A former glass and metal artisan for thirty years, I have gradually moved towards using beautiful debris, refuse, metals, actual garbage, manufacturing refuse and re-purposed 'sames', repetitive objects and the general flotsam of life in the 20th and 21st century. Not personally driven by trending culturati, but instead, the refuse and debris it creates enables me to think in a more expansive, conceptual manner. Much of my work directly responds to the surrounding environment, both new and antique, visually squinting-sideways at the often ignored junky static it creates. I enjoy using discarded, everyday functional objects and experiences as a starting point.
As a multi-disciplined creator, I consider myself a reconstuctionist.
2011 began a return to the fine arts, which I had left many years prior. For 10 years I worked mainly in oils producing portraits of animals, but have also been experimenting with the obliging ease of acrylics. In terms of illustration, I have completed four books at present for academic authors writing children's books in specific professional fields.
For the past 4 years, I have been working on more environmental pieces, both two dimensional and three dimensional.
I was trained in the traditional Dutch Masters tradition from the age of nine on, under the tutelage of late American Master, Carroll N. Jones Jr. He would be happy to discover I am back at the easel, even if in more of an impressionistic style. However, I continue to create three dimensional works in between, to assuage the spirit in my fingers.
Donna Zuber Ellery: proletariart@gmail
Past Exhibitions and Shows
VTEC, VSU Randolph VT, Solo exhibit “Agri/Culture; A Slice of Vermont Culture and Land” 09/10, 2018
The Museum of Non-Visible Art, MONA biennial 2017
The Great Exhibition Hall, Springfield VT. Oct.-Apr.2015/2016
The Art House, Craftsbury Vt. 2016
Catamount Arts, St. Johnsbury VT Dylans Cafe 2015/2016
The Maltex Building, Burlington City Arts, Burlington VT 2015-present
BCA Art Leasing Program 2015-present
FOFA Vermont; recipient of the Roberto W. Fitzgerald Award 2015
One Arts Collective, Burlington Vt, 2015
Chaffe Art Center, Rutland VT “The Art of Dying” 2014
Catamount Arts, St. Johnsbury VT solo show: “Women in the Post-Consumerist Age” 2008 solo exhibition.
Studio Place Arts, Barre Vt; “Escaping the Literal” 2007
New Hope Arts, New Hope NJ. First place. 2004
Bibliography
Daily UV: Artful Edge; Monday, December 28, 2015
Seven Days; Art Review November 11, 2015.
Vermont Arts Magazine; December 3, 2008.
Vermont Arts Council: Artist Spotlight; July/August 2006 Palettes of Vermont
Vermont Living; July 2006
Book Illustration
Into the Clear Blue Sky; author E.L.Tapper, illustrations: Donna Ellery / 2008
We are the Wild Ones; author Alexis St. Croix, CCC-SLP, illustrations: Donna Ellery /2019
We are Wild Too!; author Alexis St. Croix, CCC-SLP, illustrations: Donna Ellery /2019
When Auntie Died: Author E.L. Tapper, illustrations: Donna Ellery 2021
Participating Member
Helen Day Art Center, 2015-present
Vermont Craft, 2001- present
Burklyn Arts Council, 2001- present
Vermont galleries and guilds, include but not exclusive; Miller's Thumb, Greensboro Vt., The Northeast Artisans Guild, St. Johnsbury Vt., The Artists Medium, Cambridge Vt., Bryan Memorial Gallery and The Cambridge Arts Council, Oodles, WRJct, Vt., etc.
Opportunity to curate shows at The Art Gallery, Stowe Vt. (2009-2011) & The Lebanon Senior Center, Lebanon, NH. (2009-2011 & 1991-1993 respectively)