Don Ajello, Sculptor*
  • Home
  • Gallery
    • Past and Current Work
    • Public and PRivate Collections
  • About
  • Events
    • Upcomingt events
    • Past events
  • Technical Info
    • Foundry Pour
    • Video on Vacuum Casting
    • Making of a Pecker Slideshow
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Gallery
    • Past and Current Work
    • Public and PRivate Collections
  • About
  • Events
    • Upcomingt events
    • Past events
  • Technical Info
    • Foundry Pour
    • Video on Vacuum Casting
    • Making of a Pecker Slideshow
  • Contact
Don Ajello, Sculptor
Artist Statement
"It is my intent within a mixed media format to sculpturally take “a tongue in cheek”, jaundice eye investigation of mine and your life . To take an object’s visual definition out of context and to juxtapose items against each other . With some skill and luck I can take you into my vision." ​
Picture


​About me

     
​     
I was born in New York City at the close of W.W. II . My ancestry was of both Sicilian Catholic and Russian Jewish decent . My father was an inventor of scale model toys and trains as well as a hobby store owner in Manhattan . As a child , I was fascinated by the images and objects I grew up with . This early influence of model making and the use of my hands to build sparked the desire to create . Drawing and sculpture seemed like the obvious progression and I completed my education at California Institute of the Arts , California State University , Longbeach and California State University , Fresno ending with a Masters Degree in Sculpture . My current studio is in Santa Rosa , California.

     My work embodies whimsy, fantasy, and surreal symbols . I feel equally satisfied by working in a range of materials : bronze , wood or ceramics . I chooses to create functional and non-functional sculpture with some works embracing a certain seriousness, and others containing humor. As a Vietnam Veteran , I was strongly effected by war and it’s disturbing effect on humanity and the consequences to the planet. After the war I  embarked  on a series of sculptures relating to this topic. On the humorous side I have produced a well-received series entitled “ The Petaluma Peckers” .  I am  represented by a number of galleries both in California , Oregon .​
                ​Education

1979           Post Graduate Studies, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
1977           M.A. Sculpture, California State University Fresno, Fresno, CA
1974           B.A. Sculpture (Cum Laude), California State University,
​                Longbeach,  CA
1968-1969   California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles, CA

                 Galllery Affiliations
​
Hanson Howard gallery, ashland, oregon
  • Exhibitions​
  • Awards and Grants​
  • Media Coverage​
  • Donations / Public Service-support
<
>

2016     “Cast, Forged and Welded”, Petaluma Art Center, Petaluma CA.
           “Artistry in Wood”, Sonoma County Museum, Santa Rosa, CA.
           “The Box Show” Northwest Woodworkers Gallery, Seattle WA.

2015     “Jessel Gallery Group Show” Jessel Gallery, Napa CA
           “Artistry in Wood”, Sonoma County Museum, Santa Rosa CA.

2014     “Whimsey” Querica Gallery, Duncans Mill, CA
           “Begin Aqain” Cloverdale Art Aliance, Cloverdale CA.
           “Artistry in Wood”, Sonoma County Museum,Santa Rosa, CA Award
           “The Box Show” ,Northwest Woodworkers Gallery, Seattle WA.

2013     “Small Works Show” Graton Gallery, Graton, Calif. Award
           “It’s for the Birds”  Hanson Howard Gallery, Ashland Oregon
           “Artistry in Wood”, Sonoma County Museum, Santa Rosa, CA Award
           “SLAM” San Luis Obispo Museum, San Luis Obispo, CA. Award

2012      “The Box Show”  Northwest Woodworkers Gallery, Seattle, Wa.
           “Artistry in Wood” Sonoma County Museum, Santa Rosa, Ca
           “Face Me “ , Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, Ca. Award
           “Artists for Annadel”, Gallery 300, Santa Rosa, CA. Award
​
2011      “Artistry in Wood”, Sonoma County Museum, Santa Rosa, CA
           “The Box Show”, Northwest Woodworkers’ Gallery, Seattle, WA
           “Annual Juried Show”, Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, CA
​
2010     “Members’ Show”, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA
           “Funeria Show”, The Funeria Art Gallery, Graton, CA
           “The Box Show”, Northwest Woodworkers’ Gallery, Seattle, WA.
           “Artistry in Wood”, Sonoma County Museum, Santa Rosa, CA.
​2009    “Out of a Box”, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA
           “Artistry in Wood”, Sonoma County Museum, Santa Rosa, CA. Award
           “Dualities”, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA. Solo Exhibit

2008    “Art & Impermanence”, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA
           “Artistry in Wood”, Sonoma County Museum, Santa Rosa, CA. Award
           “Form & Function”, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA

