ABOUT US
THE
STRAKA COLLECTION
Dr. Bonnie Straka has a keen eye for art and a love for supporting charitable causes, including: Love Without Boundaries, Bringing Hope to Children, Service Dogs of Virginia, Martha Jefferson Hospital, and Half the Sky Foundation. A number of the pieces in her collection have supported these cherished causes. Outside of her profession, Dr. Straka is a loving mother of six children- four adopted from China.
FEATURED ARTISTS
ALBERT ERNEST
Albert Ernest is a loyal friend of the practice and has recently been exploring his natural talent as a painter. Dr. Straka fell in love with his barn paintings.
Albert started painting in late 2014. His subjects tend to fill the canvas, expressing joy and even a little humor. This, then, is his voice.
He and his wife, Donna, also an artist, lived in Jacksonville, Florida where he engaged in the forest products and banking businesses for most of their lives.
Ernest's teacher is Karen Blair, who he says, "can make a silk purse out of a cow's ear."
AUDRA BOOK
The paintings of local artist, Audra Book, represent natural forms as they project into the world entirely through color.
BETSY FOWLER
Constituting the largest number of works in the collection, paintings by Betsy Fowler are bright and personal representations of humanized animals interacting in their natural kingdoms.
FRED NICHOLS
Fred Nichols is a highly collected central Virginia artist. From his studio in Barboursville, he creates lithographics of Virginia landscapes. The works are transcendental, colorful, and almost reminiscent of a stained glass window. Each is filled with light and framed by dramatic black forms of nature.
HE QI
Currently a California resident (USA), He Qi Studied at Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing Art Institute in China and Hamburg Art Institute in Germany. Now He is currently an Artist-in-Residence at Fuller Theological Seminary (CA)
and a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Art Institute of RUC (Renmin University of China,Beijing). The works of He Qi were done in a style which blends together Chinese folk art and modern art styles.
H. WANTUE MAJOR
The works of H. Wantu Major are breathtaking in color. The two in this collection represent tribal women in traditional dress, but presented in a modern and graphic way. This treatment of the subject matter reinforces the cultural patterns from both a tactile and emotional level.
IRIS SCOTT
With a blend of so many beautiful colors, "Shakin' Jake" shows viewers what a dog's life is like. Joyful and carefree, Jake the dog shakes water from his coat, splashing it all over the canvas. Dog lovers of all ages will enjoy the color and the excitement of this painting.
JACQUELINE PETERS
This work of Jacqueline Peters is a cool and stoic portrait, reminiscent of colonial portraiture, yet modern in subject matter. The work is minimalist and a reflection of this woman’s soul. The body posture and crow form an implied triangle creating a personal space that projects starkly against the vacuous and distant mountain landscape. The color scheme, particularly the yellow sky, adds to the cool emotional tone of the work.
LEAH FANNING
Leah Fanning Mebane is a highly collected Oregon-based artist. Well known for the large format organic works, she is also an accomplished watercolor portrait artist and has even painted several portraits of Dr. Straka’s children. Several of her Chakra Series paintings can also be found in the Spa.
LEILA ASHTON
This painting was purchased by Dr. Straka in April 2008 in support of the Love Without Boundaries Foundation, an organization that has touched the lives of thousands of children in China through humanitarian aid in five key areas: Education, Foster Care, Healing Homes, Medical, and Orphanage Assistance.
"My goal as a portrait artist is not only to produce a good likeness, but to produce a work of art that sings the subject’s own song; not just a picture, but a celebration of the person," the artist says.
LORI KONKLE
A friend and inspiration to Dr. Straka, Lori Konkle painted each work meticulously with her mouth while battling Multiple Sclerosis. Ms. Konkle passed away in 2007 but her art is celebrated through family and friends.
MILENKO KATIC
The works of Milenko Katic include spirited representations of horses that beautifully capture their emotional veracity. You can feel the freedom these magnificent creatures possess in their power and speed.
S.J. MASON
The works of Sharon Mason represent a closer look into the world around us, thus producing gratitude for a God who has made all these subjects possible. She also has donated children's portraits to help families heal from the loss of their children.
SUNNY GOODE
Sunny Goode is a Richmond Virginia contemporary artist. This painting was selected as the entryway art of the Spa.
In her own words, "Color is how I communicate. Even in my earliest memories, color was the primary voice – it is no wonder I became an artist and love to paint. I believe a painting should make you feel something. I often look back at a series I’ve done and realize that I can “see” very clearly what was going on in my life at that time, in the lines and shapes, but primarily with the colors I used."
TOMAS J. FERNANDEZ
"It is God’s dream for us to fly, thus the title, “Called to Soar”. His love, beauty, and compassion are transferred to us, they enhance us, inspiring our thoughts, our physical presence, our words, our actions, our eternal destiny. We begin to fly toward “True North”. There is no age requirement, no financial fee, the invitation with a million perks for uniting with your Creator is waiting for you. Find a small group women’s or men’s Bible study near where you live and be transformed!"
God’s Love and Blessings – Tomas J. Fernandez
ZHAO KAILIN
Drawing from the Western tradition of portraiture and composition as well as Chinese culture, Zhao Kailin narrates the direct gaze of his seated subjects, usually female, with a quiet aesthetic that speaks of inner beauty.
FEATURED IN OUR GALLERY
FOR SALE
LIZA HINTZE
ARTIST
Featured for the first time in our lobby Gallery at Signature Medical Spa!
Contact
(434) 973.0771
Email: LizaHintze@gmail.com
Formerly featured:
S.J. Mason