I am a direct metal sculptor working primarily in copper wire. I’m fascinated how simple materials i.e. scrap copper wire can become art that generates ideas, emotions and beauty! Over the years I have been combining metal fabrication and my love of weaving into a unique art form. The inner calm I experience intertwining the wire and the focus of using a hot flame to fuse and braze the metal has given me an active way to be quiet. While I work with naturally occurring patterns and textures, in my mind each wire is alive! I use themes of vines, roots, and the human figure to communicate how we connect to ourselves, each other and the world around us without words.
BIOGRAPHY
Rita grew up in Sandusky, Ohio, a small industrial town on the shores of Lake Erie. The high school she attended valued the arts and prized itself on a passionate faculty and a state of the art facility. It was here that Rita first fell in love with being a maker and working with hands. She continued her education under the guidance of a local silversmith. While living in Athens Ohio, Rita became acquainted with an art of basket weaving, a technique that has played a role in her metal work.
Retreating from the bitter cold of the north, she moved to Austin, Texas and quickly settled among the arts community. She became the understudy of Daryl G. Colburn, a renowned non-ferrous metal sculptor, from 1990 until 2011. Together they opened and managed galleries which promoted their works, as well as local artists.
Today, Rita continues creating woven copper sculpture and high end art jewelry for private and corporation collections.
CV
2019 Cloud Tree Gallery, Austin TX
2016-2009 Your Private Collection Gallery, Granbury, TX
2013 Austin International Airport Exhibition / Creative Side Jewelry Academy
2011 Artmatters Gallery, New Braunfels, TX
2007-2006 JHS Gallery, Taos, NM
2006-2004 The Crossings, Austin, TX
2006-2004 Beyond Tradition, Austin, TX
2002-1996 Laughing at the Sun Gallery, Austin, TX
1994-1992 Sunset Gallery and Studios, Austin, TX
TX CORPORATE COMMISSIONS
2016 BAT HAVEN 62" x 39"Hilton Homewood Suites, Austin
2011 LIVING WATERS CROSS 108”h x 72”w x3”d Hillcrest Baptist Church, Austin
2008 ST LOUIS CROSS 48” x 41”w, St Louis Catholic Church, Georgetown
2008 EMBRACING THE JOURNEY 48”h x20”w x 10”d Contemporary Healthcare Austin
2005 SOLI DEO GLORIA CROSS 89"h x 41"w x 5"d First Evangelical Church Austin
2003 MOTHER AND CHILD32"h x 20"w x 8"d Dell's Children's Hospital, Austin
ART SHOWS
2021 Bayou City Art Festival, Houston, TX
2021 Woodlands Waterways Art Festival, The Woodlands, TX
2020-2019 Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival, Albuquerque, NM
2019-2006 Armadillo Christmas Bazaar, Austin, TX
2019 Umlauf Sculpture Garden, Texas Society of Sculpture (TSOS), Cordinator/Exhibitor
2019 Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival: Balloon Fiesta, Albuquerque, NM
2019 Rockport Art Festival, "Best in Category", Rockport, TX
2019 SculptFest, City of Round Rock, TX
2019 Ruidoso Art Festival, "Best in Class", Ruidoso, NM
2018 Las Artistas Art and Fine Craft Show, El Paso, TX
2017 Travis Heights Art Trail, Austin, TX
2017 Las Artistas Art and Fine Craft Show, El Paso, TX
2017 Deep Ellum Arts Festival Dallas TX
2017 Bayou City Arts Festival, Houston TX
2016 People's Gallery at City Hall, Austin, T
2016 Art City Austin, Austin, TX
2012 Laguna Gloria Holiday Show, Austin, TX
2006 Texas Metal Arts Show, Guerne, TX
2006 Loveland Sculpture Invitational, Loveland, CO
2006 Balloon Fiesta, Albuquerque, NM
2005 Texas Metal Arts Show, Guerne, TX
2005 Rockport Art Festival, Rockport, TX
2004 Rockport Art Festival, “Best In Media” Rockport, TX
PERSONAL GALLERIES
