Celebrate Art!
SIERRA ART TRAILS 2014
Yosemite Foothills Open Studio Tour
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 3rd, 4th, & 5th, 2014
Ocean Jones
Mixed Media
The intrinsic value and beauty of natural and recycled materials provides the spark that ignites my creations. Pine needles, yarn, ribbons, feathers, found objects, poems . . . become a sacred nest. Roadside weeds, flower petals, bark . . . become paper. Nature photographs, calligraphy, handmade paper, recycled ephemera. . . become a quilt. Handmade and found objects are uniquely transformed into basketry, heart blessings, and a variety of mixed media wall and decorative art.
As a cancer survivor, every breath and every sunrise are triumphs. Now is my chance to inspire, my chance to realize a lifelong dream, my chance to share these sacred gifts in this enchanted place.
Artist Bio:
My childhood in the central San Joaquin Valley helped me develop a deep connection with nature, writing, photography, art, and books. This led me on a journey that included being a Lightshow artist, lighting designer, letterpress printer and every aspect of bookmaking - from calligraphy to poetry, papermaking, and bindery. Add to the mix quilting, basketry, marbling, graphic design, and publishing to complete the picture.
My education at UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz enriched my life and helped lead me to my vocation and avocation.
The best way for me to share the love of all my interests was to become a teacher. Teaching every level from K - adult became my life work; from trading art lessons for my children's tuition through teaching second language learners for twenty-five years. One of my greatest joys was creating and directing the Valley Voices Poetry Program for ten years with ten high schools. Our focus on the Upper and Lower Merced River Watersheds led us to field studies and amazing experiences. We shared our writing with annual poetry festivals and book publications.
Now that I have retired, survived cancer, and moved to Mariposa I am delighted to dedicate myself to creating new mixed media art that combines natural and recycled elements with all of my interests.
Ocean can be reached at her home studio in Mariposa: Call (209) 742-4970 or email oceanjones@sti.net
