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Charlene White is Featured Artist at Natchitoches Art Guild during March and April Char White tells a story in every piece of art. She creates intricate forms and shapes from what most of us would call ‘plain old wire’. These creations are sometimes delicate butterflies, animals and flowers – other times twirling dancers, musicians at their instruments, or artists at their easel. The subjects of her art represent personal experiences and childhood memories that she is happy to share.
It is truly fascinating to watch her at her work . . . she seems to be twisting up wire in random shapes as she visits with you. The easy conversation moves across a variety of subjects from art to family to current events – she often will share a delightful story or two from her French heritage childhood. Then, all of sudden, a beautiful dragonfly created from golden, silver or multicolor wire appears as if by magic! Char explains that she had no guides or mentors to influence her work with wire; she developed her skills through experimentation and personal creativity. Her wire sculpture has won awards in the Natchitoches Art Guild Juried Competition and Exhibition in both 2007 and 2008. A second art medium Char utilizes just as creatively is fabric. She explains: “Experimentation with different mediums is part of the process for many artists, and my experimenting with fabrics turned frustrated quilting attempts into the work that I call ‘Cut-Ups’. Using the work of Cindy Walter as my initial inspiration, I view the textures and colors of textile materials as traditional canvas artists view paints. I turn bits of fabric into framed collages that hopefully invoke memories of attending a country church, or witnessing a poignant scene.” Each of her fabric scenes tells a story, evoking memories of another time or place.
Whimsically calling her art “Twisted and Cut-Ups”, Char always challenges herself to learn and grow in her creativity. She has met with success in her most recent undertaking – watercolor batik. There is no telling what she will try next . . . . but it’s sure to be delightful! The Natchitoches Art Guild and Gallery will honor Charlene White at an Open House reception on Saturday, March 14, 2009 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Gallery on Front Street in downtown Natchitoches. Everyone is invited and encouraged to come in for beautiful art, great conversation, delicious refreshments and lots of fun! Come Celebrate Art! From Charlene: "I have read of artists who began expressing their talents at tender ages, crayons in hand. That was not my experience at all. Appreciation for the work of others has always been there, but it was not until I saw what Cindy Walter does with fabric that I began to look at my thirty year collection of clothes making supplies with a different motive in mind. Using her techniques as a guide, I now view the textures and colors of textile materials as traditional canvas artists view paints." "My work with wire began as a happy accident. I have found no guides or mentors who work with wire, so I press on, or should I say, twist on. I am constantly amazed to find how fascinating it is to turn a completely utilitarian material, annealed fourteen gauge wire, into a form that fits naturally into a landscape design or inspires a lively conversation when placed on a sofa table or mantle. After making fifty or so pieces with annealed wire, I have begun using finer gauged wire, usually copper, with mostly good results. Whether this work pleases you or does not, I sincerely hope that it does not leave you unmoved. "
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