| About Drina Fried |
Resume- Complete Work History Including Art
2010- Teaching Workshop: January 16 and 23; 2 sessions 1:00-4:00P.M.- Downtown
Sewing Machine Company, Water St. Henderson Nevada 89011- Contact Carrie Mecherle
at 702-457-9600 to enroll. Make your own embellished fabric collage.
2009- "Red Couch" won "Best of Show" at the 29th annual "Celebrating Life"
Charleston Heights Art Center in Las Vegas. Following this show 7-14-09,
Tranquillity #2 -"Red Couch" showed in the winner's circle at Las Vegas City Hall
until September 27, 2009. 3rd prize at Annual Vegas Art Guild Spring Show; Best
of Show at "Celebrating Life" 29th annual show. Artwork shown at the The Canyon
Ranch Spa Artwalk, between the Venetian and Pallazzo in Las Vegas for the second
time, and at the Pfaff Downtown Sewing Center. Continued to write articles for the
Henderson Art Association and Vegas Art Guild. (Articles Written By Drina Fried )
2008 - March-May- Solo art show at Spotlight Theatre in Bakersfield. Continuing
rotating change-outs in central California, group shows in Henderson and Las
Vegas, Nevada. Juried into a Contemporary Art Center show in Las Vegas; Artwork
shown at the The Canyon Ranch Spa Artwalk, between the Venetian and Pallazzo in
Las Vegas, Represented by the City of the World Gallery in Las Vegas. She also
wrote interviewing articles for the Henderson Art Association and Vegas Art Guild.
2007 - -- Rotating change-out Exhibits at various Kern County Administration
Buildings and businesses; May, 2007- 3 pieces accepted in the Bakersfield Art
Association “extra large” art pieces show- 5th place for “Mullions Out to Vegas"
2008 to the present - She continues to show in California and Nevada
predominantly, producing embellished fabric art as her specialty. Her work is
admired though not yet widely known.
October, 2006– January, 2007 Art show at Kern Central Credit Union - 2
sculpturers; Drina as sole hanging artist – 73 pieces of work – Invited by the Arts
Council of Kern.
2006 Exhibition shows at the Bakersfield Philharmonic Orchestra, Art-In-The-Park
opening, and juried into the Contemporary show at the Bakersfield Art Association.
*2006 part time Psychologist for the Fairfax and Vineland School Districts, Fairfax
and Arvin, CA.; Grades K-8
2005 - San Luis Obisbo, CA- 28th Juried Exhibition of Fine Craft Dimensions 05;
and also juried into their members' exhibition; Juried into the Arts Council of Kern
County art show.
2005 part time Psychologist for the Beardsley School District, Oildale, CA. Grades
K- 8
2005 - School Psychologist of the Year, presented by the Kern Association of
School Psychologists
2002 - 2005 Yearly amateur entries in the Kern County Fair- Prizes in mixed media,
watercolor and abstract categories- including one Chairman’s Choice, four 1st
prizes, and even more 2nd, 3rd, and honorable mention awards.
2004 - Solo exhibit- one month with Russo’s BookStore- ending with a
demonstration of the Making of a Fabric picture, Bakersfield, CA; exhibited with
the Madiera Arts Council:
1980 - 2008 - Marriage Family Therapist and Licensed Educational Psychologist in
private practice, Bakersfield, California (Specialize in treating addictions,
depression, anxiety, and managing stress and anger especially through the use of
cognitive behavioral and rational emotive therapy, reality therapy, and clinical
hypnosis).
1980-2005 Full time School Psychologist for the Kern High School District
2005- Lead Psychologist for the Kern High School District
1980 - President of the Kern Association of School Psychologists
1976-1980 -Psychologist for the Bakersfield City School District – Grades K-8
1975-1980 University of the Pacific, Stockton, California- Ed.D. in Counseling
Psychology and Education.
1972-1975 Psychologist for the Webster School District, Grades K- 12; Rochester,
New York.
1971- Counselor and psychometrist in the Office Of Psychoendocrinology-
Children's Hospital, Buffalo, N.Y.
1968-1970 State University of New York at Buffalo, Masters degree in Guidance
1966 - Welfare Social Worker, Buffalo, N.Y.
1963-1966 State Univ. of N. Y. at Buffalo, BA in Psychology-graduated cum laude.
1963 – 1966 Dental Hygienist; work experience part-time
1961 – 1963 Dental Hygiene AA, Erie Community College, Buffalo, New York
Art Background - narrative
In 1954, Drina, age 10, won $25 in a newspaper art contest, and also took her first
art workshop at the Albright-Knox Museum of Art, in Buffalo, New York. In her
twenties she took portrait drawing classes from artist, Rhoda Lurie Fried. Then
she took a Master's level art history course in college, but majored in psychology.
