Due Donne/Uno Studio

• October 12, 2023 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Crossnore Fine Arts Gallery

205 Johnson Lane
Crossnore, NC 28616 United States

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828-783-1065

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You invited to Due Donne/Uno Studio (Two Ladies in One Studio), a gallery show featuring Anne Colavita and Manuela Strada

About Anne

Anna Oberc Colavita (Anne) was born in Rymanow Dzroj, Poland, one of a long line of folk artists.

Although Anne has had a deep appreciation for the arts all her life, she chose nursing as her profession and became an RN in 1977. A new chapter in her life ensued when she retired from nursing to raise her family in 1982.

Anne found avenues for artistic expression in all aspects of her life while raising 4 children. Decorating a birthday cake or sculpting clay was an excuse to play with color, composition, and design. Seeing the world in vivid, living color, she instinctively was drawn to gardening and became a master gardener, studied Horticulture, and became a Certified Landscape Designer. Arts and crafts seemed second nature, as she became a talented weaver, designing her own blankets and throws, and taught knitting. Fiber arts continued to capture her imagination, and her exquisite quilts are treasured by family and friends who value them as precious works of art. Anne realized that her desire to learn all she could about color theory and composition was undeniable as she designed her own quilts.

With her fourth child preparing for college, she had time to devote to her lifelong passion of art and she became a student at the Braitman Studio, in Charlotte, NC in January 2008. She discovered within the complexity and vibrancy of oil painting a challenging, fulfilling passion. There, she had the privilege of studying with Susan Matthews and nationally recognized and renowned artist Andy Braitman for over 4 years.

She presently has the privilege of being a student of nationally renowned Contemporary Landscape Artist Curt Butler since May 2011, at the Butler Studio in Gastonia, NC. She has taken numerous workshops and classes with artists including Miriam Durkin and Greg Barnes.

Anne is married to Dr. Paul Colavita. They have four grown children who are her most cherished friends.

About Manuela

Manuela Strada is an Italian-born artist living in Charlotte, where she has resided now for 20 years. In Italy, she expressed herself through ceramics and earned numerous awards before moving to Germany where she embraced  the popular decoupage and collage art movement and held courses at the Schenefeld Folk School for international students.

Manuela’s Italian passion shines through now in her colorful creations in any medium, whether it’s pastels, oils, or mixed media paintings. In her new  landscape work series, “Remembering Italy,” she paints from memory and  through her process she strives to include senses that cannot be fully seen, but are felt by her and by her collectors.

​As she creates engaging abstract paintings, Manuela enjoys the mystery and the unexpected. She likens it to having a conversation with a piece; a dynamic bond with agreements and disagreements, excitement and frustration. For many of these engaging abstract pieces, viewers are drawn in by the shapes and colors and transition back and forth from reality to abstraction.

​Manuela is part of the supportive oncology department at Levine Cancer Institute where she works as an artist in residence in the healing art program. She leads weekly art classes and provides therapeutic art to patients, caregivers, and staff.