Circus of Fifths Exhibit
Katherine Venturelli: Circus of Fifths
January 5 – June 15, 2026
Yocha Dehe Grand Lobby
Monday-Friday 8 AM – 3 PM and at performances
Katherine Venturelli is a well-known regional printmaker and mixed media artist whose recent series, Circus of Fifths, connects directly to an inspiration created by iconic jazz musician John Coltrane. In 1967, Coltrane drew his interpretation of the music theory Circle of Fifths diagram, which shows the relationships between the 12 tones of the chromatic scale, the connections between musical keys, and how key signatures are structured. Venturelli has long been interested in using archetypal symbols, math, and music in her art.
Upon discovering his Circle of Fifths diagram in 2017, she began to explore writing on Coltrane, his music and spiritual journey. As an artist who works intuitively, she connected deeply with Coltrane’s idea of a unifying spiritual vision, and the power of the vibrations that music, science, and art share. Her resulting prints loop back to Coltrane’s original diagram, offering an active array of moving notes, hues, and geometric shapes seemingly at play across the surface.
Working over several years, Venturelli created ten editions of nine etching prints using oil based inks on paper, two of which will be displayed in rotation at the Mondavi Center during winter and spring 2026. The artist applied different color combinations in each edition, from using a range of earth tones, to applying exclusively primary colors (red, blue, yellow), to employing secondary colors (orange, green, violet). In addition, Venturelli created a unique collage from her working drawings, watercolors, and previous etchings to accompany each edition. Coltrane’s diagram, printed on metal, is included here as well. Taken as a whole, her Circus of Fifths continues the dialogue with John Coltrane to a new generation of artists, musicians, and the public.
Artist Statement:
In my art making, I work intuitively, and I welcome improvisation. For some time, I have been exploring in my artwork relationships between geometric and metaphoric symbols, math, and music which, over time, the archetypal imagery evolved to become my “Universal Language” series. When I viewed a diagram of musician John Coltrane’s interpretation of the music theory of the “circle of fifths” it profoundly resonated with my ideas and creative spirit; it was the inspiration for this work. This project is a portfolio book of visual interpretations and translations which endeavors to show the connections/relationships between math, music, and art.
“Circus of Fifths” print portfolio book is comprised of nine copper etching prints on Rives BFK, 250gsm. paper, except for one edition on Stonehenge paper. Oil based inks were utilized. Each edition has one unique collage. The mixed media collages on 2-ply archival matt board include related miscellaneous ephemera of music, text, working drawings and watercolors that originated from my printing process for the project, and prints from my previous “Universal Language” series that had incorporated archetypal symbols with music and math. Each title page has a unique 4”x 3” etching printed below the title. Several of the varied editions utilize the chine collé technique and numerous combinations of hues.
The last page is the colophon, Rives BFK, 250gsm. paper was utilized except for one edition that used Stonehenge paper. The font for the text is Avant Garde. The title page, nine pages of etching prints, collage page, and colophon are housed in a wooden portfolio box that has a bottom covered with black book cloth with two black pull ribbons which enables one to lift out the contents. Archival glues were used.
I created and press printed each copper etching plate in studios in Fiddletown, CA or Santa Fe, NM. The portfolio boxes were designed by me in collaboration with Herb Boxhorn. The Plexiglas stands and portfolio box covers which I designed were fabricated in Sacramento by Acrylic Images.
Katherine Venturelli’s print series Circus of Fifths will be part of an expanded exhibit at the Pence Gallery, Davis, from October 8 to November 28, 2027. For more information on the artist and her work, see www.katherineventurelli.com
Related Event
Coltrane 100: Both Directions at Once
Thu, Apr 16, 2026