Artist Statement: In discussions with Sing for Hope, Judi developed a design proposal that was both elegant and warm. In bright colors, her design referenced Los Angeles’ indigenous foliage, its iconic architectural history, and the concept of stained glass. Saliently, the design was conceived to be executed by Judi herself in tandem with her GRoW @ The Wallis student collaborators, who would be painting certain denoted color areas within the design. The approach was designed to allow for optimal student participation while controlling for a visually cohesive, graphically unified final product. The process was also aided from start to finish by invaluable contributions from our wonderful collaborator on site at The Wallis, innovative artist and educator Rachel Kilroy.
Prior to her career as an artist and calligrapher, Judi Donin was a dancer, studying with Merce Cunningham at Connecticut College, and Jose Limon and Martha Graham at Juilliard. She performed with several groups and taught dance for many years. She raised 3 daughters living aboard a 70-foot Danish trading schooner for 10 years in Marina del Rey and Sausalito. Her studies in art continued at the College of Marin, UCLA, LACC, and Santa Monica College of Design, Art and Architecture. Her art, assemblage, and jewelry have been exhibited at galleries and museum shops throughout the country. She worked for 21 years as a Calligrapher/Graphic Designer for the County of Los Angeles. Extensive travels, along with a foundation of dance have influenced the passion, dimension, and quality of her work, reflecting a diverse mixture in the texture, balance, and liquidity of her sense of design.
