East Wenatchee couple's art to be featured all summer

QUINCY - Quincy Library's art gallery will show the works of a prominent husband-wife duo, Rod Daut and Martha Flores of East Wenatchee, through the end of September.

The library is located at 208 Central Ave. The phone number is 787-2359.

Flores is well known for her paintings of bright colors and deep messages as well as sculpture. Daut is a photographer of natural and abstract forms.

Both promote art within miles of Wenatchee, from Leavenworth to Soap Lake. They are both retired/semi-retired counselors. Their depth of understanding human nature is reflected in their art.

Flores was commissioned to create a sculpture for Quincy's new library in relationship to the Hispanic population. She created a piece titled "Harvest Pride," which draws positive attention.

Daut is a painter and sculptor, as well as a photographer. This show features his photographs. Most are manipulations of light through reflection and refraction that result in enchanting forms.

Daut also has three pictures of birds and scenes, such as a bird in flight or a kingfisher overlooking the water. Flores has three large paintings on the opposite wall. The boldness and colors cause the viewer to ponder the deeper meaning.

Flores is teaching art in various places to children as well as to adults. She also is a poet and has written two books of poetry in Spanish.

Before moving to Washington 20 years ago, Flores produced a Spanish-language newspaper for which she was given an award by then-Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley.

Daut has produced several videos, including two videos of artists at work. One is of Flores painting and dancing live at the NuArt Gallery in East Wenatchee. He also produced a video art tour of public art in Wenatchee as seen by bicycle. On top of that he even takes photos under the sea while diving.

Daut is a native of California and has resided in Washington for 20 years. He has shown his photos at Two Rivers Gallery in Wenatchee and was featured artist at the Cashmere Arts and Activities Center,

Daut created dive-themed sculptures for the Orca Scuba Center in Wenatchee and is currently showing several of his large photo pieces at the Confluence Technology Center in Wenatchee.

Flores was born in Guatemala and grew up in El Salvador. As a child she loved drawing and telling stories. She came to the United States when she was 15 years old. Among her teaching activities, she leads workshops in "Art as Therapy" and adds to the recovery and improvement of self-esteem of individuals in the emergency housing program in Wenatchee.

She designed the art for and led a group of school age volunteers in painting a mural near a park in Wenatchee as well as many other mural projects with teens from Wenatchee and to Moses Lake.

Flores has shown in various regional galleries from Leavenworth to Chelan to Soap Lake. Her work has been displayed in Seattle and Los Angeles. She also had a show in Quincy's library on B Street SW.