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