Rene Dayan-Whitehead Studio
Stone Sculpture and Fused Glass


About Me

Artists Statement 

I came to sculpture by a circuitous path. In my early life I was a dancer. Dance spoke to my love of movement and expression. At the same time, I was a rockhound; I explored and collected rocks of all kinds and still have some of my early collection.

As solid as stone may seem, it can be made to seem light, soft, flowing, translucent, transcendent, quite the opposite of the density, hardness, and inflexibility ordinarily ascribed to stone. This dichotomy fascinates me, as does the stone itself, the color, the texture, the physicality and rhythm of the work.

Ideas and concepts are drawn from many sources; dreams, study, reading, travel, art, and nature and are developed in sketches and models. The subject of the work is created from a personal definition of alchemy, myth and time. My personal expression of alchemy mixes elements and concepts both physical and metaphysical. It is through carving that concept is manifested and the true character of the particular stone is revealed.

The process of melding concept with stone is where the real creation takes place; the raw material becomes refined and emerges as an essence. This is truly the dance. My hope is that for every composition, the dance of light and shadow, ancient and abstract, ambiguous and paradoxical will allow the sculpture to resonate with the individual viewer.

Artist's Bio

Throughout my life everything I have gravitated to has been related to form in three dimensions; dancing, costume design, product development and design, art classes, masks, and now sculpture. The distillation of these elements came surprisingly through a class offering.  I thought it would be fun as well as great therapy(hitting a rock with a hammer!).  Once I started I never stopped.

I was born in San Francisco California.  The family moved to Portland early on and settled there.  From childhood I danced, ballet, jazz dance, tap, and continued through high school and into college, teaching and performing. The joy of movement and form has always stayed with me.

On a parallel track, I collected rocks. Early on there were stones in  my pockets. In fact, to me, all rocks were beautiful; the brown ones, the shiny ones, the rough ones… I collected many boxes of them.

Through dancing I became interested in costume design and construction, and took classes in draping and tailoring and subsequently pattern grading. For a while I designed costumes for dance productions and pageants.

Alas, I needed to make a living so after acquiring an MBA, I had a career in product development. This included designing packaging, sets for trade shows, products including appliances, kitchen accessories, cookware, and leading teams to develop new products, infomercials, promotions, and sales strategies.

Eventually the business sold.  I kept sculpting, and never looked back.

Stone carving is the culmination of the passions of a lifetime.  I have studied with two sculptors and have traveled to Italy to study as well.  Many other classes have added to my understanding of art, assembly, finish, and led me to my own vision for sculpture.

Come with me, let us make the stones dance.


Artists Resume

Education Glass Work Shop –Sebastopol, CA - Concrete Forms-Santa Rosa College - Mold Making, Pietrasanta, Italy, Carving Study - Sculpture-Stone Carving, Berkeley, Pat Bengtson-Jones  - Ceramics, San Francisco City College - Sculpture-Stone Carving, San Francisco, Harriet Moore- Drawing, San Francisco City College - Basic Design, UC Berkeley - Collage, San Francisco City College - Mask Making, SF City College - MSBA, Marketing, San Francisco State University  - BS,Art/Humanities, Portland State University   

Exhibitions/Publications 

2024

Art at the Source – Open Studios June 1-2 and 8-9  Maps and info https://artatthesource.org  - Join me and Carolyn Wayland at Studio 7, Open 10am - 5pm

Museum of Sonoma County A Question of Balance - Sculpture  a Juried show  -January 27th to May 26th - Opening Reception 3-5pm January 27th- 425 Seventh Street, Santa Rosa

Sebastopol Center for the Arts- Illuminating Perspectives - A juried show - January 6 - February 11, 2024  Opening Reception January 6th  4-6pm

2023 

Corrick's - Christmas Show - Sculpture and Christmas Ornaments - Until December 30th

Gallery One - Mixed Media - Petaluma until January 19th

Art Trails Open Studios - September 30-October 1 and October 7-8   Join me at Studio #14.  Open 10am to 5pm   https://www.sonomacountyarttrails.org/ for maps and catalog.

