Ellen Gabehart: Painting with the Energetic Feel of Music

Writer's Notes: I met Ellen Gabehart several year's ago and have spoken to her often at art walks as well as viewed her art in several gallery shows. Ellen's watercolors of musicians and scenes from her visits to Mexico have offered a colorful view of people and places in her active, high-energy life.

My visit to Ellen's home studio was a delight of color and conversation. Her home has many pieces of art on the walls from her travels, other artists, and from her former students. In addition, there are several pieces of furniture in the living room which she has painted with native designs in bright colors.

Ellen's studio is located on a sun-filled porch -- bright and busy with small tables, bookshelves filled with sketchbooks, and a painting in progress on an easel. She pulled a few of the sketchbooks off a shelf and we flipped through them to see a variety of drawings from her life experiences. What a wonderful "artist's diary" she has! I placed four sketchbooks on a table and took a photo. She also showed me several loose sketches from her visits to Mexico which she had painted in color.

Ellen sketches quickly so has an amazing "archive" of her work within the pages of her many sketchbooks. Most every week, she goes to a music venue to sketch musicians "at work" -- a practice which began when she attended a High School of Music & Art in New York City. She's had an amazing art education -- attending schools in New York, California, and Oregon -- as well as participating in workshops with many different artists.

A very active art teacher in our community, Ellen offers a regular schedule of classes at Willamalane Adult Activity Center as well as does workshops in the area. She mentioned to me that years ago, she also worked as a courtroom artist doing sketches at the famous Diane Downs trial for KMTR-TV.

Ellen loves the fact that "at her age" (I didn't ask, but 70's would be close enough) she is able to create art every day of her life and stay active -- even walking to Eugene's Saturday Market from her north Springfield home! What great energy she has ... and you'll always know Ellen is around when you hear her wonderful, unmistakable "Bronx" accent.

I look forward to many more conversations with Ellen Gabehart and wish her many more years of sketching, painting, and teaching what she so dearly loves!

More photos of Ellen's art follow the newspaper article.


Featured in the Springfield Beacon (June 27, 2007)

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

By Todd Peterson
For The Beacon

Ellen Gabehart
Painting with the energetic feel of music

Ellen Gabehart has lived and breathed art for virtually all of her life. A self-described "high energy person", Ellen has a sketchbook with her everywhere she goes -- always ready to quickly sketch what she is seeing.

While the subjects of her watercolor and mixed media paintings are often landscapes and florals, what Ellen loves most is drawing musicians while they're playing. Her work captures the energy of the music and feelings of the musician (and the artist doing the drawing!).

Ellen has an extensive education in the arts and has taught art in elementary schools, high schools, and colleges. Since coming to Springfield, she has taught art at Lane Community College, Maude Kerns Art Center, OASIS, the U. of O. Craft Center, and local senior centers. She now teaches art regularly at Willamalane Adult Activity Center, offering classes in drawing and painting.

For the past six years, Ellen has served as librarian for the Emerald Art Center which has a large collection of art books. She has also co-authored a book titled, "Young At Art: EasyArt Lessons for Educators" available from her by emailing: gabehart@efn.org.

Always busy with her art and teaching, Ellen is offering a free "Plein Air" Workshop for all ages at Island Park on Saturday, June 30 from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. (register at the Springfield Public Library). "Plein Air" art is created in nature, using the light, color, and sights you see to paint a landscape, figure or abstract design in one session.

Ellen Gabehart's drawings and paintings come from her heart -- clearly original -- and definitely overflowing with life energy. In her own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "It sounds funny but -- a pencil -- when I was about three years old. When I was eight, I was going to museums and copying the Old Masters. I remember drawing the 'Blue Boy'. I've been drawing in sketchbooks ever since. They're like a diary of my life."

Important Mentors: "I've had many teachers ... Frank Reilly at the Art Student's League in New York (when I was 14), Saul Bernstein at Cal State-Northridge, and Robert E. Wood who I studied with at his workshops in the San Bernadino Mountains. I also consider the Old Masters -- Rembrandt, Van Gogh -- as mentors and even Kandinsky for his unusual designs."

