A Turlock native’s innovative uses of light as an art medium will be gracing the labels of thousands of bottles of beer come this winter.
The Deschutes Brewery out of Oregon selected a design by artist Natasha Bacca to adorn their winter ale Jubelale. Each year the brewery selects an artist residing in Oregon to create a distinctive label design that will be “evocative of the season’s festive atmosphere.”
The brewery described Bacca’s piece as a “unique creation of light” and the first non-traditional, photo-based art medium used for the Jubelale label.To create her artwork, Bacca works in complete darkness, using beams of light with a tool she invented. By manipulating the color and the intensity of the light onto light sensitive paper, she literally paints with light.“The piece illustrates a cold winter night in the background with a dynamic warm fire in the foreground,” Bacca said. “I wanted the composition of the work to exhibit a balance of cool scenery elements with the warm and energetic celebrations of the season, exemplifying this festive time of year.”Bacca was born and raised in Turlock. She earned an Associate of Science degree in Photography from Modesto Junior College, before completing her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Oregon, and a Masters of Art in Education with an art credential from Eastern Oregon University. She currently teaches photography at Central Oregon Community College.Bacca came to photography just as the industry was embracing the digital format. She says the change made her delve into the basics of photography, which is when she first got the idea of painting with light.Abstaining from cameras and computers, Bacca uses her invention to manipulate the light onto light-sensitive paper and after photo-chemical processing, the image is revealed. Bacca has a patent pending for both the artistic tool and process.Bacca’s work can be seen locally at the Turlock Art Commission Gallery from Nov. 15 through Jan. 15, 2011. The gallery is located at 156 S. Broadway in Turlock. Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and during public meetings in City Hall. Admission is free.Jubelale will be available this winter at Safeway and BevMo locations.To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.
