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October Issue 2004
Nina Liu and Friends in Charleston, SC, Features Works by Cynthia Tollefsrud and Don Dudenbostel
The Nina Liu and Friends gallery in Charleston,
SC, will present the exhibition, Flowers & Shells &
Bugs & Birds, featuring oil paintings by Cynthia Tollefsrud
and radiograph/x-rays by Don Dudenbostel. The exhibit will be
on view from Oct. 1 - 31, 2004.
Cynthia Tollefsrud
Tollefsrud and Dudenbostel met each other in
1994 when they were both working in the commercial advertising
world. As they worked together they discussed art. Dudenbostel
soon realized that Tollefsrud was a painter, although she wasn't
in a position to pursue her dreams due to the demands of her career.
When she brought some slides of her paintings to show him he asked
if he could purchase one of her paintings, but she didn't have
any that she wanted to part with. He asked if she could do a painting
for him. She couldn't because her supplies had run out and she
didn't have the resources to renew them. So, he took her to a
local art supply store and bought the works; paints, brushes,
canvas, and an easel.
Cynthia Tollefsrud
A few months after these purchases were made, they married. Tollefsrud was able to leave her career in advertising and begin a new life as the full-time artist she always dreamed of being. Her career took off with wild abandon. To this day, Dudenbostel still hasn't received his painting. He continued with his commercial photography business which, by this time, was very successful and lucrative. They have both realized, however, that the time has come for Dudenbostel to realize his own dreams of pursuing his own form of art photography in the creation of radiographic images using x-rays.
Don Dudenbostel
Dudenbostel, through his photography, shows the beauty that lies beneath the surface, while Tollefsrud leaves that aspect a mystery in her paintings. While there are similarities in subject matter such as shells and flowers, each artist has brought in their own inspiration such as the x-rays of tin toys that intrigued him, while Tollefsrud has brought bugs and birds into her colorful paintings. Many of the flowers that Dudenbostel has used for his radiographs were found in their flower gardens from this past Spring. Very few flowers were left in the gardens. Tollefsrud didn't mind, though, since the radiographs show the flowers off in a way that could never be seen as they bloomed in the garden.
As they each pursue their own form of expression, they will often work off each other for new ideas and inspiration. They will look at each other's work and give feedback concerning the merit of the work. The encouragement they receive from each other has been something that keeps them both focused on their artistic goals and dreams. Something they both can share.
Tollefsrud was born in Oxnard, CA, in 1955. She was raised in the Midwest and came to live in Knoxville, TN, in 1991. She is a self-made artist. Her artistic desires were realized when her parents gave her a John Gnagy Drawing Set on her tenth birthday. With only one year of college behind her during which she has fond memories of a wonderful art instructor, nearly all of her studies came from the collection of art books she has acquired over time, with the Flemish masters being some of her favorites. An occasional evening or summer class at the University of Tennessee has aided in technical matters.
As a young student Dudenbostel became very interested in science. Growing up in Oak Ridge and Knoxville, TN, there were abundant resources for a student of science. He became interested in how he might be able to blend his photographic and science interests. After 40 years, Dudenbostel still has a passion for photography and science.
While on assignment for the University of Tennessee Beacon newspaper in 1969, Dudenbostel photographed a student hidden in the bushes behind a row of riot police. That photograph eventually made its way into a 1970 issue of Esquire magazine which also became one of Esquire's top photos of the year. Dudenbostel was also published in Newsweek as well as other national publications. While in college, he was featured in two solo exhibitions of his photography at the University of Tennessee.
In 1975 Dudenbostel was extremely fortunate to study directly with Ansel Adams at his home in Yosemite National Park.
Dudenbostel received his Tennessee Professional Certification in 1981 as well as his Master of Photography degree through the Professional Photographers of America in 1985.
For more info check our SC Commercial Gallery listings or call 843/722-2724.
Carolina Arts is published monthly by Shoestring Publishing Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc. Copyright© 2004 by PSMG, Inc., which published Charleston Arts from July 1987 - Dec. 1994 and South Carolina Arts from Jan. 1995 - Dec. 1996. It also publishes Carolina Arts Online, Copyright© 2004 by PSMG, Inc. All rights reserved by PSMG, Inc. or by the authors of articles. Reproduction or use without written permission is strictly prohibited. Carolina Arts is available throughout North & South Carolina.