Featured Custom Work
I enjoy when an inquiry from an artist, business, or inspired individual begins with, “Hey, can you…” Browse through the custom work I’ve done for clients and contact me with your inspiration for a project. I may know how to do that!
“It’s Teatime O’Clock!” Multi-Generational Game Lounge and Activity Space at The Kirkland Museum
Custom design, art direction, and lead fabrication of “It’s Teatime O’Clock!” Multi-Generational Game Lounge and Activity Space for The Kirkland Museum of Decorative and Fine Arts, now part of the Denver Art Museum, Denver, Colorado. Includes a custom timeline game featuring graphic teaware from the museum’s collections.
Design Requirements: Multi-generational, Fun, Place to rest, Scavenger hunt activity tie-ins, Correct place to play and touch, Cleanable, durable, long-term, A party! Supports up to 4 people in active play, ADA and adaptive mobility accessible, integrates the Kirkland Mid-Century Modern wall clock collection, Self-sufficient, minimal monitoring, Changes and additions to space can be made over time.
Challenges: clearly invites play in direct contrast to the exhibits and collections of the museum. Museum only recently opened to all ages. Long, narrow space that should not trap people in but invite and allow access to outdoor sculpture garden.
The Owl & The Hourglass, Demonstrating Artist Installation at the Wild Studio at the Denver Art Museum
Create a window installation to provide a month-long look into my artgineering process, part of the multi-generational activity space The Wild Studio, Denver Art Museum.
Design Requirements: visual display of different parts of the design and fabrication process; include “QR-iosity” codes for museum patrons to gain additional Fun Facts about typography, NASA satellite and telescope images, and WorldCat research links I use in my process; showcase limited edition word puzzles and coptic-stitch codex I produce in my studio. Materials, sketches, and games in play are included in the display.
Challenges: the display is unattended and must speak for itself.
Moon Jar Matching Game, Lunar Phases: Korean Moon Jars Exhibit, Denver Art Museum
Custom game design in collaboration with the Curator for Asia-Pacific Collections and family activity specialist for Lunar Phases: Korean Moon Jars Exhibit, Denver Art Museum
Design Requirements: *easy to hold with one hand- I added thumbholes around the perimeter for better handling. *easy to clean- the game is made of sintra board, which allows for easy sanitation and upkeep. *dual language- one side is in English, the other side is in Spanish *Intuitive- the rotating discs are fun to move, but also having two windows reveal the "win state" takes very little time to discover and understand *Pair with exhibit information- I created a moon jar icon that appears on the game and the exhibit information next to the object
Challenges: integrates into exhibit entrance, color matching wall colors
Custom Award Design & Fabrication for Characters of Colfax/ Colfax Ave BID
Materials: Acrylic, LEDs
Design Requirements: Create unique awards to celebrate the people who contribute to the culture along Colfax Ave using the signature colors and font of Colfax Ave BID. This design must be repeatable yearly to produce an iconic look for the awards.
Challenges: work with cost-effective materials, produce a blend of art/award that celebrates Colfax Avenue’s historic neon signs.
Donna Teresa Fasano- Artgineer, The Owl & The Hourglass, Demonstrating Artist at the Wild Studio at the Denver Art Museum
Create a hands-on art activity that shows part of my process for museum patrons of all ages, languages, and accessibility. Demos are 3 hours long. Part of the multi-generational activity space, The Wild Studio, Denver Art Museum.
Design Requirements: Accessible activity that highlights the materials and methods that I pioneered to marble maple wood with colors inspired by NASA satellite and telescope images used to make limited edition word puzzle boxes. Preset 600, 1.5” maple wood dowel ends on 2.5” long furniture dowels. Demonstrating the marbling colors, techniques, patterns, and used display items for reference. Patrons were invited to pick colors and create patterns to create their own marbled “worlds.” Worlds were immediately available to take home. With nearly 200 patrons actively joining and many others observing each three-hour session over four consecutive Saturdays, this was a wildly successful demo
Challenges: Paint can stain/make a mess. The museum provided art aprons and plenty of support to help patrons with the activity.
Knitting Needle Gauge/ Craftsy
Materials: Cherry wood.
Design Requirements: Prototype client-supplied design, adjust design as required for accurate gauge diameter, laser engrave and cut a limited series for client's patrons.
Challenges: Adjusting gauge tolerance to account for laser cutting