Artitudes features Malta carver Luna in July

Press release

Artitudes Gallery presents Luna C Carvings, artwork by Carmen Luna of Malta.

Luna is well-known for her carvings.

She said that, since early childhood, she had a great love and appreciation for wild animals and the natural world.  She completed a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1983.

Luna said her professional work as a wildlife biologist and national wildlife refuge manager has been her inspiration and reference material for her medium.

She said that in her 30 years of carving, she has competed and done well in major wildfowl carving competitions such as the Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition in Ocean City, Maryland, the Pacific Southwest Wildfowl Arts show in San Diego, California and the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association show in Sacramento, California. 

She also has competed in Montana, and said she has done well in the Montana Woodcarvers Association in Billings and the Western Montana Woodcarvers Show in Missoula.

In 2016 and 2017, she was awarded a first place ribbon and in 2016 an Artist Choice at the Western Heritage Artist Show in Great Fall,  Luna said. In 2019, she competed with 29 other artists and won first place in a two-day art completion at the Western Artist Rodeo Association, held as part of the Western Heritage Artists Show in Great Falls.

She is a member and participating artist of the Western Heritage Artist in Great Falls, the Ward Museum in Salisbury, Maryland and the Alberta Wildlife Carving Association in Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada.

Luna said much of her work is in private collections throughout the United States.

"My bird carvings are all original pieces of art," she said. "I carve the birds out of tupelo gum wood, create the feathers by using a wood burning tool, use glass eyes, and I make the legs and feet out of brass and/or copper tubing. Any habitat accompanying the carving is also all handmade.

"My desire to create life-like birds is not to create a perfect replica, but to capture the essence of the bird and do justice to the bird's true beauty, size, colors and uniqueness," she added. "Secondly, I carve bird to bring people closer to nature and possibly instill in them an appreciation for birds, other wildlife and their habitat. I want people to be amazed by the bird and not the carving.  Finally, I carve birds because I love to."

People are invited to a reception for Luna at Artitudes Friday, July 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. People can enjoy refreshments and an opportunity to visit with the artist.