In the early 2000s, six female artist friends sought to exhibit their work together, employing the power of women’s creativity as the theme.

Though their mediums, individual styles, and approach to art-making differ, their works are complementary as a whole, showcasing their talent and the female perspective in what has been a very male-dominated field.

While some of the original members of the group have moved on, others have joined, and they continue to present a range of works that highlight their talent and unique female perspective. The Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation will showcase four artists in the upcoming Dames Hit the Trails exhibition: Darlene Katz, Eileen Mandell, Julianne Ricksecker, and Noreen Ring.

The public is invited to an opening reception to honor the artists on Sunday, March 27, 2-4 p.m. at the MTRP visitor center.

The show itself will present work across mediums, including oils, photography, printmaking, and fiber arts. The works will be available for purchase with a percentage of the sale benefiting the park through the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation.

About the artists:

Darlene Katz – oils

Darlene’s work is found in California galleries, national juried shows, and international private and corporate collections. She enjoys capturing special moments of our lives. Her oil paintings (painted on wood) are bold, yet technically proficient, no matter what the subject.

Eileen Mandell – photography

From childhood, Eileen had been fascinated with stars and constellations first seen at the New York Planetarium, then summer nights in upstate New York. With the advent of digital cameras, her childhood fascination with the night sky led her outside at night, photographing beautiful night landscapes combined with stars, planets, and the Milky Way. In this exhibit, Eileen integrates both of her photographic passions—the love of capturing infrared light in landscapes in the heat of the day and capturing the amazing night Astro landscapes showing the beauty of night skies in dark sky communities.

Julianne Ricksecker – printmaking

Ricksecker has exhibited her landscape and floral pastels, watercolors, and original prints in more than 200 exhibitions around the world. She has won numerous awards, including theRené Carcan International Prize for Printmaking Public Prize award in Brussels, Belgium, and Second Place award at the 8^th International Miniature Print Exhibition in Norwalk, Connecticut. Her work has recently been included in exhibits in Douro, Portugal, Cadaqués, Spain, Cantabria, Spain, Suffolk, England, Bages, France, and at several San Diego and North County venues.

Noreen Ring– fiber arts

Noreen Ring is an award-winning fiber artist who designs whimsical and other-worldly collages using commercially dyed, hand-dyed, and printed 100% cotton textiles. Ring’s art quilts are all hand-stitched using a variety of threads. Each piece is embellished with beads, crystals, and yarn and framed behind glass or plexi. Her artwork is displayed in fine art galleries in Southern California and in private collections throughout the United States.

The MTRP visitor and interpretive center is located at One Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego. It is open daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission is free.

Image by Julianne Ricksecker