willits center for the arts

New Local Color.

The November show at the Wiillits Center for the Arts will feature the work of four local artists. It opens November 6th with an Artist's Reception at 7:00 PM at the Art Center. Come and meet the artists, enjoy refreshments and view their very unique artistic styles. November 6th through the 28th.

Laura Wiecek
Laura’s unique method of mixed media collages and collaborative art had its genesis while she was a student at Sonoma State University. Working with fellow classmates on drawings, she developed an interactive process for creating collages by combining basket-weave patterns and strips of previous drawings with an eclectic assortment of materials such as string, rope, candy wrappers, and antiquated library cards. Laura’s approach to art has built on her previous experience in specialized weaving. She mastered the craft of multiple- harness weaving and produced scarves, throws, double-weave wall hangings, and card-woven neckpieces.

For the past 25 years her art technique has expanded into working with children’s art, transforming the pieces into finished collages and paintings.

Diana Lang Hinkle
Diana's lush renderings of the female form are steeped in the extravagant colors of Southern California where she grew up. Hinkle's work is reminiscent of the paintings of Richard Diebenkorn, Wayne Thiebaud and David Hockney. Her bold and intuitive use of California's colorful palette - shades of lemon, lime, pink and blue - evoke the skies, fields and beaches reminiscent of her childhood. Hinkle's work is inspired by the landscape of the female form. Her paintings are unabashed, almost ecstatic in their celebration of the female body.

Sharon Bauman
"I have always had a passion for art of many kinds as long as I can remember. After raising my family, I studied watercolor painting at Diablo Valley College and Mendocino College. After several years of painting, I was looking for another artistic outlet. In 2001, my husband and I traveled to Italy. As we wandered the neighborhoods of Venice, I discovered a little, old lady in her tiny shop, making exquisite jewelry with glass beads, and I was inspired! After returning home, I learned the mechanics of making jewelry. With my background in art, color and form, designing jewelry was a natural transition. In 2002, I started my business of designing and hand- crafting unique pieces of jewelry. In my designs, I try to incorporate an interesting variety of shapes with complimentary colors of hand-made beads, semi-precious stones, amber, pearls, cloisonne, shells, bone, coral and sterling silver. I now look forward to exploring new artistic avenues, such as flamework beads and precious metal clay."
Bella Donna Jewelry

Dean Bauman
"I am a self taught artist with no formal training. For many years I have done wood carving and woodworking as a hobby. Environmental artists Ned Kahn from Sebastopol and Buster Simpson from Seattle are inspirations for me. I have a degree in mathematics and try to incorporate mathematical proportions based on sacred geometry in my designs. My fish designs have been influenced by visits to several wonderful aquariums around the world."