Art for Life 2023 – Online Auction – August 25-30

Anything Goes - Graton Gallery Juried Show - July 8- August 6

Rhythm - Healdsburg Center for the Arts  Juried Show Open June 1- July 16

Art at the Source – Open Studios June 3-4 and 10-11  https://artatthesource.org  - Join me and Jon Leafstedt at Studio 64

Graton Gallery Collaborative Art Showcase – February 24 – April 2, 2023 

Not Just Landscapes – Sebastopol Center for the Arts – Sebastopol– October 22 – November 22 

Art Inspired by Travel – Commonwealth Club of California – San Francisco – September 30 – February 7  2023

2022

Art for Life 2022 – Online Auction – August 25-30

Beauty in the Beasts – Healdsburg Center for the Arts – August 17-October 2 

Art At the Source Open Studios June 4-5 and 11-12  https://artatthesource.org ForJune Open Studios and Online Gallery as well.  Join me and Jenny HelbraunAbramson

2021 

Corrick’s Artists Gallery until mid February 

Graton Gallery – Artists and Holiday Show Sculpture and so many artists show their work

Art Trails Sonoma County Open Studios September 18-19 and 25-26   Join me from 10-5 Studio # 55. Maps and Collectors Guide – https://www.sonomacountyarttrails.org/ 

Art At the Source Open Studios June 5-6 and 12-13  https://artatthesource.org for June Open Studios and Online Gallery as well.  Join me and John Burns at Studio 33a and 33b

Artworks Downtown – Beauty or Truth: A juried Show, Presented by Pacific Rim Sculptors   April 23 – June 23 – Gallery in Downtown San Rafael 

Corrick’s – Spring Show – Heart Felt - Santa Rosa 

Fulton Crossing-Sculptures: October – March - Santa Rosa

2020 

Sebastopol Center for the Arts -Christmas  Online SebArtsVirtual.org 

Corrick’s-Christmas Show November-January  - Santa Rosa 

Corrick’s – 637 Fourth St, Santa Rosa August 27 –September 30  Preview Show for Sebastopol Arts 

Virtual Open Studios Sebastopol Arts - September 2020  https://www.sebartsvirtual.org  

Virtual Art in the Park  – August 2020  https://www.virtualartinthepark.org/

2019 

Art Trails Sonoma County Open Studios

Sonoma Marin Society of Artists - Expressions 

Art for Life, charity for AIDs 

Marin County Art Fair – Juried Show - won Prize for Excellence in Sculpture 

Art at the Source Open Studios - Sebastopol 

Gallery One - Petaluma, Autumn 

Corrick’s Santa Rosa –Colors of the Heart

2018

Art Trails Sonoma County Open Studios

Art at the Source Open Studios - Sebastopol – Gallery One, Petaluma, Corricks

Healdsburg Center for the Arts – Purely Abstract, Healdsburg  

Dolphin Gallery - Gualala –Published Articles in  Gualala Paper

2017

Art Trails Sonoma County Open Studios

Art for Life - charity for AIDs  

Art of Abstraction – Artworks Downtown San Rafael 

Marin County Art Fair – won Prizes for Excellence in Sculpture 

Art at the Source Open Studios - Sebastopol – Gallery One, Petaluma, Corricks

2016

Corricks –The Elements-Fire - Santa Rosa 

Marin Moca Juried International Show  - San Rafael

Art Trails Open Studios - Sebastopol 

Art for Life, charity for AIDs 

Marin County Art Fair – won Prize for Excellence in Sculpture - 

Art at the Source, Sebastopol –- Gallery One,Petaluma, Corricks, Stones Throw, Cotati 

2015 

Art Trails  Open Studio -Sebastopol Center for the Arts - Sebastopol -   Gallery One, Petaluma, Corricks, StonesThrow, Cotati

Art at the Source - Sebastopol - Gallery One, Petaluma, Corricks, Stones Throw, Cotati

Prelude– Cloverdale Art’s Alliance - Cloverdale 

Anything Goes-Graton Gallery - Graton 

C14 Gallery - The Barlow - Sebastopol 

2014 

Sebastopol Center for the Arts - Sebastopol

Art Trails  Open Studio -Sebastopol Center for the Arts - Sebastopol -   Gallery One, Petaluma, Corricks

