For Latest News and Events . . .
For the latest information on what I’ve been up to, please visit my blog!

A Bit Older News

TV Appearance
Besides keeping busy teaching classes and workshops, I appeared on KATU’s AM NW, demonstrating how to make a Matchbox Shrine!

Utrecht Gallery Exhibition
I submitted an entry to the Utrecht Gallery Women Over 50 show and my piece was accepted! The title of my entry is Becoming and will be on display during the month of March. The Utrecht Gallery is located in the heart of the Pearl District at 1122 NW Everett.

Launch Pad Gallery Love Show
I was a participant in the 3rd Annual Love Show at the Launch Pad Gallery in Portland during the month of February. The piece I created, Sixty-Four, was also chosen to be used on the show card to advertise the exhibit. I was pleased with the show and my entry into the exhibition world. Here is the show card (my work is on the left side of the card, seen faintly under the words advertising the show – in actuality, my work covered the entire back of the card, but they have condensed the card into a side-by-side image for purposes of posting on-line).

The biggest news is that I now have a blog! Yep, I am blogster, so please visit: www.alleyartstudio.blogspot.com. Because my blog is where I show recent work and talk about current activities, it is the place to visit to see what I have been up to. I'll use my 'What's New' page periodically, but my focus will be on continuing to make my blog a beautiful (and occasionally informative) place to visit. I hope you'll take a peak and feel free to leave comments because I love receiving your comments!

I had the honor to be a participant and presenter at Elizabeth Hartshorn’s fall retreat, “Restoring the Balance,” held at the Oregon coast in Yachats. There was a lovely group of women in attendance and my presenter part was facilitating and guiding them in the creation of an “Intention Matchbox Shrine.”

It has been a busy fall for me with lots of art-makin’ going on. First, I was asked to contribute a pair of artistically altered high heel shoes for SARC’s (Sexual Assault Resource Center) 30th anniversary celebration on September 8th, 2007, in Portland, Oregon. SARC’s mission: “To promote social justice by eliminating sexual violence in our community through support, advocacy, and education.” My shoes, entitled “Bruised,” were sold at their silent auction.

Bruised

One of the most exciting experiences I have had occurred the first week of October at the Art and Soul Retreat in Portland.

Doodad I made for Art and Soul

Here is a list of the classes I took with links to the artists.

Let’s Face It – Be Fearless

Katie Kendrick

Spontaneous Art
Misty Mawn

Raw Creation: Visual Journaling with Juliana Coles
Juliana Coles

Your Dance of Life
Angela Cartwright

The Frayed Edge
Claudine Hellmuth

Compose That Collage!
Ann Baldwin

Non-dominant hand drawing from Katie Kendrick’s class.	Dayna and Claudine Hellmuth

Transition from Court Street Retreat to Alley Art Studio:
We sold our beautiful home in August, 2007, the Court Street Retreat, within 24 hours of posting the “For Sale by Owner” sign. It was a bittersweet decision, as we relished four joy-filled years in our beautiful historic 1906 home. The sale itself went lickety split and we found ourselves amidst a sea of boxes within two weeks. We are now settled in our centrally located condo, also a 1906 home, on the “other side of the tracks,” and only two blocks from Bush Park.

The exciting part of our plan involves a 60-foot boat and the real impetus behind selling our grand old home. While we will remain in Salem Monday through Thursday, once Thursday arrives, we head for the Columbia River in Portland to experience life as a live aboard on our boat: RAPTURE.

Rapture	Dayna at work while afloat

Rapture is a 60-foot trawler with twin diesels (top speed is 10 mph), a king-sized master suite, two guest staterooms, a flying bridge that seats around 12 people, and a lovely salon and galley on the main level. She is filled with beautiful teak wood and rounded doorways – a dream come true for us.

As for my art, the name Court Street Retreat will remain with the house on Court Street and I have renamed my creative endeavors and my website, Alley Art Studio. Under this umbrella I will create mixed media art and offer Artist’s Way Creative Clusters. The next session for Artist’s Way classes will begin in January, 2008.

For a complete list of classes and workshops I have taught and taken, please take a peek at my Creative Resume.