FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2021

Artist Diane DeLaney dabbled in photography and oil painting while attending the Oregon College of Arts and Crafts, but life in Arizona and long stays into the Chiricahua Mountain community has led her to pursue a passion for clay and Totem art for the garden, patio, or home. They can be viewed at the Chiricahua Gallery in Rodeo, New Mexico and at www.chiricahuagallery.net

Diane DeLaney: Totem Art in Rodeo By DAWN M. AERTS/Features Writer

Artist Diane DeLaney loves to mingle wildlife with natural elements from flowers and cactus to seed pods. Her sculptures can be abstract, stylized or realistic. “As layers build, I work on the relationship between each element – the colors and shapes,” said DeLaney of her passion for clay, “But a love of art was woven throughout my life.” 

DeLaney, a native of Florida, draws her most recent inspiration from what she considers the sacred and unparalleled biodiversity of the Chiricahua Mountains. But it was a move to Arizona and long retreats into the Mountains that prompted her interest and work in clay.

“As a child I explored mud flats and streams -- I had insect and shell collections, a set of flippers and spent much of my time underwater,” said DeLaney of her past, “I was very inquisitive about nature and all the critters that filled my days.”

In college, she pursued theater arts, speech, and English. “I came from an artistic household encouraged by my own Mother, an acrylic and ceramic artist,” added DeLaney. “Those years eventually led to a variety of careers in education, tourism and within sustainable development fields.”

That said, travel was her touchstone. 

“Unfortunately, clay and travel don’t go well together,” said DeLaney of life in Iran and Venezuela; adventures in Nepal, climbing Roraima Tepui, exploring the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon Basin, and a one-year jeep journey throughout South America. While there, she pursued photography and oil painting. 

“I was motivated to make a difference,” said DeLaney of further work with the Audubon Society, environmental activism and in support of projects geared to habitat protection, education and the protections of penguins. “My plan was to explore clay when I retired, and that is exactly what I did.”  Upon returning to the states in 1978 she attended the Oregon College of Arts and Crafts.  In 2016, a move to Tempe, Ariz., led to private classes and coursework at the Mesa Arts Center where she relished a fully outfitted Ceramics studio. “You could say my early years ‘looking for little critters’ led to my focus on environmental issues in sustainable development and climate change. “But it’s always about nature, and today, relating to those elements through ceramics.” 

Her first sandstone clay ‘totem’ was of Sea life which gave way to coral, fish and eels. “I’ll return to that theme again,” said Delaney, “But with frequent stays in the Chiricahua Mountains, the desert themes began to prevail: those amazing colors, shapes and the abundance of wildlife is my inspiration.” 

DeLaney’s embellished work is unique to the eye and whimsical to the imagination. 

“As a child I explored mud flats and streams -- I had insect and shell collections, a set of flippers and spent much of my time underwater,” said DeLaney of her past, “I was very inquisitive about nature and all the critters that filled my days.”

“As a child I explored mud flats and streams -- I had insect and shell collections, a set of flippers and spent much of my time underwater,” said DeLaney of her past, “I was very inquisitive about nature and all the critters that filled my days.”

In college, she pursued theater arts, speech, and English. “I came from an artistic household encouraged by my own Mother, an acrylic and ceramic artist,” added DeLaney. “Those years eventually led to a variety of careers in education, tourism and within sustainable development fields.”

Her first sandstone clay ‘totem’ was of Sea life which gave way to coral, fish and eels. “I’ll return to that theme again,” said Delaney, “But with frequent stays in the Chiricahua Mountains, the desert themes began to prevail: those amazing colors, shapes and the abundance of wildlife is my inspiration.” 

DeLaney’s embellished work is unique to the eye and whimsical to the imagination. 

“I began to construct clay Totems during a 2018 visit to the desert communities with my husband, Don.  Most of these sculptures were constructed on site and then packed up for a trip home where they were then fired and glazed,” said DeLaney of her work. “The ‘stacked’ Totems explore the interconnections between living forms.’ 

Layers are varied and may include a colorful range of elements from cactus and birds to flowers and frogs. Once assembled, individual Totem pieces can weigh anywhere from a few ounces to a pound or more. “My colors are unique,” adds Delaney. “Rather than dip pieces in a glaze, I mix underglazes to achieve colors and highlights before applying any glaze.” She uses hand-built construction with pinch, coil or slab techniques and each Totem has a hole to thread onto a thin metal rod. From there, each piece is stacked atop the next. “These are pretty time-consuming projects that involve shaping, underglaze, and a final underglaze and glaze.” 

You can find DeLaney’s Totems at the Chiricahua Gallery where she believes they cause people to smile. “Ceramics is a demanding art form that takes time and patience…There are rules, yet many exceptions,” said Delaney, “But they seem to bring some joy to people, what a compliment that is!” 

Dawn Aerts is a local Features Writer living in Hidalgo County.

To submit ideas or suggestions for the features page, email to dawnaerts@hotmail. com, or send to P.O. Box 312, Rodeo, New Mexico, 88056.