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The Stuff of Life

Writer's picture: Shea StanfieldShea Stanfield

The "stuff" of life is the inspiration for the color, shape, and textures of Nicolette Maguire Bonnstetter’s abstract realism style of Art. Nicolette says, "It is all about how color and black space play and resonate with one another.” Although the objects are very personal, they aren’t the most important focus of her complex and intricate pieces. The long-forgotten cuff links, ribbons, stuffed toys, and favorite holiday tree ornaments are all recognizable from one’s life. Nicolette comments that one of the reviews of her work called it archival, “You will recognize the subjects in her work from your childhood, your travels, your loves, the fashion old and new. On a very personal level, she draws you in with the images and hugs you in color and space.”

Nicolette grew up in Rockwell City, Iowa, developing her keen eye for detail, a love of all objects big and small, and a sharp wit for the irony in things and objects that combine to form what we consider to be cultural icons. She earned advanced degrees in Art from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, where she honed her skills in the concept of Art as Art. Nicolette taught Art Methods, Art Appreciation, and Art History as an adjunct instructor at the university, a curriculum she draws on today. She is the creator of Art Conversations, a program she presents for the nonprofit Foothills Community Foundation at the Holland Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. Art Conversations is a monthly discussion tied to Art, history, and points of discussion with a bit of humor mixed in.

One of Nicolette's greatest joys is sharing the joy of Art with others. As she puts it, "At the college level, the students are of all ages and backgrounds. They come together to explore their creativity and expand their understanding of Art and how it relates to culture and our world." Nicolette's teachings emphasize that Art is a cultural record, a snapshot of the events, ideas, fashions, and life during a period of history. She believes that we experience our history through Art and everyday objects that have their origins in design.

Women, their stories, and their struggles are a central theme in Nicolette's art. Her keen eye for detail, color, texture, and shape brings these stories to life in her work. Her art took a more direct focus several years ago while teaching a Women in Art course at the university. This exploration set Nicolette and her students off on an entirely personal path of discovery, delving into women's physical, emotional, and cultural issues through time. Women artists, they discovered, have become the dream weavers of the world's cultures, defining how we connect to our community and across nations. Nicolette's images reach back and move us forward in haunting and unexpected ways through color placement on negative space, a testament to the power and resilience of women.

Nicolette also keeps up a busy painting schedule from her studio in the casita on her home property. When asked about her thoughts during her process, she replies, "When I step back from my paintings, I see a quilt containing good and bad life experiences. These quilts in the form of my paintings are shrouded in memories, much as the quilts have been sewn for centuries by women all over the world. I'm piecing myself together, slowly, steadily, and with one brush stroke at a time. The climate and condition of our fractured world beg us to take time to reflect, consider, and imagine how we might piece together our lives and help others do the same." To this end, Nicolette states, "I work with abandon and explore forms of art tied to those done by women for centuries."

In this spirit, she holds monthly critiques for the Sonoran Art League at the Desert Foothills Library in Cave Creek, Arizona, in addition to her series at the Holland Center. Hosting events for groups and fundraisers at her studio is another way she has developed to give back to the community. Nicolette’s wildly colorful and intricate images on a black background are popular with collectors across the country and abroad. Her studio is always open, and she loves to talk about Art. She is a juried member of the Sonoran Art League and the American Woman Artists. Nicolette’s work will be on display as part of a group exhibit at the Holland Gallery of Fine Art, 60th and Carefree Hwy, Scottsdale, Arizona, in November 2024.


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