Art is my means of paring information down to its essence, using shape to define space and to translate what I perceive.  Light and shadow, the relationships of parts, color, and contrasts of materials routinely play central roles in my work.  My choice of materials is mixed ranging from stone to wood to fiber.

Barbara Dolan-Wilkinson received a B.A. in Art at California State University, Sacramento and a M.A. in Sculpture at Humboldt State University, Arcata CA.

            After receiving her B.A., Ms. Dolan-Wilkinson enjoyed a successful career as a production potter and ceramic artist.
In the mid-1980s, Ms. Dolan-Wilkinson shelved her art and served for 15 years as Executive Director of a non-profit natural history interpretive association affiliated with California State Parks. She returned to art in 1997 and began creating interior sculptures in wood, fiber, clay, stone, and exterior earth installations and art for the garden. The earth installations developed out of her training and certification as a University of California Master Gardener.

Ms. Dolan-Wilkinson lives and works at her home in Dows Prairie along with her husband, Alan.  Her art is in permanent collections throughout the United States and Mexico.

Education:       Art, BA – Sacramento State University – 1969
                         Sculpture, MA – Humboldt State University (HSU) – 1984
Experience: 1997 to present –
                          Artist - clay, wood, metal, stone, indoor installations, and earth installations
                          Landscape design - UC certified Master Gardener
                          Graphic design – commercial, educational, and artistic
1980 to1997 – Executive Director, North Coast Redwood Interpretive Assoc.
1968 through 1997 –
                          Floral designer
                          Adult education instructor - arts & crafts, floral design
                          Artist - clay, fiber, mixed media sculpture, and exhibit design/fabrication    
Recent exhibits:                      
                        Arts! Arcata The Garden Gate, Arcata CA, March 2007
                         Humboldt Area Foundation, Bayside CA, September 2006
                         Head Studio, Fortuna CA, September 2006
                         Westhaven Center for the Arts, Trinidad CA, April 2005
                         Barnes Center, La Jolla CA, May 2004
                         Arts! Arcata The Garden Gate, Arcata CA, Oct. 2004
                         Redwood Art Association, Juried Member’s Show, Eureka CA, Nov. 2003
                        Morris Graves Museum of Art, Juried Member’s Show, Eureka CA, Dec/Jan 2002 & 2003
                        Arcata Artisans, Arcata CA, Aug. 2003
                        Arts! Arcata The Garden Gate, Arcata CA, March/April 2003
                        Morris Graves Museum of Art, Schuler Sculpture Garden, Eureka CA, June 2001-2002
                        Humboldt Botanical Gardens Invitational Art Show, Humboldt County, Aug. 2000
Reviews:  Sculpture, April 2003 – “Ghostdancing” installation
Private collections:
                        Private and public collections locally and throughout the United States and Mexico.
Long-term loans:
                        Humboldt Area Foundation – Bayside CA
                        Drs. Alan Glaseroff & Ann Lindsay – Arcata CA
                        Dreamers – McKinleyville CA 
                        Brandi Easter Photography- Arcata CA
Personal: Upon receiving a MA from HSU in 1984, I moved art to the back burner for 15 years.  I began exhibiting again in 1998.  Happily, my full attention and energies are again directed on art, where I am currently developing sculpture in various materials. I have lived in Humboldt County since 1980.  My workshop is located at our home in Dows Prairie where I live with my husband, Alan, and our two dogs, Tui and Teeka.