FIG Members Showcased at Techne Art Center’s FLORA & FAUNA
Flora and Fauna was a captivating group exhibition at the Techne Art Center in Oceanside. The show was juried by artist and gallery owner Chuck Thomas and presented in collaboration with the Oceanside Museum of Art’s Artist Alliance. Running from September 7 through October 12, 2024, the exhibit featured an impressive range of works, with three artists from FIG—Nanette Newbry, Lisa Croner, and Susan J. Osborn—selected to participate.
Chuck Thomas brought a distinctive approach to curating the show. He included multiple works from each of 25 artists for a total of 125 pieces, offering an immersive look at each artist’s creative expression. The vibrant and diverse collection represented contemporary art's rich array of styles, iconographies, mediums, and themes, celebrating the breadth and dynamism of today’s artistic landscape.
What is your greatest desire?
Peace of mind for myself and others. This is very difficult to achieve with all the world in turmoil. The state of the world has been this way since the beginning of time, so it’s not that unusual that contemporary times are such as they are. Through my art practice, meditation and yoga I’m able have that peace of mind frequently.
About the Artists
Nanette Newbry, Artist and Educator
Over the course of 2023 and 2024, I completed seven encaustic works and exhibited a unique monotype created during a residency at the Museum of Encaustic Art in Santa Fe. Works from two series – the Upstream and the Transcendent Voyage series – were included in the show.
In the Upstream series, I delve into my attitudes and emotions regarding the challenges our environment faces. Through radiant color and light, I endeavor to merge the earthly with the spiritual. A recurring canoe motif—an homage to my father, a naval officer who spent much of my youth at sea—symbolizes our collective call to protect the Earth. While some imagery is meticulously planned, many elements arise intuitively, imbuing the work with dynamic visual impact.
I am delighted that a collector in China acquired “Nocturnal” from this series.
The ongoing Transcendent Voyage series is deeply process-oriented, reflecting on the everyday complexities of life. As a student of Buddhism, I layer encaustic medium with found vintage newsprint, organic shapes, and monotypes to evoke the intricate tapestry of experiences, memories, and spiritual insights that shape our inner worlds.
Artistic background
From 2000 to 2009, I owned N. Newbry Gallery—a vibrant space where I exhibited my own work alongside that of fellow artists and hosted numerous art performances. My work is included in the permanent collection at the Museum of Encaustic Art and is held by both corporate and private collectors.
What is your greatest desire?
I dream of hiking the trails in Nepal with a sketchbook. I’ve been there before and those majestic mountains and friendly people call to me through memories. It was life changing and brought me back to painting after a long break to raise my family and study.
Lisa Croner, Scientist and Artist
My four pieces in the Flora and Fauna show are charcoal paintings: the medium is charcoal and solvent on canvas. There are two ideas in my work. First, I'm interested in how humans interact with nature. My works are a record of one human -- me -- interacting with nature, with nature represented by the physical process of charcoal moving in solvent. The second idea relates to how people deal with uncertainty. In the pieces included in the show, I built images lying between chaos and perceptual coherence, where people start inventing stories about what they see in the image but there is still lots of uncertainty. The pieces aim to engage viewers in the adventure of meeting uncertainty. This borderland between chaos and coherence seems important to understanding how we interact with nature.
Artistic background
While I've done art my whole life, I also had a full career in scientific research, working in both academics and biotech. I began to ramp up my art practice about 17 years ago and found that insights gained in science began to unfold in my artwork. That's what led me to develop the process for these works, and it also led me to focus on uncertainty. It's been an interesting journey. I’m currently pursuing an MFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
What is your greatest desire?
My greatest desire is for a healthy earth and universal kindness, allowing for full embracing of human diversity and freedom. More down-to-earth, I hope to hone my artistic message so that it becomes crystal clear within my lifetime.
Susan J. Osborn, Artist
I had six works exhibited at Techne Art Center. The works are part of a series that are mostly landscapes based on the areas I see when I do my neighborhood walks. They are created in mixed mediums including fabric scraps, painted papers, collage and acrylic. Each are attached to canvas using acrylic medium.
Artistic background
M.A. Visual Art and M.A. Education, San Diego State University
Now working full time in her studio. Ms. Osborn previously taught art at the Athenaeum Music and Arts Library, the San Diego Art Department, Southwestern Community College and seventeen years at The Bishops School in La Jolla. Her work is included in various collections in the United States, Denmark, Japan and Spain. She is listed in Who’s Who of American Women. Among her many awards, she has received a Visual Artists Assistance Award from the State of California (1977.)
I have always made art. I remember drawing at an early age and all through school. Why? It is a way to communicate your feelings about the world to others. It is also a way to use the imagination to express beauty.
What is your greatest desire?
I dream of hiking the trails in Nepal with a sketchbook. I’ve been there before and those majestic mountains and friendly people call to me through memories. It was life changing and brought me back to painting after a long break to raise my family and study.