2019-2006 Thornton Road Studio L, Austin, TX
2010-2006 Santa Fe Studio Santa Fe NM
2002-1996 Laughing at the Sun Gallery, Austin, TX
2002-1997 Made in the Shade Studio, Austin, TX
JEWELRY / SCULPTURE INSTRUCTION
2020-2012 The Creative Side Jewelry Academy, Austin, TX
2020-2018 Flite Acres Ranch Sculpture Workshops
2018 Argentium Certified Instructor (AIC)
2012-2005 Thornton Road Studios, Austin, TX
2008 Jewelry Fabrication - Workshop for Olverian School, Santa Fe, NM
2008 Laguna Gloria Summer Program Jewelry/ Sculpture, Austin, TX
2002-1997 Jewelry Fabrication - Made in the Shade Studio, Austin, TX
Cloud Tree Gallery, Austin TX
Your Private Collection Gallery, Granbury, TX
Austin International Airport Exhibition / Creative Side Jewelry Academy
Artmatters Gallery, New Braunfels, TX
JHS Gallery, Taos, NM
The Crossings, Austin, TX
Beyond Tradition, Austin, TX
Laughing at the Sun Gallery, Austin, TX
Sunset Gallery and Studios, Austin, TX
TX CORPORATE COMMISSIONS
BAT HAVEN 62" x 39"Hilton Homewood Suites, Austin
LIVING WATERS CROSS 108”h x 72”w x3”d Hillcrest Baptist Church, Austin
ST LOUIS CROSS 48” x 41”w, St Louis Catholic Church, Georgetown
EMBRACING THE JOURNEY 48”h x20”w x 10”d Contemporary Healthcare Austin
SOLI DEO GLORIA CROSS 89"h x 41"w x 5"d First Evangelical Church Austin
MOTHER AND CHILD32"h x 20"w x 8"d Dell's Children's Hospital, Austin
ART SHOWS
Bayou City Art Festival, Houston, TX
Woodlands Waterways Art Festival, The Woodlands, TX
Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival, Albuquerque, NM
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar, Austin, TX
Umlauf Sculpture Garden, Texas Society of Sculpture (TSOS), Cordinator/Exhibitor
2019 Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival: Balloon Fiesta, Albuquerque, NM
2019 Rockport Art Festival, "Best in Category", Rockport, TX
2019 SculptFest, City of Round Rock, TX
2019 Ruidoso Art Festival, "Best in Class", Ruidoso, NM
2018 Las Artistas Art and Fine Craft Show, El Paso, TX
2017 Travis Heights Art Trail, Austin, TX
2017 Las Artistas Art and Fine Craft Show, El Paso, TX
2017 Deep Ellum Arts Festival Dallas TX
2017 Bayou City Arts Festival, Houston TX
2016 People's Gallery at City Hall, Austin, T
2016 Art City Austin, Austin, TX
2012 Laguna Gloria Holiday Show, Austin, TX
2006 Texas Metal Arts Show, Guerne, TX
2006 Loveland Sculpture Invitational, Loveland, CO
2006 Balloon Fiesta, Albuquerque, NM
2005 Texas Metal Arts Show, Guerne, TX
2005 Rockport Art Festival, Rockport, TX
2004 Rockport Art Festival, “Best In Media” Rockport, TX
PERSONAL GALLERIES
2019-2006 Thornton Road Studio L, Austin, TX
2010-2006 Santa Fe Studio Santa Fe NM
2002-1996 Laughing at the Sun Gallery, Austin, TX
2002-1997 Made in the Shade Studio, Austin, TX
JEWELRY / SCULPTURE INSTRUCTION
2020-2012 The Creative Side Jewelry Academy, Austin, TX
2020-2018 Flite Acres Ranch Sculpture Workshops
2018 Argentium Certified Instructor (AIC)
2012-2005 Thornton Road Studios, Austin, TX
2008 Jewelry Fabrication - Workshop for Olverian School, Santa Fe, NM
2008 Laguna Gloria Summer Program Jewelry/ Sculpture, Austin, TX
2002-1997 Jewelry Fabrication - Made in the Shade Studio, Austin, TX
University Name
2011-2014
University Name
This is your Education description. Concisely describe your degree and any other highlights of your studies. Make sure to include relevant skills, accomplishments, and milestones gained. Don’t forget to adjust the timeframe in the subtitle.
2007-2014
University Name
This is your Education description. Concisely describe your degree and any other highlights of your studies. Make sure to include relevant skills, accomplishments, and milestones gained. Don’t forget to adjust the timeframe in the subtitle.
123-456-7890