About the artist

RHONDA URDANG is an independent studio artist working across multiple disciplines. Since founding Flagstaff Feminist Art Studio, she has worked primarily in femmage, book art, collage, digital manipulation, assemblage, film, painting & satire. Her thought-provoking artworks have been shown extensively in regional, national, and international group shows in 42 states. Rhonda received her BFA with an emphasis in painting from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and later worked as a journeyman color separation artist in Phoenix, retouching high-fashion catalogs for Anne Klein, Ann Taylor, Bergdorf Goodman, Bonwit Teller, Estee Lauder, and Neiman Marcus. 

The Celtic Tree month of Ivy begins September 30--Ogham Letter (Old Irish):  Gort--Ogham letter (G), signifies growth, tenacity, and the ability to find support, and reflects ivy's nature of climbing and its evergreen resilience.  This month embodies themes of endurance, perseverance, and interconnectedness of life, often linked to wisdom and personal development.  In some lore, ivy is seen as a feminine counterpart to the male holly and is linked to goddesses of reincarnation and fertility.  The Old Irish letter Gort (g) is an ancient Irish writing system related to "garden" and "enclosure" -- associated with concepts like fields, growth, steadfastness, and introspection.  

The Full Harvest moon in Aires (fire sign) on October 6, a total lunar eclipse, signals a passionate emotional transformation -- particularly concerning intuition, empathy, relationships, and spirituality.  This largest and brightest moon of 2025 will bring focus on themes of finances, values, and self-worth; potentially leading to shifts in income and material stability.  This cosmic event may also be a turning point in our relationships, with a new dynamic emerging to redefine how we connect with others.  This lunar phase offers an opportunity to let go of outdated beliefs about paucity and embrace new possibilities for growth, while embodying courage and initiative.

The New Moon in Libra (air sign) will arrive on October 21, marking a powerful time for setting intentions related to relationships, beauty, and harmony, as well as for personal reinvention and balance.  It's an opportunity to make bold plans for the year ahead -- potentially refreshing our image, style, or personal projects.  The astrological energies at this time will support new communication, partnerships, and exploring new levels of self-expression.  

Samhain or Sauin, a Gaelic festival on November 1st will mark the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the "darker half" of the year.  It is also the Irish and Scottish Gaelic name for November celebrations that begin on the eve of October 31, since the Celtic day began and ended at sunset, marking the Celtic New Year.

Rhonda's historical digital collage Georgiana Martin Burton Pittock (Portland, OR) will debut in Chasing Ghosts 9:  Piercing the Veil through Remembrance, Legacy, and Beyond at Verum Ultimum Art Gallery, Portland, OR.  The term ghost may be interpreted in many ways and is an idea of revealing the unseen.  The annual virtual exhibition will open the first weekend in October and run through midnight on Halloween, the eve of All Saints' Day.

Image:  Georgiana Martin Burton Pittock (Portland, OR) (C) 2025 All rights reserved

"She sweeps with many-colored brooms"  -- Emily Dickinson