by JEFF SPRY Cascade A&E Feature Writer

Entering the home studio of acclaimed local artist Lawrence Stoller is like discovering Aladdin’s magical Cave of Wonders, with glittering gemstones and shining crystal sculptures enticing the eye at every turn. For nearly 30 years, this Central Oregon lapidary wizard has been shaping and polishing these illuminating treasures of the Earth.

Fusing art and technology, his Megagem creations grace the homes of celebrities, tech moguls and an international roster of discriminating clients.  His works explore rare beauty and inspire the imagination to new realms. Stoller crystals are seen in museums, exclusive art galleries, national rock and gem shows, corporate offices and even the 9/11 “Eleven Tears Memorial” across from Ground Zero in New York City.

“Crystals are archetypal in the human psyche and the idea of them having resonating properties and powers is very compelling,’’ he explained. “Interest in crystals and crystal art is soaring right now. One of the places the idea stems from is that they are minerals, one of the hardest substances known, harder than steel, and yet you can see into and through them.  Also, their pyroelectric properties of giving off sparks further adds to the magic. Crystals have been used ritualistically for ages by shamans and around campfires in every culture. And at the same time they are the bedrock of our modern computer technologies and embody marvels of creation we don’t fully understand.”

by RENEE PATRICK Cascade A&E Editor
A casual glance at one of Irene Hardwicke Olivieri’s paintings is almost impossible. Her works are a feast of details which often approach raw or painful experiences with a delicate beauty and a reverence for the natural world. The nationally-known artist is one of Central Oregon’s best kept secrets.

Olivieri’s paintings contain elements of her travels, adventures and relationships spanning her childhood growing up along the Rio Grande River, traveling up the Amazon River on a cargo boat and living off-the-grid in Central Oregon. The painter received a Masters in Arts from NYU and worked as a gardener/lecturer at the Cloisters and at the New York Botanical Garden…all of which helped to create a foundation rich in the organic nature of life.

“My favorite part of being an artist is the challenge of how to take an experience, an emotion or a deep primitive feeling and turn it into a painting,” Olivieri said. “What I love is taking something that is not visual and making it come alive.

by RENEE PATRICK Cascade A&E Editor

Artist Dorothy Freudenberg has immersed herself in the unlimited possibilities of digital art. A collector of textures, colors and moments captured on camera, Freudenberg combines her external observations with an internal vision to create new realities that radiate with color.

With a foundation in black and white photography, Freudenberg first discovered digital art in the early 1990s as she was digitizing her photography. “When I got on the computer I had a color palette; [color] was something I had never really thought about before,” she said.

“I had been instantly drawn to black and white photography because I think it is a reduction in terms of photographic art, and it requires immense insight to make your statement and make it clearly and cleanly; it also tries to avoid getting caught in the trap of just being pretty.”

Experimenting with color in a digital setting opened an entirely new avenue for her self expression, “I realized a subject could speak more profoundly and eloquently sometimes in a different color than its given color; that allowed me to break the rules about what I thought things should be and get out of the photography box.”

by RENEE PATRICK Cascade A&E Editor

With his image, Ski Wall, gracing the cover of this month’s Cascade A&E, Gary Calicott’s photography has captured our attention with his composition, style and a glimpse into the recreation ethos of the region. Ski Wall was chosen among 63 images from 37 photographers submitted in consideration for the January cover.

Calicott’s interest in photography began in 1979; the only student in his Eugene high school with a camera, he was an obvious choice for the position of yearbook photographer. Taking photos captured his imagination, and has continued to do so over the past 32 years.
 
Calicott was largely self taught, developing and printing photos for his “serious hobby.” When he began selling images, his business, Gary Calicott Photography (www.garycalicottphoto.com), began.

Finding he was often driving over the pass to enjoy the hiking, fly fishing and mountain biking opportunities in Central Oregon, Calicott and his family relocated to Bend in 1999. His images reflect his enjoyment of Oregon, “My favorite photos to take are of landscapes. I take pictures all over Oregon, but especially on the East side of the Cascades,” said Calicott. He began taking other types of images after being asked to photograph an event; he now has a wide array of subject matter: portraits, sports, weddings, lifestyle, music, real estate and scenery.

Calicott notes the economy has taken a toll on those that call photography a career. He would love to work full time as a photographer, but until that time arrives, he works at the local Lithia Honda dealership. His career took a step into the commercial side of the business when the company, formerly known as Bob Thomas Honda, began using Calicott’s skills in creating some of the advertisements, and eventually he started taking photos of the cars used in publicity.