Hello
Welcome
Painting unlocks a visual language for me that expresses experiences of an emotional, interior life, about which I am so incredibly curious. I feel most at home thinking in shapes, textures, and colors.
Artist Statement
I paint abstractly, intuitively. All recent emotive experiences come into the studio with me. Everything - except color palette, support structure and application tools - is determined by my responses to the painting process itself. There is no preconceived subject matter, no preconceived composition. I do my best to respond to the materiality of the paint, which quite quickly can become challenging and chaotic.
How to calm the chaos? Recognize it, and then, with the least amount of control I can get away with, make repairs. Try not to suck the life out of the work. How do you respect the burgeoning life of the image, whatever it may seem to become? I pour, scrape, brush, mark, and wipe away bits of it, or all of it: I attempt to give purpose and clarity to the remaining layers of shape, color, and texture that still cling to the surface of the work. Painting is problem solving with a purpose, trying to see something new, in a way I've never seen before, in a way I never thought to look., A purpose that bends toward reparation of my given place in time and space, balancing a resolution that spirals around questions of who we are and what we care about. How can we make the best of it, this time and space into which we are so deftly shoved: into and then out of?
It seems our precarious, unpredictable, seemingly unpurposeful world is chock full of broken relationships. I use paint as a metaphor for repairing human interactions that have broken in some way, have gone awry. As I paint, I work toward unwrapping the idea that the world can get better, people can heal and are innately good. I look for this possible reality. I am elated when I find it, hidden under layers of distracting activity and noise. So nice when I find it.
I appreciate the freedom and responsibility that comes with abstract painting, the "what if" possibilities. I reject recognizable imagery in favor of a deeper imagining of what reality may be, what may hover just below our conscious identification. I hope that my work is seen by others as open-ended; it is waiting for each viewer to complete the story with their own observations, their own experiences of the world. The titles that I give each work can act as sea anchors, a solid place from which to start the looking.
Curriculum Vitae:
Education
I received my training at Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, Maine; Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, California; and Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux Arts, Atelier de M. Nallard, Paris, France. I have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Philosophy from U.C. Santa Cruz; a Masters Degree in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College, Pasadena, California.
Exhibitions/Demonstrations
I have exhibited nationally including: Anna Gardner Gallery, Stinson Beach, CA; Artist’s Space, New York, NY; ArtShare, Los Angeles, CA ; Brand Library Art Galleries, Glendale, CA ; Gallery 825, Los Angeles, CA ; Herron School of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana; James Turcotte Gallery, Los Angeles, CA; Joslyn Center of the Arts, Torrance, CA ; Long Beach Art Museum Rental Gallery, Long Beach, CA ; Los Angeles County Museum of Art Rental Gallery, Los Angeles, CA ; Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA ; L. A. Woman’s Building, Los Angeles, CA ; Malki Museum, Moronga Reservation, Banning, CA ; New Orleans Contemporary Art Center, New Orleans, LA ; Norris Theatre, Palos Verdes, CA ; and Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA. My work has been reviewed in the Daily News, Los Angeles Times, and Artweek.
Work Experience
I've worked in graphic design, magazine and newsletter publication, website management, and education. I am a founding member of both the non-profit Mt. Washington Childcare and Preschool and the Mt. Washington Kinder-Care Co-op. I developed and supervised ethnobotanical student gardens, including a garden docent program for the Southwest Museum, Los Angeles, CA. I created curriculum and supervised a Native American Project for the Highland Park/Eagle Rock 4-H Club, co-sponsored by California Releaf. I created greenhouse curriculum for the Environmental Science Academy at Walter Reed Middle School, which was recognized by a city grant award to build a greenhouse science laboratory for the academy. My educational outreach includes ethnobotanical workshops at various school and community locations for children in the greater Los Angeles area. After working for more than 18 years doggedly supporting an ultimately successful curriculum redesign of a large public middle school into smaller learning communities more aligned to student needs and interests, I have returned to painting full time, which is my first and primary passion.