Value of Art in Life: "I have a quote in my studio -- 'art to me is like breathing'. Art is totally integrated into my life. There is no day that I'm not doing art and sharing art with other people. I think the Emerald Art Center is an inspirational place for people of all ages. It touches all levels of society. Everyone has a place there. It's not judgmental and competitive. A good word for the art center is 'inclusive'."

Her Artist's Legacy: "I hope people will remember that art should be in everyone's life, not apart from their lives -- not separated. As an art teacher, I've tried to help my students bring out who they are in whatever art they're doing -- to 'find their own voice' in their art."

For more information about Ellen Gabehart and to see additional images of her photos, visit the blog: www.emeraldartcenter.blogspot.com and the art center's website: www.emeraldartcenter.org.

"La Musica" by Ellen Gabehart

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About The Artist

Birthplace: New York City (The Bronx)

Arts Education: High School of Music & Art, Art Students League, Chouinard Art Institute, Santa Monica City College, Cal State - Northridge, U. of Oregon

Media of Choice: Mixed Media & Watercolors

Favorite Place to Do Art: Mexico - San Miguel de Allende (visits over 15 years)
Favorite Subjects To Paint: Musicians (while they're playing)
Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association, Maude Kerns Art Center, Oregon Watercolor Society

Currently Showing: Member show at Emerald Art Center (through end of July)

Website: www.creativeescape.com/egabehart
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# # #
All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.

"Rainbow Victorian" by Ellen Gabehart

"Poppy Variations" by Ellen Gabehart

"Quacker's Blues Bash" by Ellen Gabehart

Guy Weese: Witnessing Life's Spiritual Moments

Writer's Notes: Although I had met Guy Weese many years ago when he was managing the Dot Dotson store on East 11th, we had never before had more than a brief conversation about his photography. What I learned during my interview with him about his love of photography and how he views his art made me wish I hadn't taken so long to have an extended conversation with him about his work.

On the wall in his living room was an amazing photo of Mt. Everest as well as other photos of his visit to Nepal and India in 1995. Also in the room were more "Mickey Mouse's" than I'd ever seen in one place (I'll tell you about them when I interview Deborah Weese in the future). Guy and I sat down and had a wide-ranging conversation about the art of photography and his fascination ("obsession, compulsion") to take photos of this amazing world we live in.

For Guy, photography is a spiritual practice. Through the lens of his camera, he sees sacred places and the spirit of the human beings he photographs. He loves to "capture the moment" to show people something they have never seen before. When he showed me one of his portfolios of photos from his travels, I saw many places and perspectives of the familiar that I had never seen.

After the interview, we took several of his photos to the backyard -- a paradise of the largest bamboo (a small forest!) I had ever seen and what must be the biggest palm tree in Oregon. The scene was like walking into a garden in southeast Asia ... with paths leading to a pond with a small bridge over it (complete with a live cat snoozing on the bridge!) ... a statue of Buddha amidst large blades of grasses ... and beneath the huge palm tree, a statue of Jesus. We placed several of his photos within this "scene" and I took photos of Guy in the garden and amidst the timber-sized bamboo.

It was a difficult place to leave but I was running late for another appointment, so we stepped by into the house and Guy's computer room where he does most of his photo "processing" these days. He has fully embraced digital photography and his darkroom has gone unused for over five years.


Since winning a "best in show" at the Lane County Fair a few year's ago (which got his photo to the Oregon State Fair), Guy has been invited to judge photography for the local county fair as well as others in the state. He's also been a mainstay with the PhotoZone Gallery for nearly all of the photography collective's existence -- promoting the group's juried shows and other events over the years.

I look forward to seeing more of Guy Weese's photos (two are currently on display at the art center) and to viewing photos done by many talented photographers who are displaying their work in the Jaqua Mezzanine Gallery at the Emerald Art Center through July 29th.

More of Guy Weese's photos follow the newspaper article.


Featured in the Springfield Beacon (June 20, 2007)

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

By Todd Peterson
For The Beacon

Guy Weese
Witnessing Life's Spiritual Moments

For over 30 years, Guy Weese has been taking photography "seriously" while not taking his role as a photographer too seriously. What his eyes see and what his photos clearly express is his "attitude of gratitude" for everything he photographs.

Guy considers each photo he takes a celebration and an appreciation of life. For him, taking a photograph is "a moment of worship to the beauty and wonderment of our amazing world."

