By Rachelle Rice
Dana Roman and Rachelle Rice.
With a personality every bit as vibrant as her artwork, Dana Roman has a certain something that makes her sparkle and cant help but bring a smile to your face. Looking at her paintings and silk creations you can clearly see Dana and the beautiful stories her work crafts in every pattern and colour.
Before her business as an artist, Dana was an architect because growing up in Czechoslovakia she loved art and math. She continued practicing architecture for a few years after she and her husband immigrated to Canada, but following the birth of their third child she considered ways to make a living from her home. She turned to painting on silk, a hobby she had always enjoyed. Soon she was producing silk clothes and scarves, distributing them through stores in Canada and the United States.
Chickadee Valley, by Dana Roman.
Dana is drawn to the outdoors and takes full advantage of living in the mountains. She skis, she hikes, she kayaks, she backpacks and she even paints outdoors if the weather allows it. Nature is also where she draws much of her inspiration. She says, I can paint the same mountain a million times but it always looks different. Its always changing.
A trip to Alaska earlier this year inspired an exhibition she is planning for two years from now. The shapes and colours she experienced while kayaking between the huge chunks of ice broken away from the glaciers were so beautiful, like pieces of sculpture, that she started planning a whole new series of works.
Even though its obvious Dana paints because it makes her happy, she has also achieved a great deal of success and recognition for her artistic talents. Danas artwork hangs in the Town of Canmore council chambers (commissioned in 2001 for the Public Art trust) and she has won a number of awards over the years. When asked how it felt to be recognized for the Mayors Spotlight on the Arts, Dana modestly said that the Bow Valley is host to a lot of great artists and being chosen was an honour.
Path to Freedom, by Dana Roman.
Dana has dedicated her entire life to art, even during her busy years of raising a family. Today, a grandmother with five grandchildren, she shows no sign of slowing down. Glimpsing into Dana Romans life, its not hard to see why shell never stop what she does. Her life is art. Her own house is not only filled with her own beautiful creations, but also the work of other artists she admires. Even her house itself was designed by she and her husband. When Dana talks about her work, her face lights up. When asked if shed continue her art for the rest of her life, her reply was an adamant, Oh yes! And that was all there was to it.
Danas work will be on display at the Canmore Public Library in October in an exhibition entitled Paths,” a fitting title when you consider the many creative paths in Danas life.
The Town of Canmore is inviting the community to come to the Canmore Miners Union Hall on September 30 beginning at 5:30 pm to celebrate several local artists who will be spotlighted during the Mayors Spotlight on the Arts celebration. The event will focus on the diversity and variety of artistic talent in Canmore. Tickets for the event are available for $15 through the arts and culture department at Canmore Civic Centre. Get them in person or reserve by phone at 403.678.1878. The event will be a wine and appetizer evening, with a spotlight on three local artists, acknowledgement of lifetime contribution to the arts, recognition for a significant community builder, an internationally recognized keynote speaker, and an emerging artists bursary being awarded.About the Author: Rachelle Rice is a grade eleven student at Canmore Collegiate. She loves words more than anything in the world.
