Michele Oka Doner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michele Oka Doner
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Oka Doner: Bringing the Fire 2018
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| Born | 1945 (age 79–80) Miami Beach, Florida, United States
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| Nationality | American |
| Education | University of Michigan |
| Known for | Artist, author |
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Notable work
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"A Walk on the Beach" Miami International Airport |
Michele Oka Doner (born 1945) is an American artist and author. She creates art using many different materials. These include sculptures, prints, drawings, useful objects, and videos. She has also designed costumes and sets for shows. Michele Oka Doner has made over 40 permanent art installations in public and private places. One of her most famous works is "A Walk On The Beach" at Miami International Airport. This artwork is a long path made of bronze and terrazzo, stretching over a mile.
Contents
Early Life and Inspiration
Michele Oka Doner grew up in Miami Beach, Florida. Her father, Kenneth Oka, was a judge and mayor there when she was young. Their family was well-known in the community. Later, Michele co-wrote a book called Miami Beach: Blueprint of an Eden. This book shared stories about Miami Beach from the 1920s to the 1960s. It used her family's experiences to show what life was like back then.
When she was 12, Michele worked on a special project. She studied the International Geophysical Year (IGY), which was a big scientific effort. She made a book with drawings, writings, and collages. This project helped her learn how to plan bigger art projects later on.
Education and Artistic Growth
In 1963, Michele Oka Doner went to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Her art teachers there encouraged her to combine different art forms. She explored poetry, dance, light, and music in her work. This idea of mixing arts became a key part of her style. She even took part in experimental films and "Happenings," which were live art events.
One of her early artworks was a Death Mask. It was chosen for the cover of the university's art journal. Her Tattooed Porcelain Dolls were also very impactful. Students used these dolls to express their feelings about difficult events. One art critic described them as "bizarre open-stomached puppets, tattooed like the natives of the Amazon."
Michele earned her Bachelor of Science and Design degree in 1966. She then received her Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in 1968. The University of Michigan has honored her many times for her achievements. She received an honorary Doctor of Arts degree in 2016.
You can find many of her artworks on the university campus. These include the Science Benches and large bronze figures. The figures, named Angry Neptune, Salacia and Strider, are located outside the University of Michigan Museum of Art.
Starting Her Art Career
After graduating in 1968, Michele Oka Doner opened her art studio in Ann Arbor. She was near a gallery where scientists and artists were experimenting with holography. Holography is a way to create 3D images using lasers. One of Michele's sculptures was even used in the world's first exhibition of art holograms in 1970.
Her ceramic dolls also gained attention. They were shown on the Today Show in 1969. These sculptures later traveled to the Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland.
In 1975, Michele created a new series of works called Burial Pieces. She displayed these pieces directly on the floor, instead of on pedestals. This was a new way to show sculptures. She had a solo show at the Detroit Institute of Arts in 1977. For this show, called Works in Progress, she placed thousands of clay pieces on the floor. These pieces showed images of writing and seeds growing.
Public Art Installations
In 1981, Michele Oka Doner moved to New York City. There, she began creating many public art installations. In 1987, she won a competition to design Radiant Site. This was a 165-foot-long wall for the Herald Square subway station in New York City. People said that her art made them feel like they were searching the night sky for landmarks.
This project led to many other large installations. These include the River of Quintessence at a courthouse in Texas and Flight at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington D.C. She also designed a security screen called Wave & Gate for a courthouse in Mississippi.
Miami International Airport Art
Michele Oka Doner's most famous artwork is "A Walk on the Beach." This artwork is located at the Miami International Airport. It was created in 1995 and expanded until 2010. The artwork features over 9,000 bronze pieces embedded in terrazzo with mother-of-pearl. It stretches for over a mile, making it one of the largest artworks in the world.
Walking on "A Walk on the Beach" feels like being in a magical place. It's like being surrounded by sea creatures and ancient fossils. It makes you feel like you are walking on the bottom of the ocean, where the Milky Way has fallen. This artwork has become one of the "8 Wonders of Miami."
Sculptures and Exhibitions
In 2009–2010, Michele Oka Doner created SoulCatchers. These were about 400 sculptures inspired by shamanistic traditions. She displayed them in a kiln room at the Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufactory in Germany. She believes that the world has a soul, which we can find through imagination, dreams, and art.
More "SoulCatchers" were shown at galleries in New York and Michigan. Michele's art has been featured in many solo exhibitions. These include shows at the Detroit Institute of Arts and various galleries in New York, Rome, and Miami.
Recently, her solo exhibitions include "The True Story of Eve" and "Close Your Physical Eye." She also had shows like "New Works on Paper" and "How I Caught A Swallow in Mid-Air." Her first video, A Walk on the Beach, was shown at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2011.
Michele Oka Doner also designed sets and costumes for the Miami City Ballet. She worked on their production of George Balanchine's "A Midsummer Nights Dream." Her designs were inspired by images of undersea creatures. These images were also featured in her book, Into the Mysterium.
In 2015, she created a large art installation called “Mangrove Retreat” for Art Basel Miami Beach.
Art Collections
Michele Oka Doner's artwork is displayed in many famous collections around the world. Some of these include:
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- The Whitney Museum of American Art
- The Cooper-Hewitt
- The Louvre in Paris
- The Art Institute of Chicago
- The University of Michigan Museum of Art
- The Pérez Art Museum Miami
Awards and Honors
Michele Oka Doner has received many awards and honors for her amazing artwork. Some of them include:
- Guardian of the Great Miami Beach Banyan Tree by Proclamation, Mayor of the City of Miami Beach, 2021
- Artist In Residence, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York, 2019
- Artist In Residence Manitoga, Garrison, New York, 2019
- Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts, University of Michigan, 2016
- John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Arts Challenge Grant, 2017. Artist Grant, 2015
- Legends Award, Pratt Institute, 2006
- Honorary Doctorate Degree in Fine Arts from the New York School of Interior Design, 2011
- Distinguished Alumni Award, University of Michigan, 1994
- Alumna In Residence, University of Michigan School of Art, 1990
- Artist in Residence (RAAR), Academy in Rome, 1987
- Michigan Potter's Association Ceramic Prize, Detroit Institute of Arts, 1969
- Standard Ceramic Company Award, 1968
- Lydia Winston Malbin Prize at the Detroit Institute of Arts, 1968
See also
In Spanish: Michele Oka Doner para niños