Over the years, Guy has taken many photos of his travels to Mexico, Nepal, India, and throughout the western U.S. He considers the best place on "dry land" to photograph is Utah and especially, Goblin Valley, with its mushroom shaped rocks. Closer to home (and wet), he likes a place on Cape Arago which he personally named "Canyon Beach", not to be confused with that other Oregon beach that sounds much the same.

Along with his wife, Deborah (an artist herself who I'll interview in the future), Guy has also photographed weddings over the past 16 years. He likes to be involved in wedding photography because, unlike many other photo situations, the people really want to have their picture taken.

Active in the Emerald Art Center for over four years, Guy Weese serves as first vice president of the Board of Directors. He has been very active since 1989 with PhotoZone Gallery, a local collective dedicated to fine art photography (Their 19th Juried Show will be held at the Emerald Art Center from July 3 - 29th).

As a photographer who spent years working in his darkroom, Guy has fully embraced digital photography and now enjoys working with photos on his computer. Photography is an art form that offers greater creative opportunities today than ever before. In his own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "In 1973 I bought my first focusing camera while studying photography at Ohio State. Reading the history of photography and seeing the work of early masters -- Edward Weston and Edward Steichen especially -- led me to take photography seriously. My interest in photography accelerated when I learned to 'see' and not just 'look' at things."

Important Mentors: "Among the masters, reading Edward Weston's Daybooks written in the 1920's and 30's really opened my eyes to photography as an art form. Ted Orland at the U. of O. who printed photos for Ansel Adams was a big influence. And Jerry Uelsmann, whose workshops I attended at Yosemite, was an excellent teacher and a 'magician' in the darkroom."

Value of Art in Life: "Photography has been a visual diary for me. There are lots of spiritual elements to it ... to capturing a moment ... a moment that's here, then gone (and not repeatable ever again). It's a mysterious way of 'capturing time'. When people see photos at the Emerald Art Center, hopefully they will appreciate the world more and when they visit new places, will leave only 'footprints' and take their own photos to enjoy at home."

His Artist's Legacy: "I'd like my photos to be available for people to see and appreciate, either on a website or in printed form. I've got lots of work to do to get thousands of images organized! Ultimately though, years ago I stopped taking photos for several months to learn why I do this ... and realized that I take photographs for me. And, if others like them ... that's great!"

For more information about Guy Weese and to see additional images of his photos, visit the blog: www.emeraldartcenter.blogspot.com and the art center's website: www.emeraldartcenter.org.

"South Sister Summer Sunset" by Guy Weese

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio

Arts Education: Ohio State University, University of Oregon, and many photography workshops

Media of Choice: Digital Photography

Favorite Place to Shoot Photos: Cape Arago, Oregon and Goblin Valley, Utah

Favorite Subjects to Photograph: Landscapes and people (interesting images people have never seen before)

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association and PhotoZone Gallery

Currently Showing: Photo exhibit at Emerald Art Center (through end of July)

______________________________________________________________________________________

# # #

All photo images are copyright of the artist.

"Crater Lake Winter" by Guy Weese

"Tower Kiva" by Guy Weese

"Mazes Edge" by Guy Weese

"Urban White Buffalo" by Guy Weese

Marilyn Stauber: Mastering Details in Beautiful Realism

Writer's Notes: When I stepped up to the front door of Marilyn Stauber's home, I heard a piano being played and saw Marilyn through the window at the keyboard. I later learned that she was practicing for a duet (playing "Malaguena") with her piano partner. What a delight it was to step inside and see all of the beautiful paintings on the walls, sculpture on table tops, and porcelain dolls in mirrored cabinets. And a view to a wonderful garden in the back yard with flowers in full bloom surrounding meandering paths and a center fountain.

Marilyn walked me through her home, pointing out and describing various art pieces as I took pictures along the way. We took a couple of her original porcelain dolls out of their cabinets and took pictures of them on the dining room table. Then we moved on into her studio where she had a painting in progress. In another room where she had her sewing machine, Marilyn showed me her extensive library of books on art and costuming. Before going outside to the garden, I took photo of a new painting on porcelain (of Princess Diana) that she had recently completed (my photo here doesn't do the piece justice).