However, in 1999 she took art most seriously, took an art class in night school, and
she painted with other artists weekly and on her own whenever she could find the
time. ...usually in the "dead of night". Like any ambitious artist, she voluminously
read art magazines and art biographies and how-to draw and paint books; She
attended shows locally and visited art museums and galleries almost everywhere
in the world she's traveled.
Non-Art Work Background - narrative
Drina went to colleges in New York on a Regent's Scholarship, wanting to find a
career to support herself. Before coming to the central valley in California in the
late 1970’s, she sold two of her only three framed art pieces at the time, and sold
her house in Rochester, New York to attend the University of the Pacific in
Stockton, California; receiving her doctorate in Counseling Psychology and
Education in 1980. Her work history includes being a dental hygienist, social
worker, elementary school teacher, psychometric assessor for the Office of
Psychoendocrinology in Children's Hospital in Buffalo and a school psychologist in
N.Y. and CA; practicing a total of 32 years in three school districts. Simultaneously
she had a private practice for 26 years in individual, Marriage and Family
counseling, and in hypnotherapy. One psychology work for which she dreams of
being remembered is "Offensiveless Defense" with only two rules for living safely.
BEYOND EDUCATIONAL AND COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY- finding a niche-
She had a desire to use her brain more creatively than writing psychological
evaluations. She loved music and tried singing locally in various venues (choirs,
musicals, and solo performances). In 1994 she became interested in fabric and
learning to sew, and was taught (for 14 years) by RoseMary Ross, a Home
Economics teacher next door to Drina’s school psychology office. Within a few
years fabric remnants and a book Snippits by Cindy Walters led her to take up art
again, in a less traditional way. The Walters book taught her how to back her fabric
with glue and form pictures. She developed her own embellished fabric collage
art and started showing her "productions", thereby sliding into an art career.
Later (in 1999) when she joined the group of local Bakersfield artists, and then
painted in a group led by Charlotte White, she won more and more art amateur
categories. In 2006 Drina moved from amateur artist to professional artist by
entering 8 pieces with the professional artist categories, in the county fair. Each
piece won 1st, 2nd, or 3rd prize. Categories were Mixed media, Collage, Miniature,
County landmarks, and Watermedia.
In the Bakersfield Californian, contributing art news columnist Camille Gavin wrote,
"....Fried designs her (fabric collage) pieces like a painting --deciding on the
subject, size,and what she'll need to do to show contrast and unity in a harmonious
composition. In addition to fabric and depending on the design, she may use fabric
markers, acrylic paint, beads made of crystal and metal studs. Instead of laying
down paint, she finds appropriate fabric to express her idea, cuts the various
fabrics and uses steamed glue to affix the fabric to the background...."
"Twin Towers” was inspired after a call from her son from his apartment in
Manhattan at the time of its bombing by the terrorists. “Tranquility” became the
first in a series of 6 “interior landscapes”. "Flowers for My Valentine" a piece was
done for her husband was juried into the Madiera citrus show in California. Her art
is also in private collections in New York; New Jersey, Nevada, and California so
far.
In 1967, Drina had a son, Mark Fornasiero. In 2006 he married Nicole Hertvik and
now we have 2 granddaughters. Drina lives in Las Vegas with her husband. She
has an art studio second home in Henderson, Nevada.
2010- Teaching Workshop: January 16 and 23; 2 sessions 1:00-4:00P.M.- Downtown
Sewing Machine Company, Water St. Henderson Nevada 89011- Contact Carrie Mecherle
at 702-457-9600 to enroll. Make your own embellished fabric collage.
2009- "Red Couch" won "Best of Show" at the 29th annual "Celebrating Life"
Charleston Heights Art Center in Las Vegas. Following this show 7-14-09,
Tranquillity #2 -"Red Couch" showed in the winner's circle at Las Vegas City Hall
until September 27, 2009. 3rd prize at Annual Vegas Art Guild Spring Show; Best
of Show at "Celebrating Life" 29th annual show. Artwork shown at the The Canyon
Ranch Spa Artwalk, between the Venetian and Pallazzo in Las Vegas for the second
time, and at the Pfaff Downtown Sewing Center. Continued to write articles for the
Henderson Art Association and Vegas Art Guild. (Articles Written By Drina Fried )
2008 - March-May- Solo art show at Spotlight Theatre in Bakersfield. Continuing
rotating change-outs in central California, group shows in Henderson and Las
Vegas, Nevada. Juried into a Contemporary Art Center show in Las Vegas; Artwork
shown at the The Canyon Ranch Spa Artwalk, between the Venetian and Pallazzo in
Las Vegas, Represented by the City of the World Gallery in Las Vegas. She also
wrote interviewing articles for the Henderson Art Association and Vegas Art Guild.
