Meet the artist . . .
Nina Krebs
Who are we when we are not defined by our means of employment, place in the family, political affiliation, accomplishments or spiritual identity?
Nina Krebs embraces both light and dark in creating art in many forms. She thinks about personal, political, spiritual, and emotional themes, creating beauty as expression of joy or as a response to personal and collective pain. Her work isn’t always pretty. Images and objects which occupy her inner life migrate to the outside world as art. Color and form share intelligence that words don’t quite express.
The progression of my art work
Themes, inspirations, media, collections, and ideas . . .
Nina’s work, often reflects dreams or personal events and portrays universal themes in her unconscious journey as well as more intentional perceptions of nature and social issues. Her background in political science, education, psychology and organizational consulting creep into the imagery she creates. Music as a co-conspirator with visual art for creating non-verbal connection is a recurring theme. Growing up in the high desert of northern Arizona, cared for by a Tono o’ dham woman from birth until puberty, causes the residue of Southwest red grit and Native American culture to linger.
The progression of my art work
It didn’t start until after I retired from my day job(s), but now I’ve been “making art” for 25 years.
I never know what to say about myself.
Sometimes I am a stereotype. A white woman who grew up in the 20th century: Two parents, sister, small town, off to college, married at graduation, taught school, two children, small town, divorce, graduate school, moved to California, professional career, retirement, started doing what I always wanted to do, although I didn’t know what that might be.
And sometimes I am a leaf spirited into the ozone and back as an artist.
My family is the most important force in my life. They may not know or feel that. I practice music and meditate, write and think my thoughts, make art, travel, enjoy family and friends. I do laundry, cook, sweep the patio, pay the bills.
I have lived a privileged, organized life. I am so grateful. Pain has been part of it. We all have that. I have no goals beyond be here now. Paint. Practice. Love.
Art related inspirations include Eva Hesse, Joan Mitchell, Louise Bourgois, Helen Hardin, William Kentridge, Philip Guston, Dan Namingha, and Paul Klee as well as the Impressionists, prehistoric artists and many others. Heartfelt gratitude goes to my art teachers, especially Tina Heringer, Chris Reding, Chris Daubert, Rick Rivera, Frank Zamora, my music teacher Robert Hamaker, and my mentor Yashi Johnson.
Visual, graphic arts, and installations
2023 December 9 and 10, Open Studio, 1076 Tyler Street, Benicia CA 94510.
2023 November and December, Stories in Paint, Art@Archer with Connie Millholand, 431 13th Street, Oakland CA, 94612.
2023 June and July, Solo show, Trees and Dreams, Umpqua Bank, Benicia CA 94510.
June 2023, Group show, Lamorinda Art Alliance, Opposites Attract, Flicker, Lindsay Dirkyx Brown Gallery, San Ramon, CA.
2022-2023 December and January, Multi-Artist show, Art@Archer, 431 13th Street, Oakland CA 94612.
2022 Open Studio, Benicia Arts, December 4, 2022, with Connie Millholland and Johanna Regan. Eight new paintings: Soaring Woman (5) and Beware the Gilded Toad (3).
2019 Book illustrations, Krebs, Nina B. Shades of Love and Loss, Caring for a Partner with Dementia, Walnut Creek CA: Sunwalker Studio.
2015 February-April, The Arrow of Time, Totem and Now, Art@Archer, 431 13th Street, Oakland CCA 94512, solo show, paintings and sculpture.
2012 String Theory, Installation at the Crocker Museum with Chris Daubert, Linda Nunes, Kristen Bye, and others.
2012 Homage to Spider Woman, Sacramento Fine Art Center, Bold Expressions juried show, installation of multiple 4-strand braided webs.
2011 Fly, 36” x 48” acrylic, commission for Sarah Novotny.
2010-2015 More than 500 installations of spider webs approximately 30 feet in diameter constructed of 4 strand braided fabric, mounted and photographed from Quebec to Hawaii.
2011 Summer Solstice II paintings, prints and installations at Grass Valley with Ruth Ghio.
2008 The Legacy of Spider Woman, Tending Connection, Summer Solstice, paintings and installations with Ruth Ghio in Grass Valley. Anthropologist Carol Patterson, author of On the Trail of Spider Woman, guest speaker.
2008 Set design and construction for One Woman Play, Ruth Ghio.
2008 Cover production Romance of Romance, Heather Folsom, Tiburon CA: Cadmus Editions.
2007 Ceremony, Polyptych Installation, Oil on 5 plexiglass panels, various configurations, 78” X 78” Bold Expressions, prize winner in juried show, Sacramento Fine Art Center.
2006 Message, 48” x 48” acrylic on canvas, purchased by law firm and cover for Harris Becker’s guitar solo CD Passing Through.
2004, Nola, silkscreen print, 24” x 24”, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, juried show Artist as Activist, Sebastopol CA.
2004, Wild Dancing Woman, multimedia, Sacramento City College Student Art Show, Frank Zamora Prize, Kondos Gallery, Sacramento CA.
2004 Cover art production, Hypohypothesis, Heather Folsom, Tiburon CA: Cadmus Editions.
2003, Virtual Tea, digital print, Purchase Prize, Sacramento City College, Student Art Show, Kondos Gallery, Sacramento CA.
2003 Cover art production for Philosophie Thinly Clothed, Heather Folsom, Tiburon CA: Cadmus Editions.
Photographer for the Long Island Guitar Festival, Brookville and Setauket NY (2007-present) and Songe d’été en musique/Midsummer Music Dream, music festival in Lambton, Quebec (2007-present).
Published Works
Shades of Love and Loss: Caring for a Partner with Dementia Sunwalker Studio, 2019
Dramatic Psychological Story Telling: Using Expressive Arts and Psychotheatrics (with Rob Allen) Palgrave Macmillan, 2007
Edgewalkers: Defusing Cultural Boundaries on the New Global Frontier New Horizon Press. 1999
Changing Woman Changing Work Mac Murray & Beck, 1993
Psychotheatrics, the New Art of Self-Transformation (with Rob Allen) Garland STPM Press 1979
Two essays in My Mother-Myself: Glimpses into The Complicated Mother-Daughter Relationship, Bobbie Spivey, Billie Ruth Furuichi and Edy Henderson, River Sanctuary Publishing, 2015
Working with Nina
To discuss exhibits, installations, or displays of Nina’s artwork, contact Nina directly at nbkrebs70@gmail.com
To discuss public appearances, presentation, or interviews, email nbkrebs70@gmail.com
Sunwalker Studio is now located in association with Connie Millholland at Benicia Arts near the water in Benicia, California. The spacious, well-lighted studio is housed in an arsenal built between WWI and WWII for the purpose of storing munitions as part of the west coast defense system. In this beautiful space we can make art, not war for which the building was intended, and have room for displaying our work. If you would like to visit, please be in touch to arrange an appointment.
