danabloede

BIOGRAPHY

Hello, I am a mixed media artist from a Chicago suburb called Forest Park, Illinois in the USA. I use acrylic paint, photography, collage, jewelry and glass as a way to express my inner most feelings about the world around me. Thematically, my paintings are expressed with empathy for those marginalized for their economic, geographic and racial setbacks. Found imagery and objects, ethereal places, global tragedies and optimistic cultures are intensified through my artwork. I like everything girly with bright colors like blue, pink and purple, with emphasis on a variety of cultures like Mexican and French...with lots of flowers, trees and gardens as backdrops. My subjects are not necessarily exciting, and not meant to be. I try to capture real life portraits varied deep within the human condition, ethnic woman and children, social justice, claimed identities, using elements of color, light, found objects and texture in dreamlike settings that evolve into compelling compositions. The jewelry pieces I make are my paintings' offspring. I am the creator of many art and jewelry programs for children, teens, the elderly and people with disabilities. I strive to inspire and educate youth, create and concur new challenges, as well as continue my community outreach through art and teaching.

EXHIBITIONS

Hephzibah Children's Association Heart of Gold Ball Mar 2010, 16x20 Latina Mother & Son acrylic painting, Marriott Hotel Michigan Avenue.

Photography & Illustration Exhibit, Chicago State University President's Gallery Exhibition, Nov. 2009-Jan. 2010, both photography & artwork exhibited: one 8x10 gelative silver print, one pen & ink on paper character illustration.

Painting & Fine Jewelry exhibit, The Oak Park Education Foundation's 14th annual William C. Staszak art auction, April 2008. Mexican Aztec Head painting & fine jewelry, in collaboration with the OPEF Board of Directors, Global Village, Architecture Adventure, Art State, Vex Robotics and Chicago Public Radio.

Painting Exhibit, Hephzibah Children's Association Gold Ball Art Auction, "Unititled" Mother with Child painting, March 2008, artwork displayed at Union Station, Chicago, IL USA

Glasswork Exhibit, La Casa Latina at the University of Pennsylvania, Art Auction, Spring 2007, La Casa Latina's Center for Hispanic Excellence, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA

Glasswork Exhibit, Unity Temple Art Auction, November 2006, Oak Park, Illinois

Glasswork Exhibit, Oak Park Area Arts Council, Artful Objects "Funkadesi" benefit, November 2006, Oak Park, Illinois

Glasswork Exhibit, She.Art Gallery & Howard Brown LLC. Breast Cancer Awareness Art Auction, September 2006, Oak Park, IL

Flameworked Jewelry displayed, 2006, She.Art Gallery, Oak Park, Illinois

Outreach. Chicago Artists' Coalition, Dog Daze of Summer Garage Sale, August 2006, Peter Jones Gallery, Chicago, IL

PHOTOGRAPHY WORK EXPERIENCE

The American Bar Association's Council on Racial and Ethnic Justice, "Stop Teen Violence, Time to Deliver" Nov. 20, 2009, Photography in Permanent Archival Collection, Chicago State University Library

OUTREACH

**I regularly design and teach a variety of outreach art programs for senior centers.**

Chicago Artist Coalition, Dog Daze of Summer Garage Sale, Summer 2006, Peter Jones Gallery, Chicago, Illinois

MEMBERSHIPS

Glass Art Society, Oak Park Area Arts Council, Art by Latina Artists (ABLA), Chicago State University's Young Urban Artists

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

-RestHaven Central, Resident Teacher, Art Presentations, Jewelry Workshops, on-going, Palos Heights, Illinois

-Carol Stream Library, Jewelry Workshop, Carol Stream, Illinois

-Glenside Library, Jewelry & Found Objects Art Workshops, Glenview, Illinois

-Cicero Library, Day of the Dead Jewelry & Charm Workshop, Cicero, Illinois

-Itasca Library, Jewelry Workshop, Itasca, Illinois

-Oak Forest Library, Found Objects Art & Collage Workshop, Oak Forest, Illinois

-Bedford Park Library, Birthstone Jewelry & Found Objects Art Workshops, Bedford Park, Illinois

-LaGrange Library, Charm Bracelet Workshop, LaGrange Park, Illinois

-PhiMu Chicago Alumnae Chapter, Basic Beading Jewelry Workshop, Chicago, Illinois

-Mokena Library, Found Objects Art Workshop, Charm Bracelet Jewelry Workshop, Mokena, Illinois

-Evergreen Park Library, Jewelry Workshop, Evergreen Park, Illinois

-Mokena Library, Found Objects Artist Workshops, Charm Bracelet Jewelry Workshop, Mokena, IL (40 children)

-Hephzibah Children's Association, Jewelry Workshop, summer 2006, Oak Park, IL

-Lincoln Elementary School Dist. 97, Art In The Classroom Presentation & Found Objects Jewelry Workshop, Winter 2007, Mrs. Hayes 2nd grade, Oark Park, IL