(page 16) MARCH 2015
CULTURE PROFILES BY DENISE DEPAOLO
DONNA O’DEA AT EASTBANK GALLERY Sioux Falls’ Most Famous Psychic Shows Her Art Donna O’Dea’s home is full of art. The canvases that dominate her wall space show images of war, poverty, archetypal figures, deities, and reflections on the general human condition. “What I don’t do is flowers and houses,” she said, when asked to describe her work. “It’s more emotive than decorative. One day I’ll paint flowers, just not yet.” The works and their subject matter are deeply personal to O’Dea (arguably eastern South Dakota’s most notable psychic medium), because she has worked tirelessly, compelled by her own desire to create and channel what only she can see. The body of work is impressive for any artist, but particularly exceptional when one learns that 79-year-old O’Dea only began painting in earnest a few years ago, when a medical condition forced to her stay inside. “I always wanted to paint,” she said. “When my kids were
little, I’d do a painting or two. Then my husband would say, ‘What’s that good for?’ At that time I kind of believed him, but I don’t anymore. Creativity, creation – I believe it changes the whole universe.” Inspiration for the richlycolored, highly detailed paintings comes from O’Dea’s life experiences both in this world and on the spiritual plane. One particularly striking image depicts workers leaving Sioux Falls’ John Morrell meat packing plant. “That painting really is personal,” said O’Dea. “My ex worked at Morrell’s and I’m telling you, that place spawns alcoholics. They go in when it’s dark, and in the winter, they get out when it’s dark, and they stand there and do the same thing all day long. Just look at their eyes. They just go kind of numb. And they get out and they reach for the bottle and a cigarette and they live like zombies, some of them.” A woman dressed in purple, surrounded by images of flowers, butterflies, and a large white feather is the focus of another work. O’Dea says the painting represents the journey of Maybelle Schein, a Sioux Falls woman who was murdered in 2011. Schein was a childhood friend and lived next door to O’Dea’s sister at the time of her death. When she died, Schein was 75, but appears
younger in the painting. “After her passing, I saw her like I painted her,” explained O’Dea. “She loved purple. This painting is mauves and purples and I painted her wearing lots of jewelry, because she loved it. And flowers.” O’Dea continued, “There actually was a message from her. She said she wouldn’t have evolved to the point where she is today if she hadn’t gone through all of that. That boosted her spiritual growth. I’m not recommending that as a way to do it, but it is a little nice to know there’s a purpose and something good can come out of something so horrendous.” The feather, she says, landed at her feet during Schein’s prayer service. She still keeps it as a sign that her friend is in a better place. O’Dea works chiefly with acrylic paint, because she can’t stand the fumes from oils. Her work is that of a very active mind, and while it may be temping for her to abandon one work to begin another, she forces herself to finish the task at hand before moving on. “If I tried to paint everything I’m thinking of, I’d have a whole lot of nothing,” she said. Family, friends, and clients who come to O’Dea’s home for readings have been fascinated by her art since she started making it, but she has only
shown it in public once, at a church art fair. This month, the rest of us will have a chance to view the work as well. She will be part of the March art show at the Eastbank Gallery at 8th & Railroad Center in Downtown Sioux Falls. O’Dea will show about 10 paintings, some of which will be for sale. However, some of the more personal pieces will remain in her possession. Whether she sells her work or not is inconsequential, because for O’Dea, the creation is enough. Although it happened later in the game, art has been her way of telling the stories of her life, and the life that those of us with only five senses do not experience. “I know it happened when it was supposed to,” she said. “I was gifted with the time. Like everybody else, I’m just running and running and running. And the universe said, ‘Have a seat.’ I think there’s a certain amount of life experience that’s necessary for some of this. I understand more. I understand on a different level; that can only come with experience and time. Some of us are born knowing a lot, but I wasn’t.” Donna O’Dea’s art can be viewed at 8th & Railroad Center’s Eastbank Gallery through March 28. The artist’s reception is 6-8 p.m. on March 6. For more info, visit eastbankartgallery.net.