COLUMN: Arts’ Big Impact on the Valley
meet sisters who work on a big scale and a sculptor who reclaims materials
illustrated by Patricia Hawkenson |
My first paycheck for creating art came when I was eight years old. Written out for a whopping $1, it included a letter of congratulations for winning a fire prevention poster contest. My 1960s classmates were more impressed by the fireman that delivered it. The dollar was quickly spent on penny candies, but with that letter safely in my Girl Scout scrapbook, I was officially labeled an artist. That letter made a huge impact on me. Because of it, I received a Crayola 64 box with a built-in sharpener every Christmas that followed.
Over the years, my interest in art became an even bigger part of my life. Our local art scene has been growing as well, with many opportunities to be enriched by it. Galleries, gift shops, coffee shops, and restaurants now showcase local artists’ work. Music and other community events add art installations and cooperative art experiences. Some art is too big to fit confined spaces, so murals and sculptures have made the landscape colorful. Like pennies, it all adds up helping to bring tourism into the area.
Going big, self-taught sisters Shawna Stanley and Jenna Wood join creative forces to take on large-scale area murals that are vibrant works of art. “We love the thrill of a blank canvas in any form, but there’s something particularly exhilarating about a large, empty building side that has potential to be seen by countless people,” said Shawna. “We want our murals to brighten people’s day and bring a sense of joy to the community.”
They have embraced the journey of learning as they go, challenging themselves with each custom job. Their collaboration inspires others to believe in their own creativity and chase their dreams. “Believe it is possible, and the rest is history,” Jenna added.
The sisters hope their work will inspire others to pick up a paintbrush and pursue their passion, no matter where they start. Together they are creating landmarks that leave a lasting impression, reminding everyone who sees them that art has the power to transform walls and lives. Learn more about them at facebook.com/shawnaloucreative.
Don Gaber, a local sculptor, transforms cast-off and reclaimed materials into small and large original art like his life-sized horse, Willy.”
“I consider myself a self-taught artist that applies a lifetime of skills and experiences into creating unique art,” Don said. “My preferred materials are retired farm equipment, tools, and vintage auto parts, mainly due to their unique shapes, patina, and worn texture that comes from years of use. I also incorporate stained glass, bicycle and motorcycle parts, and many other recognizable recycled, used, and up-cycled materials that are typically destined for a landfill.”
Don continued: “Each piece has its own story, and my goal is to create sculptures that have a recognizable form from a distance to draw the viewer in, then when viewed up close, recognizes the strategically placed individual components that make up the whole.”
Find Don Gaber online at facebook.com/dongaberart.
Create it, or just love it, everyone is encouraged to join the local art scene!
“Behind the Easel” is a periodic column by Patricia Hawkenson, a visual artist and one of the proprietors of Decadent Gifts & Gallery in Eau Claire.