2007 - -- Rotating change-out Exhibits at various Kern County Administration
Buildings and businesses; May, 2007- 3 pieces accepted in the Bakersfield Art
Association “extra large” art pieces show- 5th place for “Mullions Out to Vegas"
2008 to the present - She continues to show in California and Nevada
predominantly, producing embellished fabric art as her specialty. Her work is
admired though not yet widely known.
October, 2006– January, 2007 Art show at Kern Central Credit Union - 2
sculpturers; Drina as sole hanging artist – 73 pieces of work – Invited by the Arts
Council of Kern.
2006 Exhibition shows at the Bakersfield Philharmonic Orchestra, Art-In-The-Park
opening, and juried into the Contemporary show at the Bakersfield Art Association.
*2006 part time Psychologist for the Fairfax and Vineland School Districts, Fairfax
and Arvin, CA.; Grades K-8
2005 - San Luis Obisbo, CA- 28th Juried Exhibition of Fine Craft Dimensions 05;
and also juried into their members' exhibition; Juried into the Arts Council of Kern
County art show.
2005 part time Psychologist for the Beardsley School District, Oildale, CA. Grades
K- 8
2005 - School Psychologist of the Year, presented by the Kern Association of
School Psychologists
2002 - 2005 Yearly amateur entries in the Kern County Fair- Prizes in mixed media,
watercolor and abstract categories- including one Chairman’s Choice, four 1st
prizes, and even more 2nd, 3rd, and honorable mention awards.
2004 - Solo exhibit- one month with Russo’s BookStore- ending with a
demonstration of the Making of a Fabric picture, Bakersfield, CA; exhibited with
the Madiera Arts Council:
1980 - 2008 - Marriage Family Therapist and Licensed Educational Psychologist in
private practice, Bakersfield, California (Specialize in treating addictions,
depression, anxiety, and managing stress and anger especially through the use of
cognitive behavioral and rational emotive therapy, reality therapy, and clinical
hypnosis).
1980-2005 Full time School Psychologist for the Kern High School District
2005- Lead Psychologist for the Kern High School District
1980 - President of the Kern Association of School Psychologists
1976-1980 -Psychologist for the Bakersfield City School District – Grades K-8
1975-1980 University of the Pacific, Stockton, California- Ed.D. in Counseling
Psychology and Education.
1972-1975 Psychologist for the Webster School District, Grades K- 12; Rochester,
New York.
1971- Counselor and psychometrist in the Office Of Psychoendocrinology-
Children's Hospital, Buffalo, N.Y.
1968-1970 State University of New York at Buffalo, Masters degree in Guidance
- Counseling
1966 - Welfare Social Worker, Buffalo, N.Y.
1963-1966 State Univ. of N. Y. at Buffalo, BA in Psychology-graduated cum laude.
1963 – 1966 Dental Hygienist; work experience part-time
1961 – 1963 Dental Hygiene AA, Erie Community College, Buffalo, New York
Art Background - narrative
In 1954, Drina, age 10, won $25 in a newspaper art contest, and also took her first
art workshop at the Albright-Knox Museum of Art, in Buffalo, New York. In her
twenties she took portrait drawing classes from artist, Rhoda Lurie Fried. Then
she took a Master's level art history course in college, but majored in psychology.
However, in 1999 she took art most seriously, took an art class in night school, and
she painted with other artists weekly and on her own whenever she could find the
time. ...usually in the "dead of night". Like any ambitious artist, she voluminously
read art magazines and art biographies and how-to draw and paint books; She
attended shows locally and visited art museums and galleries almost everywhere
in the world she's traveled.
Non-Art Work Background - narrative
Drina went to colleges in New York on a Regent's Scholarship, wanting to find a
career to support herself. Before coming to the central valley in California in the
late 1970’s, she sold two of her only three framed art pieces at the time, and sold
her house in Rochester, New York to attend the University of the Pacific in
Stockton, California; receiving her doctorate in Counseling Psychology and
Education in 1980. Her work history includes being a dental hygienist, social
worker, elementary school teacher, psychometric assessor for the Office of
Psychoendocrinology in Children's Hospital in Buffalo and a school psychologist in
N.Y. and CA; practicing a total of 32 years in three school districts. Simultaneously
she had a private practice for 26 years in individual, Marriage and Family
counseling, and in hypnotherapy. One psychology work for which she dreams of
being remembered is "Offensiveless Defense" with only two rules for living safely.
BEYOND EDUCATIONAL AND COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY- finding a niche-
She had a desire to use her brain more creatively than writing psychological
evaluations. She loved music and tried singing locally in various venues (choirs,
musicals, and solo performances). In 1994 she became interested in fabric and
learning to sew, and was taught (for 14 years) by RoseMary Ross, a Home
Economics teacher next door to Drina’s school psychology office. Within a few
years fabric remnants and a book Snippits by Cindy Walters led her to take up art
again, in a less traditional way. The Walters book taught her how to back her fabric
with glue and form pictures. She developed her own embellished fabric collage
art and started showing her "productions", thereby sliding into an art career.
