Richard Amend’s paintings are visually arresting, mysterious equations of nature, architecture, and illumination, culminating in singular stillness and clarity. Lush canopies of trees, foliage illumined against the shimmering sky, and nightscapes resplendent with ethereal light are his beguiling subject matter. As a production designer in the film industry, Amend mastered many technologies and computer generated imagery, which also influence his work..
Susan Stinsmuehlen-Amend is primarily a glass artist whose work is narrative in character and inspired from everyday experience and observation. Painted works on glass and paper entertain ideas about the traditions of craft and glass in particular. Recent collaborations with Wyatt Amend include painting on ceramics. Her innovative work in glass, mixed media, and public art is included in private collections and public institutions including the LA County Museum of Art, Detroit Institute of the Arts, the Museum of Arts and Design, NY and other collections.
Formally a photojournalist for the New York Times and various television networks, Cindy Pitou Burton began photographing the western landscape when she moved to Ojai. Her work is ever evolving, expanding into many mediums, including stunning negative transfers of flowers, archival sepia prints of the west and most recently photographs using digital and cell phone apps.
A graduate of Chouinard Art Institute, Larry Carnes is a master potter and sculptor whose work consists of hand thrown forms of cylinders and round pieces used together to reproduce art seen in dreams. Glazed and unglazed, his work is sometimes figurative, sometimes a combination of suggested animal/bird forms. His pieces are often whimsical and also reflect his Native American heritage and sensibilities. He also creates a variety of quality glazed pottery.
Duane Dammeyer is a stone sculptor attracted to clean lines, sensuous curves, geometric and organic forms found in nature. He often uses colorful, elegant types of stone, carving intricate, thin ribbons of rock. For Dammeyer the stone itself may provide inspiration for the final piece; the form just needs releasing from it. In other of his work, an idea is imposed upon a stone.
Figurative artist, ceramist, instructor and architect, Richard Franklin will be showing drawings, original prints and mixed media work as well as ceramics, both sculptural and functional. He was associated with the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Virginia from 1980 to 1998 and showed regularly in their galleries.
Carlos Grasso describes himself as a visually insatiable experimental artist. He can be a staunch realistic or an explosive expressionist, a minimalist or a mixed media textural explorer. He is not confined to any medium, adapting his methods to his concepts, shifting easily between paint, mixed media and conceptual work. For the current tour, he will be presenting new work on contemporary abstraction, found objects and canvas deconstruction.
Recently relocating to Ojai, Jeff Mann is a new member of OSA this year and with his intricate, large-scale drawings, brings a wholly unique sensibility to the OSA art group. He will be showing his recent work of “Contemporary Botanicals” using Graphite on Arches Watercolor paper and the Limited Edition of Modern Carbon Art Prints he developed for this body of work.
Sylvia Raz works in many media, her sculptures commentating on political issues and reflecting her deep commitment to feminism. She often uses found objects, Barbi dolls and other toys in her work, the sly humor of this native Uruguayan featured in her art.
Nancy Whitman paints in an exuberant style, combining broad brush strokes with unexpected use of color. With her oil, acrylic and watercolor creations, she acknowledges the influence of Matisse, Jawlensky and the Fauves and attempts to work toward the feeling of the magic and freedom of a child.
Wolfsey (formerly Devin Oatway) frequently draws upon his personal experiences to inspire his expressionist paintings. He is currently working on a series of 12 polyptych/collage paintings destined for Milan, Italy.
A map for the July 9th event can be printed from the OSA website: ojaistudioartists.org.
About Ojai Studio Artists
The organization’s mission is to create an environment where artists thrive ? professional and student alike — and fulfill the potential of the arts to enrich lives and build community.
2016 OJAI STUDIO TOUR FACTS:
Second Saturday Open Studios: July 9 and December 10, Artisan’s Holiday Gift Tour. Studios open 10 am – 3 pm. Admittance is free.
Ojai Studio Tour: October 8, 9 & 10, Saturday, Sunday &-Monday: 60+ artists, 10 am to 5 pm
Advance Tickets: $30 in advance, $35 day of event, $20/person for groups of 10 or more, $15 for students, 17 & under free. Ticket includes studio visits all three days and admission to Saturday’s Gala Reception. Tickets and Tour brochures available at ojaistudioartists.org.