Japanese Rice Paper Collage and Raku by Sheila Giddens Opens at Smyrna Public Library Display Gallery

The July/August 2017 Display Gallery exhibit has opened – Japanese Rice Paper Collage and Raku by Sheila Giddens.  Ms. Giddens’s exhibit concludes on August 31. The Display Gallery is located on the 2nd floor of the Smyrna Library. The Display Gallery exhibits are sponsored by the Friends of Smyrna Library.

Artist Statement:

Sheila Giddens began her art in ernest by studying the Yamazaki Technique of Japanese Rice Paper Collage under Mr. Yamazaki's daughter, Ruriko, during the early 1980's. She moved to Atlanta in 1989, continuing to perfect her rice paper collages. In 1992, she expanded upon this form with another Japanese technique of art for making hand built pottery and jewelry. This form of art is known as "Raku". She studied the Raku art form with Karen Beswick and later clay sculpture with Peg Schmid and Kelly Thames. She has since extended her art work into colored pencils, studying under Joe belt, Vera Curnow, Meredith Rambo and Janie Gildow. Most of her art involves some form of wildlife which was introduced early in her life by her father.


Sheila has been a member of the South Cobb Arts Alliance since 1989 and an active board member since 1990. She has held several offices in the South Cobb Arts Alliance, including president from 1994 to 1996. She also recently had the honor of being selected as their 1999 "Volunteer of the Year".