Artist Statement

The thread that weaves my work together is an interest in capturing the chaotic beauty of humanity. I see value in studying the imbalance of constructive and destructive change, manifesting harmony in a world when nature is often in conflict with humankind. My collections reflect the evolution of a lifelong mission to shine a light on some of our planet’s most vulnerable communities. My hope is that these pieces inspire empathy and hope for a better future.

Biography

My early identity as an artist involved a strong emotional connection to disparate fragments of humanity—artifacts and stories that even in stages of decay or distress, can be reimagined and reassembled in ways that are both beautiful and inspiring. I’ll never forget sitting with my grandmother in Detroit, carefully plucking petals from a bleeding heart plant and rearranging them into figures of tiny dancers. Visiting the ruins of her once thriving east side neighborhood would later inspire me to create the Detroit Series, an ongoing collection of fused and high-fired sculptures and multimedia pieces. I credit her influence for instilling me with a deep sense of empathy for humankind and nature.

The work you will see on these pages integrates many aspects of my artistic journey, from my early days as a classically trained painter to an evolving affinity for three-dimensional works utilizing glass, clay, metals, and found materials. Over the years I have explored a wide range of mediums including gauche and oil painting, stoneware healing and memory vessels, glass-fused photography, blow molded glass hearts, repurposed glass female figurative bas-reliefs, and black and white pinhole photography. Recently I created pieces in collaboration with my favorite muses—the honeybees that live in a hive on my property. Through these works and in others currently in creation, I invite you to join me in seeing the planet we share in a new light, and take action to protect the most vulnerable among us for generations to come.

Philanthrophic Mission

To continue my lifelong dedication to supporting the welfare of people in need of humane aid and assistance, I established the Diane Feldpausch Tang Charitable Gift Fund in 2018. Over the years, this fund has provided financial support to such nonprofit organizations as the Ragdale artist residency, Mother’s Trust Foundation, the Franciscan Outreach homeless shelter, PADS Lake County, Xerces Society for Invertebrates Conservation, and Firebird Community Arts—an art therapy program that works with underserved urban teens who have witnessed or have been involved in violence. I also co-founded and continue to support the Art Impact Project, a nonprofit that serves adolescents struggling with emotional wellness issues and substance abuse recovery.