STATEMENT FROM THE ARTIST:
Hello! My name is Diann Meynor. I am what is considered to be a “local” Artist here in Southwest Nevada. Like many, I relocated from a rural town, in Trafford Pennsylvania in 1997 to Las Vegas, Nevada, accepting a position with the local school district as an Art Teacher.
I received my formal art training on the East coast, beginning with dance lessons in jazz, ballet, tap and pointe from age 7. Fine Arts classes were added to my schedule in High School and Visual Design at the Vocational Technical School. After graduation I continued my studies at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh receiving an Associates degree in Visual Communications in 1990. Wanting to continue my education in the Arts, graduating from Point Park University Pittsburgh, PA with a Bachelors degree in Visual Arts and Design in 1993. Feeling the need to inspire others in the arts, began my quest for teaching, Indiana University of PA was the next stop for a Bachelor of Science degree, major in Art Education, in 1996. While attending IUP, I took full advantage of the Fine Arts program, with a minor in sculpture, while enjoying many other forms of art, such as ceramics, printmaking, fibers, metals, etc. With the teaching license in hand I knew it was time to spread my artist arms and embrace change to the West coast, Las Vegas, NV.
The next 20 years afforded me many opportunities to inspire children and adults with the LOVE of creating Art. My former students have two instillation pieces of artwork; a table top at McCarran International Airport at the C Gates, and a mural for the Las Vegas Centennial at Brookman Elementary School. My summers were busy with painting murals for various schools throughout the city
My “Doodles by De” series of watercolors, colored pencils, markers and of course glitter!, are the inspirational works of Las Vegas. The colors, lines and shapes that outline the city all inspire me on paper, the words that I have chose searching for inner peace, and the glitter is representational that the city is “dazzling” with lights, action, fun.
In the 1990’s, my art work, paintings, drawings, fibers and sculptures were exhibited in various galleries in PA. I also created logos for several businesses: Pine Hollow Studios, Backwoods Timber, Foot Health Associates. One of my favorite pieces of Earth Art I created is located in the BY Park, Trafford, Pa. It contains 150 hand made ceramic tiles, one for each of the local volunteers and US Marine Corp who gave self of their time, talents and efforts to renovate the pond and park. I then cemented them to two large shale rocks which then were placed into the pond with the front end loader, where they currently today serve as a fish and turtle habitat.
Feeling the need to follow my heart, inspiration and gypsy dreams, my husband and I relocated to the Moapa Valley, NV in January of 2018. Quickly, whole heartily falling in LOVE with my new surroundings, inspiration took over to create sculpture again. An art form that I had abandoned while living in the confines of the busy city. My most recent works are called “Peaces”. They are made with found objects located on my Magical Moapa Mesa. Rocks are millions of years old, out on the barren desert land they are one of many, but carefully selected, cleaned, displayed, given purpose in a timeless way, they become unique, one of a kind, special. The metal represents the strength and durability one must survive in the elements of the extreme desert. The glass although broken, shattered can still have a form of beauty, function. The wire, although old rusty, used for other purposes, now has new purpose of holding history together for a little longer. The wood is a very rare find in the desert, but necessary to provide stability, security, and longevity.
Thank You for taking the time to read this!
Works of Art from the Heart,
Diann
Art Work by Diann Meynor 