The light rain had stopped (I had driven in a hailstorm to Marilyn's home) so we went out to the garden which fills the backyard. All the pinks, blues. purples, whites, and reds of the roses and other perennials were lovely with their petals and leaves covered with droplets of new-fallen rain. I was tempted to take lots of garden photos but nothing in my viewfinder captured the beauty of the full experience. Marilyn pointed out her raspberries and grapevines in the back of the garden as well as a row of clematis plants lining a path (and covering it in a few places) along the whole east side of the house.

Back inside for our interview, we had an upbeat conversation about art and the "paths" our lives have taken. I also met Marilyn's husband, Leo, who had generously taken time to make me a CD with photos of many of her paintings. Leo also showed me the greeting cards and business cards he had made for Marilyn's art show opening at Willamalane the next day (which I went to with my artist partner, Anita, and had a very enjoyable evening of art and conversation).

What a blessing it was to be in the presence of people who have such a great love of art and willingness to share their creations with me and our community!

More of Marilyn Stauber's paintings follow the newspaper article.

Featured in the Springfield Beacon (June 14, 2007)

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

By Todd Peterson
For The Beacon

Marilyn Stauber
Mastering Details in Beautiful Realism

Artist Marilyn Stauber describes herself as an "up" person who has an upbeat view of life. Her art clearly reflects her joyful spirit. She is comfortable to be around and so are her paintings.

A visit to Marilyn's home where she has her studio is a visual feast. Her many paintings and "soft graphics" cover the walls, bronze sculptures sit on table tops, and her porcelain dolls stand in mirrored cabinets. Fresh flowers grace the dining room table. And the view to the lush gardens in her backyard is breathtaking with all of its blossoming roses and flowering perennials.

For the past nine years, Marilyn has painted in most mediums -- oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, and with china paints. Among the many subjects of her work are florals, ballet dancers, children, fruit, and gardens. Her love for rich, exciting colors is "alive" in the realism of her art.

Before becoming a painter, Marilyn created original porcelain dolls for 15 years -- many of which were award-winners at Doll Conferences. Her first artistic creations (after leaving her job as a land use planner) were pieced textile wall hangings.

Marilyn serves as Class Coordinator for the Emerald Art Center and is a member of its Board of Directors. When she's not painting or at the center, you'll find her playing piano (including duets), gardening, working out, and enjoying time with her family.

As a self-described "detail person", Marilyn decided years ago to be true to herself in the art she creates and in the way she lives her life. In her own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "I can't remember not wanting to paint. In first grade, I recall my teacher having me take a picture I had done to the principal's office."

Important Mentors: "In college, Andrew Vincent taught me a lot -- especially about rich colors. In my LCC classes, I was particularly influenced -- and challenged -- by Adam Grosowsky. I also learned watercolors from Satoko. A marvelous sculptor, Ellen Tykeson, and Bill Blix helped me with the bronze sculptures I made."

Value of Art in Life: "My art is something I do because I just have to do it. I love the challenge, the problem-solving, and the 'high' that comes when something turns out great."

Her Artist's Legacy: "I'd like people who see my paintings to feel comfortable around them ... and to feel good when they look at them. I'd also like my work to be admired by artists whose work I admire ... and to be viewed as a good painter."

For more information about Marilyn Stauber and to see additional photos of her art, visit the blog: www.emeraldartcenter.blogspot.com and the art center's website: www.emeraldartcenter.org.

"Peonies" by Marilyn Stauber

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Garabaldi, Oregon

Arts Education: University of Oregon (Interior Design), LCC art classes, and many workshops

Media of Choice: Paints in most mediums

Favorite Place to Do Art: At home in her studio

Favorite Subjects to Paint: Whatever she is working on at the time

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association (Emerald Arts Center)

Her Current Art Show: At Willamalane Adult Activity Center (through July 26th)
______________________________________________________________________

# # #

All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.

"Rhodies in Decanter" by Marilyn Stauber


"Fairy Garden" by Marilyn Stauber


"Fruit Bowl" by Marilyn Stauber

Carol Plaia: Revealing Beauty Within the Frightening

Writer's Notes: When I opened the door to her studio located behind a retail store in downtown Springfield, Carol Plaia greeted me warmly and told me about finding the studio space for her mask-making. I took photos of masks hanging on the walls and sitting on tops of cabinets. One wall was filled with stacks of file boxes containing textiles and other mask-making materials. On the back of the door were posters from Carol's art exhibitions and gallery shows. In the center of the room was a large work table with a textile-cutting surface on its top.

