Backstreet Gallery presents “Creativity is Ageless,” a show of the engaging pairing of mixed-media sculptures by Denise Diamond with author Judy Fleagle’s eclectic mix of books. The reception honoring them is July 13, 3-5 p.m., during 2nd Saturday Art Tour at Backstreet Gallery.
Author Judy Fleagle has a new book––“Living Life to the Fullest . . . after age 70!” It covers 50 of her favorite blog posts from the past 13 years that are humorous, heartwarming, outrageous, and a few even serious. Her popular blog, Crossings Author, posts every Friday at 6 a.m. crossingsauthor.com.
Fleagle is best known for her bridge books––“Crossings: McCullough’s Coastal Bridges” and “The Crossings Guide to Oregon’s Coastal Spans.” As a long-time docent at the Siuslaw Pioneer Museum, she has written the definitive history of Florence—”Around Florence.” And her bestseller, “The Oregon Coast Guide to the UNEXPECTED!!!,” appeals to the public’s fascination with the odd and unusual! Two books are personal. “Devil Cat and Other Colorful Animals I Have Known” has five stories about animals she rescued that––eventually–– became great pets. And “The Cancer Blog” is a week-by-week account through chemo in 2014-15 when she battled late-stage cancer. She tells it like it really was, with humor and a positive attitude.
Fleagle is very involved with Backstreet Gallery and each Sunday can be found at the Siuslaw Pioneer Museum. She does indeed live life to the fullest!
Denise Diamond is a recently retired Professor of English and an alumnus of Lewis and Clark. Originally from Chicago, she taught all over the country and internationally before landing in Florence. She writes and performs poetry and Spoken Word in English and Spanish. So, it’s no wonder that a poetic element appears in her latest pieces—Driftwood Mediations.
Exploring Oregon’s coastal beauty inspired her work with driftwood.
Denise is self-taught, trading academics and her computer for belt-sanders, dremels, and a drill press. Each piece of found driftwood inspires something unique, while maintaining its natural features. Denise uses shells, lava beads, agates, miniatures, and organic elements in her assemblage pieces. The hanging pieces, Valhalla Ladders, are inspired from Viking mythology. Using her love of Spanish, hanging pieces of distinctive texture are Madera del Mar, wood of the sea.
Denise enjoys collaborating with other artists, which led to creating intriguing pieces with weaver Teresa Zook.
Denise designed many one-of-a-kind pieces to express her delight and respect for the extraordinary beauty of our coast. Driftwood plays an important role in our delicate ecosystem. Denise invites you to enjoy peeking into crevices, marveling at driftwood’s textural shapes.
Backstreet Cooperative Gallery is accepting membership applications, which are available at backstreetgallery.org and at Backstreet Gallery, 1421 Bay Street. Meet the Ageless Creators––Judy Fleagle, Denise Diamond, and all the other outstanding artists at the Gallery, open daily, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Friday/Saturday until 7 p.m.