About The Artist

I am Deborah Karen Tash, currently Artist In Residence for herchurch in San Francisco, CA.. Creating as a spiritual practice and means of self-expression has been the foundation of my work both as a visual artist and a poet. I combine both whimsy and the Shamanic influence on the path of beauty in my art. Working in series I allow idea, inspiration and dreams to guide me in the choices I make about what kind of medium and technique to employ for each piece. I work with painting, mixed media, sculpture, mask, drawing, fiber, collage and clay often weaving them together in a single multimedia expression. I continue to explore how to use symbol and image in order to uncover the shape and influence of transformation on my interior life and that of the viewer, as well. Calling on guides, totem animal allies, spirits, angelics and archetypes, especially in my mask work, I explore the interaction of the human world with the other realms, the Divine Feminine and sacred sexuality striving to discover their energies as embodied in nature, as well as the spirit realms. Depiction of the archetypal realm and the energies of the gods and goddesses are fueled by my love of color. As a Mestiza I also explore both my Mexican heritage from my mother’s line in my poetry as well as my father’s English/Irish/Scottish line which includes Celtic influences. Born in 1949 in Northern California I was shaped by both this dual heritage and a childhood marked by polio. Both of these influences contributed to my preoccupation with solitary activities and interior dimensions. Making art, dreaming, and writing poetry were augmented by telepathic conversations with screech owls that lived in the 100 foot Eucalyptus tree, my dearest childhood friend, which grew in my backyard. Early Shamanic/psychic experiences eventually led me out of organized religion and into the pagan community in my early twenties where I became a worshipper of the Goddess and the Divine Feminine which profoundly informed my art.