Byproduct, 2005 Ink, acrylic, upholstery foam, cut paper. Approx. 17" x 17"

Christa Donner is a Chicago-based visual artist who explores the complexities of internal and external body image, creating small-press publications and large-scale drawings that map alternative models for the body and its image based on sensation and imagination. Her work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, including major exhibitions at Kravets-Wehby Gallery (NY), POST (CA), the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (OH), Wuthering Heights (Sweden), Gallery 400 (IL), the Centro Columbo Americano (Colombia), and Carnegie Mellon University (PA).

Christa's art is interwoven with a wide variety of community-based projects centered around self-publishing and body image. She currently teaches printmaking and seminar courses at the University of Illinois at Chicago and works with public programs across the country including the South Chicago Art Center, VAMOS Summer Youth Program, Allen County Public Libraries, and Ladyfest New York.

More of Christa' work can be found online at www.christadonner.com.

"Blue Sky was an incredible opportunity to really focus on an ambitious project (two, actually) supported by time, funding, facilities, and the help of an amazing group of creative collaborators.

"The residency allowed me to expand my artistic practice by combining the art-making I'd previously done alone with the public outreach work I'd been doing separately. The element of collaboration with young people added in moments of surprise, humor, and wonder that made the work far more interesting than if I'd done it alone."