Donna Tronca
Artist Statement

Born and raised on California’s Monterey Peninsula, I developed an appreciation for form and color early in life. The beautiful images in coastal rock formations and tidal pools, brilliant sunsets over the ocean, and soft wafting fog, all contributed to my fascination with color, texture, and contrast.

My artistic path has been varied. I have drawn with pen and ink, painted with oils and acrylics, and dabbled in photography. While attending college I discovered the world of fiber arts and the obsession began. The road detoured however, and I spent several years in a primary business career. I now have the opportunity to concentrate on my art work full time, and I focus primarily on mixed media fiber arts including weaving, felt making, and Kumihimo braiding. I love the way these ancient art forms are so adaptable to a contemporary aesthetic.

Recently I have been experimenting with fusing plastic bags and bubblewrap to create “fabric” which I use to replicate traditional and contemporary quilt patterns, as well as collage and three dimensional work. I have created a new body of work entitled “New Life for the Old Bag,” based on the principles of “eco art” where each piece is constructed using recycled and reused materials in ways normally reserved for fabric. My approach is to create something you may be familiar with, from something you wouldn’t expect. This is another way of taking a traditional art form and treating it with a completely different aesthetic. It’s all about the contrast.

Travels to Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Germany, France, Spain and South America have strongly influenced how I approach my work. Color, texture, and interlacement are the constants of design throughout time and geography. Whether creating wearable art or decorative art, working in this medium ties me to countless other generations who have worked with textiles since the beginning of time.