Wilson featured artist for Nov. 13 Art Walk
From our weekly issue dated November 04, 2009
Debbie Wilson with ‘Coltrane’ (Photo provided)
Debbie Wilson moved to the Illinois River Valley to retire, but she is now busier than ever.
This Featured Artist for November’s Second Friday ArtWalk on the 13th comes by her artistic gifts naturally. Her father was a contractor and designer whose work appeared twice in Sunset Magazine. Her mother was an artist and musician who passed her love of dancing on to Debbie as well.
She now routinely drives to Grants Pass to enjoy the dance scene. “Salsa, Swing and Hip-Hop are my favorites,” she said. “Any dance that promotes flexibility. It’s the Disco Days in me still.”
Before “retiring,” Debbie was an award-winning horse trainer for 40 years. She found her profession as an apprentice to a “horse whisperer” who trained Tennessee Walkers for trail riding throughout the Northwest. She branched out her own practice to include Saddlebreds, Quarterhorses and Arabians.
She showed Arabians for 20 years up and down the Pacific Coast, preferring the breed for its versatility and stamina.
“They’re very smart,” she explains. “Different countries have bred them for different purposes. For example, Polish ‘Arabs’ were developed for war, so they’re very good at jumping.” Debbie was a founding member of Oregon High School Equestrian Teams – a concept which has swept the state, and can now be found in California, Nevada and New Mexico as well.
This busy valley resident taught all styles of riding and owned a large stable of horses at her farm on Fish Hatchery Road in Grants Pass. It was there that she began to develop an elaborate Christmas display of cut-out plywood figures, and which were featured in the Grants Pass Daily Courier’s tour for 10 years. The display grew to require more than 30,000 lights, 20 flood lights and three different power boxes which generated $800 electric bills each season.
Her playful vintage scenes earned her display many accolades including twice making the list of top “Christmas Houses” in Oregon. Visitors traveled from as far away as Portland to see it. At a friend’s suggestion, she put out a donation box, which viewers happily filled.
“It became such an institution, Albertson’s and Safeway would donate candy canes,” she recalls. “One year I handed out over 3,500.” Her three children, now grown, also helped with the display.
Advertisement:
She moved to Illinois Valley six years ago, only to discover that she had too much time on her hands. She mentioned to her friend, Terri Hill, that she was considering becoming a nail technician and Terrie responded, “You’re hired!” After acquiring certification, Debbie began working at Northwest Hairlines in Cave Junction.
Her artistic work has been featured three times in Nails International Magazine. She also found time to invent a special apparatus using highly flexible electrical conduit which allows technicians to create their nail art before affixing them to women’s hands. She is now in the process of patenting this “Nail Dussa,” which she’s sold to shops across the United States and even Australia.
“I like art that is functional and serves a purpose,” she states emphatically. During the years, Debbie has explored a variety of media including woodworking, textiles, painting and photography. Her jewelry is extremely unique in that she begins with liquid acrylic, which she forms into shapes as it dries. She then paints miniature scenes on the pendants and earrings, and adds selected beadwork to complete each matching set.
At Second Friday ArtWalk on Nov. 13, she’ll display jewelry and posters at Northwest Hairlines across from the post office. The framed posters are photos of the intricate jewelry pieces which she then enlarges and enhances with computer graphics.
“I never would have dreamed I would get so involved with computers,” she laughs, “but now I routinely wake up around 3 a.m. and start working on my art.”
Debbie also continues to make window displays for Grants Pass businesses including Plaza Sew & Vac and Savannah Faire.
Added ArtWalk attractions at Northwest Hairlines will include Wally Aiken singing and playing original music from Two Foot Daddy’s new CD: Irish I was Dutch, and wine tasting courtesy of Bridgeview Vineyards Winery.
Advertisement:
