, San Jose, CA

1998
Gallery House, Palo Alto, CA

1997
San Jose International Airport, American Airlines, San Jose, CA

1996
Los Gatos Town Council Chambers, Los Gatos, CA

Select Group Exhibitions

2006
Arts on Fire X, Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA; Juror: Larry Rinder
Explorations in Printmaking: 9 Contemporary Printmakers, The Mohr Gallery at the Community School for Music and Art, Mt. View, CA
The Printed Image, Steamboat Springs Arts Council, Steamboat Springs, CO; Juror: Susan Hover Oehme
Juried Membership Exhibition 2006, Los Angeles Printmaking Society Burbank CA; Juror: Henry Klein, Professor of Art at Los Angeles Valley College
Hot Off The Press, The Main Gallery, Redwood City, CA
Group Show, The New Mexico Printmakers Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
New Mexico Printmakers, University of New Mexico, Los Alamos Gallery, Los Alamos, NM

2005
Botanica Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA; Juror: Adam Wolpert, Director of Arts at Occidental Art and Ecology Center
LAPS New Members Show, Downtown Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Mostly Small Masterpieces, The Main Gallery, Redwood City, CA
Explorations in Printmaking, The Institute for the Study of Western Civilization, Cupertino, CA
Printmaking 2005, Sun Gallery, Hayward, CA; Curator: Veronica Dondero, Director, Sun Gallery, Hayward, CA

2004
Subject to Change, Pacific Grove Art Center, Pacific Grove, CA (juried)
Los Gatos Museum Annual Show, Los Gatos, CA (second place, mixed media) Juror: Phil Linhares, Chief Curator, Oakland Museum, Oakland, CA
Subject to Change, Pacific Grove Art Center, Pacific Grove, CA, (juried)
91st Members Exhibition, California Society of Printmakers, San Francisco Bay Model Visitor Center, Sausalito, CA

2003
Minding The Ordinary, Olive Hyde Art Gallery, Fremont, CA (juried) Curator: Sandra Hemsworth, Director, Olive Hyde Art Gallery, Fremont, CA
Subject to Change, Hayward City Hall, Sun Gallery Show, Hayward, CA Curator: Veronica Dondero, Director, Sun Gallery, Hayward, CA

2002
Works on Paper, Bryant Street Gallery, Palo Alto, CA; Curator: Karen Imperial, Director, Bryant Street Gallery, Palo Alto, CA
Printmaking 2002, Sun Gallery, Hayward, CA; Curator: Veronica Dondero, Director, Sun Gallery, Hayward, CA
Annual Auction, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA (invitational)

2002
Scapes, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA; Juror: Harvey Jones, Curator, Oakland Museum, Oakland, CA
Beyond The Rules, California College of Arts and Crafts, San Francisco, CA
Statewide Exhibit, Santa Cruz Art League, Santa Cruz, CA; Juror: Susan Hillhouse, Curator, Triton Museum, Santa Clara, CA
Book Art Show, Trition Museum, Santa Clara, CA (juried)
Arts on Fire, Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA; Juror: Phil Linhares, Curator, Oakland Museum, Oakland, CA

2001
Valentine Show, The Alameda Artworks, San Jose, CA (invitational)
Three Person Show, YWCA, Palo Alto, CA (invitational)

2000
- Her Mark, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL, (juried)
Book Show, Works Gallery, San Jose, CA (juried)
Passion Show, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, San Jose, CA (invitational)

1999
Group Show, Post Street Gallery, San Jose, CA (invitational) Rotating Exhibition, Nortel Corporation, Santa Clara, CA; (juried) Curator: Suzanne Fraizer, A.R.T., Los Gatos, CA
The Shoe Show, Anita Seipp Gallery, Palo, Alto, CA (juried)
Ancient Myths and Modern Legends, Galeria Tonantzin, San Juan Bautista, CA

1998
WCA Regional Exhibition, Somar Gallery - San Francisco, CA
KTEH Auction Show, Triton Museum, Santa Clara, CA; Juror: George Riveria, Director, Triton Museum, Santa Clara, CA

Annual Show, Los Gatos Museum - Los Gatos, CA (juried)
The Female Gaze, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art, , San Jose, CA (juried)
Works On Paper, Koret Gallery - Palo Alto, CA; Juror: Joe Zurcher
A White Glove Affair (handmade books,) Los Gatos Museum - Los Gatos, CA

1997
Printmaking Marathon Show, Institute of Contemporary Art - San Jose, CA (juried)
Annual Show, Los Gatos Museum - Los Gatos, CA (third place) Juror: George Riveria, Director, Triton Museum, Santa Clara, CA
Rotating Exhibition, Hewlett-Packard, Sunnyvale, CA (juried)

1996
Spring Show, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA (juried)

1995
Spring Show, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA (juried)

1994
Spring Show, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA (juried)
Group Show, Michael Vargus Gallery, Mission College, Santa Clara, CA (juried)

1993
Group Show, Olympiad de Arts, Villa Montalvo, Saratoga, CA (juried)

Galleries - Affiliations

California Society of Printmakers (CSP) (juried)
Los Angeles Printmaking Society (LAP) (juried)
The Boston Printmakers at Emmanuel College(juried)
The Main Gallery - Redwood City, CA – www.themaingallery.org
The New Mexico Printmakers Gallery, Santa Fe, NM - www.newmexicoprintmakers.com (juried)
Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL - www.womanmade.org

Selected Collections

La Casa d' Espiritus Alegres, Guanajuato, Mexico
Castle of Spannocchia, Siena, Italy
Cadence, Inc. San Jose, California
Los Gatos Family Physicians, Inc., Los Gatos, California
Paul Bingham Gallery, San Jose, California
Margaret Mahoney, MD, San Jose, California
Roger and Mercy Smullen, Los Gatos, California
Bob and Cindy Rockwood, Saratoga, California

Related Experience

2000 – 2004 Installation Coordinator – The Main Gallery, Redwood City, CA
1982 – 2000 Linda Fillhardt Graphic Design and Advertising, Los Gatos, CA