Exhibitions
"Art Matters" annual group exhibit: Huntington Gardens, Pasadena, California
March 2022 (scheduled)
"Healing Tales" group exhibition; Neutra Museum and Gallery; Los Angeles, California November 6 -November 30, 2021
"The Late Style" recent artwork by emerging artist, Gallery 825; Los Angeles, California October 23 - November 9, 2021
"Vagaries" online group exhibit and sale; Gallery 825; Los Angeles, California October 2 - 19, 2021
"Petit Works" online small work group exhibition and sale; Gallery 825; Los Angeles, California, June 19 - July 11, 2021
"Spring Forward" online juried group exhibition sponsored by Rhode Island Watercolor Society May 22, 2021 - June 26, 2021. https://rhodeislandwatercolorsociety.wildapricot.org/page-1860422
“20/20 In Hindsight: Coping, Confronting, and Creating Change”:
ATgallery.art; Department of Marital and Family Therapy with Specialized Training in Art Therapy; Loyola Marymont University’s College of Communication and Fine Art; Los Angeles, California June 5th - August 31, 2021
"Magical Writing" group exhibition; Neutra Museum and Gallery; Los Angeles, California June 5 - June 26, 2021
“The Inner Landscapes (what is the stuff our world is made of?)”: Neutra Museum and Gallery; Los Angeles, California May1 – May 22, 2021
“crossings” online exhibition: Artavita, April 2 - June 2 2021
“Call and Response: Collaboration at a Distance Rounds 11, 12, and 13”: Shoebox Arts Online Art Exhibition, February 3, 2021 - current
"Aurora" online group exhibit and art sale; Gallery 825; Los Angeles, California
November 4 - December 11, 2020
LAAA Annual Exhibit and Benefit Auction: live stream, Gallery 825; Los Angeles, California, August 18 2020
"Habitual" online group exhibit: Gallery 825; Los Angeles, California, July 25 - August 10 2020
"Field of Vision" online group exhibit: Gallery 825; Los Angeles, California, July 11 - 24 2020
"Gleaming Apollo" online group exhibit: Gallery 825; Los Angeles, California, June 2 -11 2020
"Petit Works" online group exhibit: Gallery 825; Los Angeles, California, May 14 - 22 2020
"Seclusion" online group exhibit: Gallery 825; Los Angeles, California, April 9 - 17 2020
"Virtual Exhibit" online group exhibit: ArtShareLA; Los Angeles, California, February 29 2020 - present
"Let's Hang@ArtShare Salon" Group Exhibit: ArtShareLA; Los Angeles, California, November 2 - December 20 2019
"Vs." Group exhibit: Gallery 825; Los Angeles, California, August 17 - September 6, 2019
"Out There" Group exhibit: Gallery 825; Los Angeles, California, June 22 - June 28, 2019
Group Exhibit and Benefit Auction: Gallery 824; Los Angeles, California, July 28, 2018
"Perimeter VII" Group Exhibit: Art Share LA; Los Angeles, California, November 10 - December 1, 2018
"Summer Salon" Group Exhibit: Art Share LA; Los Angeles, California, June 16 - July 10, 2018
"Out There" Group exhibit: Gallery 825; Los Angeles, California, June 8 - June 15, 2018
"Culture Factory" group exhibit: One Colorado, Pasadena, California, December 5 1992 - January 3 1993
Solo Exhibit: Colony Studio Theatre, Los Angeles, California, July - October 1992
Solo exhibit: Norris Theatre; Palos Verdes,California, October 1992
Group exhibit: Norris Theatre; Palos Verdes, California, November 1991
Solo Exhibit (artwork was changed quarterly): Wilshire Center Bank; Los Angeles, California
1988 - 1991
"Contemporary Abstractions" Group exhibit: Weingart Center, Occidental College, Los Angeles, California, July - October 1990
Art Auction and Exhibit: Sunshine Mission for Women; Los Angeles, California, March 24, 1990
"Stepps Discovers L.A. Young Artists" Group exhibit: Stepps Restaurant; Los Angeles, California, June 1989 - February 1990
"Recent Paintings" Two person show: Brand Library Art Galleries; Glendale, California, January 9 - February 2 1988
"Obsessions" Group exhibit: Joslyn Center of the Arts; Torrance, California, September 9 - 25 1987
Group Exhibit: James Turcotte Gallery; Los Angeles, California, January 3 - February 8 1987
"New Watercolors" solo exhibit: James Turcotte Gallery; Los Angeles, California, February 4 - March 1 1986
Group Exhibit: James Turcotte Gallery; Los Angeles, California, December 3 - January 4 1985-1986
Group Exhibit: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Art Rental Gallery; Los Angeles, California, February 1 - March 1 1985
Group Exhibit: Night House, L.A. Theatre Works; Los Angeles, California, August 24 - November 1 1984
Group Exhibit: Long Beach Art Museum, Art Rental Gallery; Long Beach, California 1982, May - September 1982
"Summer Show" Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Art Rental Gallery; Los Angeles, California, May 11 - June 29 1979
"Posters, Books, Postcards - By Women" Group exhibit: L.A. Woman's Building; Los Angeles, California, December 15 - January 16 1978 - 1979
Group Exhibit: Anna Gardner Gallery; Stinson Beach, California, October 1 - November 2 1978
"Artwork and Bookworks" Group exhibit: Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art (LAICA); Los Angeles, California, February 28 - March 30 1978
Exhibit traveled to:
Artist's Space, New York City, New York
Herron School of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana
New Orleans Contemporary Art Center
Group Exhibit: Gallery Plus; Los Angeles, California, October 1 - October 30 1976
Reviews & Publications
LAAA Catalog Volume III: Los Angeles Art Association, 2021
LAAA Catalog Volume II: Los Angeles Art Association, 2019
"Book Features Illustrations by Debra Vodhanel", Larchmont Chronicle; December 27, 2010
A Story of Seven Sisters: A Tongva Pleides Legend: By Pamela Marx, Illustrated by Debra Vodhanel; Malki-Ballena Press, 2010
"Local Artists Display Works at Occidental", Star-Review, Highland Park News-Herald & Journal; August 1, 1990
"Artist uses Earth and Ashes for Expression", Daily News; January 20, 1988 Page 2
"The Art Galleries Downtown", Los Angeles Times; February 7, 1986 Calendar Section Page 22
"Woman's Building Anniversary", Artweek, December 16,1978 Page 7
"Quartet Showing Works at Stinson Beach", Independent Journal; October 5, 1978
"The Mailbox as Museum", Artweek, March 18, 1978 Page 5
Affiliations
Member: ArtShare Los Angeles; January 2020 - present
Member: Los Angeles Art Association; 2018 – present
Member: Artist/Mother Network “Wearing All the Hats (without losing your head)” January-June 2021
Sponsor: Art Division; 2018 - present
Sponsor: Art of Peace Club; Walter Reed Middle School, Los Angeles, California 2016 - 2020
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, inclusion in the Art Rental Gallery; 1979 - 1992
Gallery Representation: James Turcotte Gallery; 1985 - 1987
Contact
Email: debrajoanvodhanel@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debravodhanelpaintings/
Copyright © 2021 Debra Vodhanel - All Rights Reserved.