2006    “Bakers Dozen”, The Quicksilver Mine Co., Forestville, CA

2005    “Born of Fire”, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA. Award
           “Small Works”, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA

2004    “Artists as Activist”, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA

2003    “Fortunes”, Cultural Arts Council of  Sonoma County, Santa Rosa, CA

1998      “The Library Show”, Sebastopol Community Library, Sebastopol, CA
            “Contained: The Box Show”, Santa Rosa City Council Chamber, Santa Rosa, CA
​
1992       “Small Works”, California Museum of Art, Santa Rosa, CA
            “The Container Show”, Santa Rosa City Council Chamber, Santa Rosa, CA
​
1984       “Cultural Arts Council of  Sonoma County Group Exhibit”, Petaluma Mill, 
​             Petaluma, CA

1982       “Group Show”, John Bolles Gallery, Santa Rosa, CA

1981       “Don Ajello – Sculpture”, Art Gallery,
             Los Medanos Junior College, Pittsburg, CA

1979       “Drawing & Small Sculpture”, Del Mar College, Corpus Christi, TX

1978       “The Sculpture of Don Ajello”, Union Gallery,
             San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

            “Group Show”, Los Medanos Art Gallery,
             Los Medanos Junior College, Pittsburg, CA

             “From the Real to the Surreal”, Palo Alto Cultural Center, Palo Alto, CA
             “California State Fair Fine Arts”, Sacramento, CA. Award
             “C.E.T.A. Group Art Exhibition”, San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, CA

1977        “Group”, Union Gallery, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
             “Container”, Mill Valley Arts Guild, Mill Valley, CA
             “California Crafts X”, E.B. Crocker Art Gallery, Sacramento, CA. Award
​
1976        “Don Ajello: Art Revelations”, Art Revelations Gallery, Fresno, CA
             “Group Exhibit”, Art Gallery, Fresno State University, Fresno, CA. Award
             “Design West”, Museum of Science & Industry, Los Angeles, CA
​
2014    Honorable Mention, “Artistry in Wood “, Sonoma County Museum, Santa Rosa CA

2013    Best of Show, “Small Works Show”, Graton Gallery, Graton, CA

         3rd Place “SLAM” San Luis Obispo Museum, San Luis Obispo, CA

2012    Best of Show, “Artists for Annadel”, Gallery 300 , Santa Rosa, CA

         Most Creative, “Artistry in Wood”, Sonoma County Museum, Santa Rosa, CA
​
2009  Most Creative, “Artistry in Wood”, Sonoma County Museum, Santa Rosa, CA

2008  Most Creative, “Artistry in Wood”, Sonoma County Museum, Santa Rosa, CA
 
2005  Best of Show, “Born of Fire”, Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA

1980   C.E.T.A. Federal Grant

1978    Honorable Mention, “California State Fair Fine Arts”, Sacramento, CA
​
1977     Merit Award, “California Crafts X”, E.B. Crocker Art Gallery, Sacramento, CA
​
Woodworkers West, Sonoma’s Artistry in Wood” , November-December 2012
 
Woodworker West, “NW Fine Woodworking Box Show”, March-April 2011, pg.19

Woodworker West, “Sonoma’s Artistry in Wood”, January-February 2010, pg.17

Sebastopol Center News, “Born of Fire”, 2005

CATALOG: “29th Annual Exhibition: Sculpture”, Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA. 1982

South Bay Cultural News, “From the Real to the Surreal”, November 1980

ARTweek, “Don Ajello: Universal Egg Conceiving Wisdom”, September 18, 1978, pg.9

California Arts Council, “California State Fair Fine Arts, 1978

Craft Horizon, “Art Notes”, August 1977, pg. 152

CATALOG: “California Crafts X”, Creative Arts League of Sacramento, 1977, pg.41
​
ART IN PUBLIC SPACE
1980 C.E.T.A. Grant, Untitled Sculpture, Overfelt Gardens, San Jose, CA

2006-2017     “Art From the Heart”, Art Gallery, Sonoma State University,
​                   Rohnert Park, CA

2006-2016    Calabash, Food for Thought AIDS Food Bank, Forestville, CA

​2010-2016     Annual Fundraiser, Laguna Foundation, Santa Rosa, CA

​2010-2017     "Empty BOwls" Redwood Food Bank Fundraiser

​2012-2017     "Art for Life" Face to Face Fundraiser

​2010-2017     Sonoma County Museum FundRaiser



Picture
​
​
​Email Don 

​© Don Ajello 2017 All Rights Reserved​
Picture
  • Home
  • Gallery
    • Past and Current Work
    • Public and PRivate Collections
  • About
  • Events
    • Upcomingt events
    • Past events
  • Technical Info
    • Foundry Pour
    • Video on Vacuum Casting
    • Making of a Pecker Slideshow
  • Contact