Art at the Source - Sebastopol - Gallery One, Petaluma, Corricks

Gallery One -  Petaluma 

Richmond Art Center Sculpture Show 

Art at the Source - Sebastopol - Gallery One, Petaluma, Corricks

One Gallery 

Corrick’s 

Cloverdale Library 

Graton Gallery - Graton 

Sebastopol Center for the Arts

2013

Art Trails  Open Studio - Sebastopol Center for the Arts - Sebastopol -   Gallery One, Petaluma, Corricks

Art at the Source - Sebastopol - Gallery One, Petaluma, Corricks

Gallery One - Petaluma 

Finley Art Center - Santa Rosa 

Beyond Gaga at Works - San Jose 

Corrick's - Santa Rosa 

Zipper Gallery - Corner Stone Sonoma 

Graton Gallery - Graton 

2012

Sebastopol Center for the Arts - Sebastopol 

Art Trails  Open Studio -Sebastopol Center for the Arts - Sebastopol -   Gallery One, Petaluma, Corricks

Zipper - Sonoma 

Corrick’s - Santa Rosa 

Art at the Source - Sebastopol - Gallery One, Petaluma, Corricks

Graton Gallery -  Graton 

West County Design -  Valley Ford 

Pedersen’s -  Santa Rosa 

Finley Art Center - Santa Rosa 

Pelican Gallery - Petaluma 

Year of the Dragon – Juried Show – Sebastopol

2011

Members Show SCA - Sebastopol 

Art at the Source - Sebastopol - Gallery One, Petaluma, Corricks

Kendall Jackson Tasting Room - Healdsburg 

Wilson’s Winery-Charity Auction - Healdsburg 

The Ticking Clock – 6th Street Playhouse – Santa Rosa 

Lady Luck –Sebastopol 

LA Art Guide 

Graton Gallery - Graton 

West County Design -  Valley Ford 

Dimensions Galleria -  Petaluma

2010

American Art Collector-Juried Art Publication

Withywindle Gallery-Guerneville

Marin Museum of Contemporary Art Juried Show - Novato - CA 

Parenting Institute Charity Auction-Santa Rosa 

Wilson’s Winery Charity Auction -  Healdsburg 

Art at the Source - Sebastopol - Gallery One, Petaluma, Corricks

Kendall Jackson Tasting Room -  Healdsburg 

Stone Carvers – Juried - Plaza Arts -  Healdsburg, CA 

Dimensions Galleria -  Petaluma 

Graton Gallery - Graton 

West County Design - Valley Ford

2009

A Show of Our Own - Sebastopol  

Dimensions Galleria -  Petaluma  

Art for Life – Face 2 Face, Santa Rosa 

Graton Gallery -  Graton  

West County Design -  Valley Ford  

Art at the Source - Sebastopol - Gallery One, Petaluma, Corricks

Wilson’s Winery - Healdsburg 

Chateau Felice - Healdsburg 

Sonoma Stone IV - Sebastopol 

2008 

Art Open House - Sebastopol

City Star-Article - San Francisco 

Art People-San Francisco 

Sebastopol Center for the Arts Show - Sebastopol 

2007  

Sebastopol Center for the Arts Show - Sebastopol

2006 

Metropolitan Club Art Show - San Francisco 

ArtSpan at Somarts Gallery, San Francisco 

San Francisco Open Studios 

Shoppe Unusual - San Francisco  

2005 

Japan Center Monument with Lou Quaintance 

ArtSpan at Somarts Gallery - San Francisco 

San Francisco Open Studios 

Shoppe Unusual - San Francisco 

2004

San Francisco Open Studios - San Francisco 

Art People - San Francisco 

525 Market Street Bank Lobby - San Francisco 

PRSG Summer Show Juried by Kenneth Baker -  San Francisco 

Metropolitan Club Art Show - San Francisco  

Art People - San Francisco 

PRSG Winter Show Juried by John Toki

2003:  

ArtSpan at Somarts Gallery - San Francisco  

San Francisco Open Studios 

Patina Atelier - San Francisco  

Public Television Pietrasanta  Video - Italy

2002

ArtSpan at Somarts Gallery - San Francisco 

San Francisco Open Studios 

W Hotel Charity Christmas Auction - San Francisco           

Using Format