Dorte Christjansen

Watercolors and Batiks

 
 
 
Dorte Christjansen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and moved to Canada when she was six, eventually ending up in Southern California where she attended California State University Long Beach, She has been represented by the Four Oaks Gallery in Pasadena and the Eileen Kremen Gallery in Fullerton, both in California. She has had several one person exhibitions and has participated in numerous juried and invitational exhibitions at local , state and national levels. Her work has been included in several books and been the subject of reviews and articles in local, national and international publications. Subject matter is heavily influenced by her surroundings, whether landscape, botanicals or pets. Batik and watercolor are her mediums of choice. Batik, the process of using multiple layers of melted wax for creating images on fabric goes back to prehistoric times. Wax resist is applied to fabric to repel dye, the unwaxed areas absorb dyes by immersion in dye baths. The technique has been practiced through time and throughout the world, each region developing unique tools and techniques. Her procedure is to develop the image gradually in layers by alternating the wax and dye process until the image is complete and the fabric covered with wax. Wax is removed by ironing fabric between sheets of absorbent paper and setting color by steaming. Instead of dye baths, dyes are sprayed or painted on using watercolor techniques. RESUME Education 1971 MA California State University, Long Beach 1965 BA California State University, Long Beach Solo/Joint Shows 1996 Palos Verdes Art Center, “Air California”, Palos Verdes, California 1995 Joint Show, “Stephen Werlick - Bronzes and Watercolors, Dorte Christjansen - Batiks and Watercolors”, Biola Universisty, La Mirada, California. 1994 Joint Show, “Stephen Werlick - Bronzes and Watercolors, Dorte Christjansen - Batiks and Watercolors”, Point Loma Nazarene College, San Diego, California. 199 “Horror Vacuii”, Forbes Hall Gallery, Santa Monica, California 1983 Twenty-nine Palms Art Gallery, Twenty-nine Palms, California 1982 Four Oaks Gallery, Pasadena, California. Also 1981, 1980, 1978,1976. SELECTED GROUP SHOWS 1990,- 2006 Periodic Faculty Exhibitions, California State University Fullerton. 1991 - 2005 Eileen Kremen Gallery Annual Anniversary Show 1997 Long Beach Arts, “Invitational Crafts Exhibition”Adrian Saxe, juror. Honorable mention. 1996 “Gallery 825 1995 Open”, Los Angeles, California, Kent Twitchellq, juror. 1995 Long Beach Arts,“92nd National Open”, Henry Hopkins, juror. 1993 Artists Choices: Selections from the Pubic Corporation for the Arts Visual Artist Registry”, Long Beach” BQ Gallery 1992 California State University , “P.C.A. Registry Exhibition”, Long beach, California 1992 Los Angeles City Hall Rotunda and Bridge Gallery, “Reflections of Working Women in Graphic Design”, Los Angeles, California 1990 University Art Gallery, “Evocative Object”, CSU Hayward 1990 Faculty Show, “Artists in Academe” California State University Fullerton 1989 Golden West College fine Arts Gallery, “Twelve and Under, Selected Small Images”, Huntington Beach, California 1989 Long Beach Art Association, “82nd Open Juried Exhibit”, Henry Hopkins, juror 1985 Salem Academy, “After Her Own Image”, Winston Salem, North Carolina 1980 “New Batik” Downey Museum of Art, Downey, California 1978 Rental Gallery, Newport Harbor Art Museum 1977-1981 Rental Gallery, Los Angeles County Museum of Art 1975-1982 Represented by the Four Oaks Gallery, Pasadena, California 1972“Introductions”, Downey Museum of Art, Downey, California