2004-5 Season Poster

The images in this poster were taken from assorted collages by artist Mercedes Alabern. She was born and lives in Mallorca, Spain.

The creative process has always been a central force in her life. She was most strongly influenced by her husband Lorenzo Cerda with whom she completed many art projects and exhibits. For many years, she worked with ceramics, where the search for shapes and colors is unlimited. In her art, Mercedes used and adapted different techniques and styles gathered from those used by people throughout history.

Always searching, Mercedes finds the process more pleasurable and the realization of her creativity more interesting than the actual finished product. She wants the recipient of her work to feel the same pleasure when looking and touching it as she did when she made it.

Having become fascinated by paper, she explored the engraving process and now, for the past three years, she has devoted her time to creating collages like the one that the Redwood Arts Council used in the poster below. Again, she is wrapped up in a search: clay and paper materials give different answers and she is interested in finding them.

Learn more about this very creative artist on her Web site.

Chris Dec designed this poster. She specializes in portraits from photos. She produces water color and pastel renderings using electronic media, which are hand-finished in chalk pastels. A graphic artist as well, Chris conducts her business from her home studio in Sebastopol in Northern California. She can be reached at chrisdec@sonic.net.