Rebecca Tobey has inspired many a young person’s creativity … starting with her five children. Working with husband Gene (1945-2006), the Tobey homes and studios have always been filled with objects of wonder, including their collaborative ceramic and bronze sculptures. The couple’s love of the natural world and notably the animal kingdom became the focal point of their artwork and was instilled in their children. As son Josh, a professional artist, recalls, “It is remarkable to think about how large the world must be when everything is so fascinating.”

Reading the Signs. Today, Rebecca works in a ceramic studio where she is creating one-of-a-kind sculptures that serve as canvases for paintings. Using bold and subtly colored slips, matte glazes, and sgraffito (lines incised through the glazes), she tells stories about humankind’s interrelationship with all of earth’s creatures. For her ARTsmart project, Rebecca  introduced Santa Fe and Capital high school students to sgraffito, which they used in creating 8-by-8 inch tiles.  “We talked about the history of sgraffito and the difference between it and modern-day graffiti,” she relates. “The kids were creative, unique, and talented in their designs.” The tiles, which are framed for hanging on a wall or for use as a trivet, will be in a silent auction at the Gourmet Dinner.

Soaring Spirits. Also at auction is Rebecca’s bronze Shadow Walker, which is an example of the melding of human and animal forms so characteristic of a Tobey sculpture. “The bear is a man dressed in a bear costume performing a dance,” Rebecca explains. “He represents strength and self-knowledge and has supernatural powers that guide a person’s spiritual journey through life.” The sgraffito hand symbols represent “the hand of man in the stewardship of the land and animals,” Rebecca says.

To learn more about Rebecca Tobey’s work, visit http://www.rebeccatobey.com/home/