Donvieve looks into flight, rebirth with her masks
Serigraph artist John Wesa also showing work
The Trinidad Art Gallery is now open daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Featured artists this month are Donvieve, mask artist, and John Wesa, serigraph artist.
Donvieve is a multidimensional artist-educator who creates masks that “gently challenge personal barriers and speak to people’s inner places.”
Donvieve makes her masks using natural and recycled materials such as leather, fibers, metal, clay, and wood to achieve her three-dimensional expressions. Her greatest concern is to be committed and conscious of how she impacts the world by what she creates. Her use of natural materials is done in appreciation of art’s connection to all things and in an awareness of how we impact our planet.
“My 35 years of creating fiber and leather masks has inspired me to live each moment, teach as a student always learning and serve with love for the benefit of all beings,” she said. Donvieve says she has been exploring flight and rebirth as she forms her masks. To transform the leather that forms the basis of her piece, she wets it, placing it over a mold that imposes a shape. Then, she listens for the shape to birth itself. There is always an element of surprise. As the leather dries, Donvieve continues to manipulate it, creasing, folding and finally waxing it for its final expression.
The Trinidad Art Gallery is located at 480 Trinity St. Just like old times, visitors will be greeted by a gallery member. For now, visitors and members must wear face masks. For more information, call 707-6773770. To preview gallery artists’ work, visit trinidadartgallery.com.