Event
Recollection: A Gathering of Work by Katrina Van Male and Bonnie WeidelPost an Event »
Marilyn Citron O’Rourke Art Gallery at the Benicia Public Library
April 2 - May 8, 2016Info
150 East L Street Benicia, CA Google Map »Reception
April 2, 2016 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Katrina Van Male and Bonnie Weidel were long-time teachers of art to Benicia children and youth, and the inspiration that they provided to scores of students over the years is a treasured legacy in the community. Weidel and Van Male were also highly skilled and talented artists, working out of their Benicia studios as well as at Solano College until close to the end of their lives in April 2014 and August 2015 respectively.
A ceramic sculptor, Katrina Van Male found inspiration in the talismanic imagery of indigenous cultures like the Inuit. Her figurative work is sometimes complexly patterned, and embellished or composite with bones, shells, stones and driftwood. Ranging in scale from a few inches to over 6 feet in height, the enigmatic figures are imbued with drollery, mystery, and goodwill.
Bonnie Weidel studied painting, drawing, and printmaking at UC Berkeley. While her lifelong passion was for using her deep knowledge of early childhood development to serve childrens' abilities to flourish creatively, she produced drawings, prints, and paintings throughout her life. Her sensitive portraits in particular speak to her skills and to her profound empathy for her fellow humans.
With the help of their colleagues, families, and friends, a selection of this work has been gathered for an exhibition at the Benicia Public Library, to honor and share their considerable personal accomplishments as artists. There will be a reception honoring the artists, their legacy, and their work, at 2 PM on Saturday, April 2nd, to which the public is invited.