Later (in 1999) when she joined the group of local Bakersfield artists, and then
painted in a group led by Charlotte White, she won more and more art amateur
categories. In 2006 Drina moved from amateur artist to professional artist by
entering 8 pieces with the professional artist categories, in the county fair. Each
piece won 1st, 2nd, or 3rd prize. Categories were Mixed media, Collage, Miniature,
County landmarks, and Watermedia.
In the Bakersfield Californian, contributing art news columnist Camille Gavin wrote,
"....Fried designs her (fabric collage) pieces like a painting --deciding on the
subject, size,and what she'll need to do to show contrast and unity in a harmonious
composition. In addition to fabric and depending on the design, she may use fabric
markers, acrylic paint, beads made of crystal and metal studs. Instead of laying
down paint, she finds appropriate fabric to express her idea, cuts the various
fabrics and uses steamed glue to affix the fabric to the background...."
"Twin Towers” was inspired after a call from her son from his apartment in
Manhattan at the time of its bombing by the terrorists. “Tranquility” became the
first in a series of 6 “interior landscapes”. "Flowers for My Valentine" a piece was
done for her husband was juried into the Madiera citrus show in California. Her art
is also in private collections in New York; New Jersey, Nevada, and California so
far.
In 1967, Drina had a son, Mark Fornasiero. In 2006 he married Nicole Hertvik and
now we have 2 granddaughters. Drina lives in Las Vegas with her husband. She
has an art studio second home in Henderson, Nevada.
Drina Fried, a central California award winning artist,
came to Henderson, Nevada in 2008. During her first
showing there, her fabric collage "Citroen" won "Best
of Show". In an annual "Celebrating Life" 2009 show
her "Red Couch" also took "Best of Show. It hung in
the Las Vegas City Hall until Sept. '09, and it brought in
the highest award at $500.
Drina’s collage process is unique, and involves layering chosen fabrics backed with
heat steamed glue until the underpicture is formed. Then various embellishments
are added to emphasize shading and contrast, including paint, embroidery, and
other media. Often her visions are cityscapes, colorful interiors, and florals.
Watercolors and digital photographs are sometimes preludes to embellished fabric
collage art pieces. Much of her work is concerned with the process of looking,
perceiving from a digital image, and interpreting into a varied fabric “canvas”.
Steam-A-Seam glue makes each piece as strong and durable as oil or acrylic on
canvas. However, it is shown under glass to stop the inclination viewers had to run
their fingers over the various textures. While giclees (prints) of the fabric pieces
can be purchased for much less, each original is one of a kind, not duplicatable.
Finding each piece of silk, velvet, suede, even cotton is part of the task, not just
opening up a tube of paint and buying more when you run out.
Born- Buffalo, New York, 1943; Her father ran a jewelry display manufacturing
business until he was 85 years old. Her mother was a self taught artist and
unpublished writer. Drina is the granddaughter of Taylor Caldwell, an author in the
late 1930’s to the early 1980’s of 33 best selling novels. Drina’s aspirations are to
do as well in her chosen field of art. .
came to Henderson, Nevada in 2008. During her first
showing there, her fabric collage "Citroen" won "Best
of Show". In an annual "Celebrating Life" 2009 show
her "Red Couch" also took "Best of Show. It hung in
the Las Vegas City Hall until Sept. '09, and it brought in
the highest award at $500.
Drina’s collage process is unique, and involves layering chosen fabrics backed with
heat steamed glue until the underpicture is formed. Then various embellishments
are added to emphasize shading and contrast, including paint, embroidery, and
other media. Often her visions are cityscapes, colorful interiors, and florals.
Watercolors and digital photographs are sometimes preludes to embellished fabric
collage art pieces. Much of her work is concerned with the process of looking,
perceiving from a digital image, and interpreting into a varied fabric “canvas”.
Steam-A-Seam glue makes each piece as strong and durable as oil or acrylic on
canvas. However, it is shown under glass to stop the inclination viewers had to run
their fingers over the various textures. While giclees (prints) of the fabric pieces
can be purchased for much less, each original is one of a kind, not duplicatable.
Finding each piece of silk, velvet, suede, even cotton is part of the task, not just
opening up a tube of paint and buying more when you run out.
Born- Buffalo, New York, 1943; Her father ran a jewelry display manufacturing
business until he was 85 years old. Her mother was a self taught artist and
unpublished writer. Drina is the granddaughter of Taylor Caldwell, an author in the
late 1930’s to the early 1980’s of 33 best selling novels. Drina’s aspirations are to
do as well in her chosen field of art. .
