Donna Backues
Donna Backues was born on Guam, grew up in England and in the USA. She has BA in Studio Art and Graphic Design from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and an MFA from The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. In 1989, Donna moved to Indonesia and made it her home for 18 years raising a family, teaching in a community art program and working in a grass roots development organization. Her interest in learning the art of batik led to designing batik textiles and helping start a handicraft non-profit supporting local batik artisans in West Java. After returning to the USA with her husband and two children in 2007, Donna finished her MFA and currently works as a teaching artist in schools and afterschool programs. She has been awarded numerous residencies through the Philadelphia Art Museum’s Delphi Art Futures program and Art Partners program. In 2013 Donna won first prize in the American Batik Design Competition awarding her with a two week batik study tour through Java and Bali sponsored by the Indonesian Embassy in Washington DC. Along with teaching, she exhibits frequently, accepts public and private commissions and continues to work in her studio as a painter, mix-media artist, designer and illustrator.
Awarded Grants
2014
Art and Change Grant (ACG)
Related grantees
Overview
Donna will teach an Indonesian batik workshop within the Indonesian community of South Philadelphia with the primary vision of preserving a cultural tradition that is a national treasure for the people of Indonesia. Besides learning the technique, teen and adult students will also learn about the history of batik in Indonesia, an art form that has been a strong source of identity for Indonesians crossing religious, racial, and cultural boundaries. Together, students will create a both an individual and collaborative piece that will serve as a visual representation of the hopes and dreams of the Indonesian community in Philadelphia.
