The ArtWorks Cooperative featured artist for December will be Cheryl Olson. Olson, who joined the co-op in August, works in many different mediums and will have a variety of new work to show. Included in her show will be several unique quilts, raku pottery, and neriage porcelain. Because of her variety of different mediums, Olson, who lives on a farm south of Brentford, uses several different rooms for her studio. While her husband tells her she has too many hobbies, he is her most supportive fan and often helps with her projects. Olson says, “His favorite is the Raku process where the outdoor firing of the pottery takes two people to remove the pot from the kiln and then place it in the burning barrel to reduce its glaze. It’s an exciting process as the glowing red hot pot is removed and quickly smothered with leaves and an air tight cover. Once it is cooled, the appearance is rustic as the black from the fire scorched pot leaves streaks of copper, green, blue and other colors to glisten on the pot.”

Cheryl’s love of quilting has found its way into her art world. Featured in the December show are the Gardenia quilt and the Snow Angels quilt both of which she designed, sewed and quilted. She says, “I had a dream about the Gardenia quilt and knew I had to make it. The Snow Angels is a picture of my two younger children playing in the snow. I plan on making many more picture quilts using children as my inspiration. I have always loved children and as a mother of five I know of there innocence and zest for life.” She hopes to capture this feeling as she creates future picture quilts using this as a theme. Olson has learned that you can sew a picture, as well as paint a picture. The added texture from the fiber and color play in the patterned fabric; give an extra dimension to the finished picture.  Her quilts look as if she were painting using fabric as her medium.

Neriage porcelain, also featured in the show, is very unique method of hand-building pottery. Olson says, “my technique is improving and it is always fun too see how each piece turns out.” The process of staining and layering porcelain and then hand building it into a pot, plate or sconce is time consuming, making it difficult to produce very many pieces. Olson loves this form of pottery.

Of her artistic inspiration, Olson says, “It is through God that I find my greatest inspiration. There is beauty in every aspect of life and to try to capture that in what ever medium I can, will be my driving force. Whether I look at flowers or children, sunsets or clay, there will always be a picture or a design. While I tend to be more aesthetic in my approach to art, nature has given us the line, space, shape, color and form to expand upon.”

There will be an artist’s reception on Thursday, December 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the ArtWorks Cooperative gallery. The gallery is located at in the new ARCC at 225 3rd Ave SE in Aberdeen. Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday from noon to 8 p.m., Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The gallery can be reached at 725-0910 or visit the website at www.sdartworks.com for more information.