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February 1 through February 29, 2008    •   Reception for the Artist: Friday, February 8, 6 to 8pm

SAN RAFAEL, CA – Donna Seager Gallery will unveil a startling new group of works by artist Ona LeSassier of Mill Valley in her February exhibition. The exhibition, entitled “A Patterned World” explores the consistency and orderly plan of nature in richly textured works that incorporate raw pigments, lime-plaster paint, wood, stains, glues, waxes, hardware, carving, scratching and continual experimentation.

Ona LeSassier was born in Taos, New Mexico in 1972. Ona studied art education at Humboldt State University. From the beginning her focus was in experimenting with mediums, with an emphasis on watercolor and printmaking. She graduated from New College of California where her senior thesis sent her to Bali, Indonesia launching an investigation into natural pigments and non-toxic materials. She continued this investigation in her subsequent travels to Indonesia, Australia, Thailand, India and West Africa. Upon her return to the United States, Ona worked as an Interior Designer specializing in natural and raw pigment finishes. In 2000, she went back to painting for her own artistic expression and in 2002 was able to make the transition to full-time artist. She lives and works in Mill Valley, California.

“All human intelligence is informed by nature”, said LeSassier, whose work might be compared to Andy Goldsworthy’s in its sensitivity to patterns in nature that repeat themselves both on a microscopic and cosmological level. Rivers and their tributaries manifest the same patterns and shapes as the branches of trees or the nervous systems of human beings. Planets behave like cells. LeSassier is an intelligent artist who is able to deftly make associations between elements of nature and manmade hardware pieces that also draw their inspiration from the natural world. You must look closely at these works. The font of a lily may be articulated by a deeply implanted drawer pull and you might find clock gears forming patterns on the surface of a field. “It is the mystery and elegance of how life organizes itself that intrigues and awes me, and thus informs the patterns and images of my artwork”. LeSassier has an instinct for articulating natural forms while using natural pigments and dyes that resonates with the viewer on a deeply instinctive level. The works “ring true” and we are sure that everyone will be enriched by the experience.

Gallery Talk: Thursday, February 21, 6pm.    •    RSVP:art@donnaseagergallery.com