Ona M. Dehne

Sadly, Ona M. Dehne passed away January 21, 2008. She was 88 years old, with a long carreer in teaching and creating art. She was well known for her collage portraiture seen on this site.

Researching for a program for Florence Arts and Crafts Association, Ona discovered what a profound influence Cubism had in the development of her geometric style of painting. In turn, very early European artists promoting Cubism were influenced by travelers telling of beautiful art of the Mayan Indians, Mexicans, and American Indians. Ona's early art years were formulated in Tucson, Arizona. In 1925 her family visited and camped on the reservation of the Hopi Indians in northern Arizona. The Tucson area is very close to the Papago reservation.

An accomplished mixed media artist, Ona works with cut painted papers and newspaper clippings. Attracted to sharp contrasts, shades of black and white, and the aged soft yellow colors in newsprint, Ona enjoys the square, strong blocks and columns.

In the spring of 1969 Ona graduated from Eastern Washington State College, earning her Masters in Education. Her thesis was titled Creativity Compared in a Perceptual Art Methods Course and a Traditional Art Methods Course for Elementary Teachers by Ona M. Jacobson.

Several years ago, Ona felt the need to make a more pleasant environment for an unpleasant event. She and her husband Wilber E. Dehne, a native Oregonian, supplied and hung 18 of her watercolor floral paintings in the Riverside Chapel. Many of the flowers were representative of those grown in Ona's own garden and yard during her 16 year residence in Florence. Wilber planned, arranged and hung the pictures for Karen and Alan Burns, owners of the Riverside Chapel and Funeral Home in Old Town Florence. Her watercolor paintings will continue to be on display at the new Riverside Chapel and Funeral Home facility in Industrial Park. The public is invited to view her work at the new location.