Carol had a mask in progress on the work bench which covered half of one wall of the studio. As she worked the clay on the mask, I took a few more photos before we sat down to discuss Carol's life and work as an artist. Carol is a storyteller with an infectious laugh. Her stories made it hard for me to interrupt her with my questions (amidst my own laughter!).

Along with our discussion of art, Carol told of her learning that she had cancer at the age of 50 -- getting the diagnosis just after returning from China where she attended the "4th World Conference on the Status of Women". During treatment, Carol had kept doing her art while cutting back on other things in her life. She said she made the decision then to do "no more whining", recognizing that she'd lived a longer life than most everyone who had ever lived (and much longer than her own mother who had died at age 39 from cancer treatment -- when Carol was 12 years old.).

I look forward to more conversations with Carol Plaia about arts and culture in Springfield and to seeing the new masks that emerge from her heart, mind, spirit, and hands in the future.

More examples of Carol's work follow the newspaper article.


Featured in the Springfield Beacon (June 7, 2007)

50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community

By Todd Peterson
For The Beacon


Carol Plaia
Revealing Beauty Within the Frightening

For the past 20 years, artist Carol Plaia has created masks that intensely mix the frightening and the beautiful. Today, the walls of her studio in downtown Springfield are a menagerie of masks with images from the ancient to the angelic, from the grotesque to the gorgeous.

Carol became involved with the arts in Springfield even before moving here in 2006. On a house-hunting trip, she visited the Emerald Arts Center, loved what she learned about it, and joined that same day. She has been active in the organization ever since and became a member of the Springfield Arts Commission this year as well.

In a personal statement written about her mask-making, Carol said "I get to use every material imaginable. I can start with an idea or message and build the piece to fit. Or, I can just start building, letting the face and character emerge from the particular materials. Magically, it often turns out that the medium has its own message, waiting to get out."

Since moving to Springfield, Carol Plaia has been championing the arts in our community while creating her masks which will sometimes scare you, oftentimes make you smile, and always startle your psyche. In her own words:

Inspiration To Begin: "My grandmother -- a teacher and painter in the early 1900's -- who had stopped making art when she got married and regretted it -- told me 'not to live this way' and become the artist I wanted to be. My aunties and mother taught me to sew which evolved into making clothes and, in the 1960's, I created wearable art. My mother who died at age 39 ... when I was 12 years old ... encouraged me the most."

Important Mentors: "I took a six-month class in 1987 from Judy Slattum, who wrote 'Balinese Masks.' She taught me the history of mask-making and performance with masks. I made my first four masks in that class. We exhibited our masks and did a performance called "Remarkable Women of Santa Cruz". Another mentor is Ralph Bennett, a 6th generation Haida wood carver and mask-maker, who freed me to be able to say ''I am a mask-maker."

Value of Art in Life: "I couldn't live without it. I need to communicate with my art, making something new -- an essence -- out of the chaos of thoughts in my mind. Being able to express myself in writing is very important too. I feel a responsibility to communicate about art because I'm comfortable doing it, unlike many other visual artists."

Her Artist's Legacy: "I hope that I will have communicated to everyone who sees my work -- to artists and would-be artists -- that art is necessary in life, that whatever they create is okay ... and that being an artist is not about making money or 'showing' art. It's about doing it!"

For more information about Carol Plaia and to see additional photos of her art, visit the blog: www.emeraldartcenter.blogspot.com and the art center's website: www.emeraldartcenter.org.

"Anguish" by Carol Plaia

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About The Artist

Birthplace: Granite City, Illinois

Arts Education: Self-taught

Media of Choice: Masks and Costumes

Favorite Place to Do Art: Wherever she is at the time

Favorite Things to Create: Three-dimensional masks and sculpture;
loves working with textiles and writing

Favorite Award: Puffin Foundation Grant for creating "Seven by Seven" Exhibition (Seattle, 2000)

Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association; Springfield Arts Commission

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All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.

"Splendor of Opposites" by Carol Plaia


"Purple Haze" by Carol Plaia


"The Cunning Little Vixen" by Carol Plaia


"Winter" by Carol Plaia