Have you met Sharon Dunham?

In the early 2000’s, while playing tennis, Sharon Dunham learned about the Village Gallery of Arts from a former VGA member (Sandra Wood). Immediately after joining the gallery, Sharon became the newsletter editor and later served as 2^nd VP. She currently serves as Community Outreach Coordinator overseeing Outside Shows, and programs including free community Art Kits and the Community Art Program (CAP) presentations. Outside of the gallery she has been an active member of the Oregon Glass Guild (OGG) now known as Pacific Northwest Glass Guild. She served as the organization’s past Co-President of the Portland Chapter, OGG State Recorder, Membership Chair, and Newsletter Editor.

Born in New York, Sharon Dunham spent much of her childhood in the San Francisco Bay Area. She studied Landscape Architecture at the University of Oregon, Eugene. But before completing her studies she was offered a job with the City of Eugene’s Parks & Recreation department running a Youth Program. Fast forward to 1982, she moved to Portland where she graduated from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Sharon remained at OHSU where she worked for 31 years as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurse. She also worked for 10 years in the NICU at Providence St. Vincent.  Sharon retired from in 2018. 

Though retired, Sharon actively volunteers at a variety of organizations (Tualatin Valley Creates , Washington County Arts Alliance, Beaverton Arts Commission to name a few). Sharon recently came out of retirement and is now working for the City of Beaverton as the Neighborhood Outreach Support Specialist.

Sharon’s exploration into glass art started during college. Trying to balance both a professional career and her passion for art was challenging.  However, she never failed to fulfill her passion and expanded her pursuit of glass art by attending classes and workshops from her biggest artistic influences – Roger Thomas and Ann Cavanaugh (USA), Miriam Di Fiore (Italy) and Narcissus Quagliata (Mexico). 

Being an avid lover of nature, Sharon finds inspiration in landscapes, cityscapes and geometric patterns. Though she is busy working and volunteering, she devotes what free time she can creating her glass art. Sharon says, “Glass art and music have helped me to relieve the stress of a busy career. Of course, the biggest challenge is finding the time. The best thing about being an artist is meeting and sharing with others.” 

She loves to learn, collaborate and be versatile in whatever she does. For Sharon, success is when the glass piece turns out to be better than expected which sometimes includes “happy accidents”. “It is always gratifying when a piece draws someone in, and it speaks to them on some level.” Sharon said. Her “Canino Forest” landscape featured on VGA website is her most favorite piece of art she has created to date. 

Apart from art, Sharon enjoys gardening, and in the past playing soccer and tennis. Being a senior member of VGA, she continually learns from others while continuing to hone her skills. To all the new member / artists of VGA, her advice is, “Get involved, meet the artists, develop your voice in art and share what inspires you with others!”