I have always had a strong interest in all sorts of crafts and creative processes.

Having lived in Latin America, Africa, Europe and in arctic Quebec, I have a particular interest in using
different ethnic elements in my work. Guatemalan weavers, West African carvers and textiles designers,
Inuit appliqué artists and an isolated French pacifist community have histories of creating beautiful, functional
objects with motifs and symbols found in nature. The privilege of intimate contact with these people in their
life and work has strongly influenced me in my artistic journey.

In creating vessels I continuously explore the use of vessels in daily life as well as in rites and rituals. The
accouterments in the humblest shelter include vessels or container to hold the family's necessities and are
embellished and given pride of place. In many religious practices, vessels are used in celebration rituals.
Birth and death events also include the use of vessels in ceremonial as well as practical usage.

In my work, the rich colours and textures are achieved by layering silk and a variety of found fibres, salvaged
threads and other glitzy stuff and uniting the whole by freehand machine embroidery. Once the newly created fabric
is sufficiently stable, it is cut into desired shapes and stitched together by hand, much in the manner of a stained
glass worker assembling a piece.

Growing up in an environment of resourcefulness and conservation, I also focus my energies on using found
objects and materials that are safe for people and living things.

An interview with Karen




Napoleon
 


Mermaid
"Waiting for her ship to come In"
 



2 Small Purses
 



Turkish Delight, 1998
  



Trillium, 1998
  



Fibres & Finds
Sample of metallics and variety of fibres in water-soluble fabrics
 


Her work can be seen at:

Studio (by appointment)
38 Collingwood Street, West
Meaford, ON
(519) 538-4864
atelier@bmts.com

Harbinger Gallery
22 Dupont St.E.
Waterloo, ON N2J 2J9
Tel: (519) 747-4644
Fax: (519) 747-4063
www.harbingergallery.com

The Carlen Gallery
1171 Bank St. E. Ottawa, ON K1S 3X7
(613) 730-5555

Lynn Robinson - Atelier Ceramique
3 dimensional Art/Craft Gallery + Studio
709 Queen Street, W., Toronto, ON M6J 1E6
(416) 703-2467

Artopia Framing Gallery
276 Wellington St., Sarnia, ON N7T 1H2
(519) 332-0278

A Gift of Art
575 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 3G2
(519) 642-4095


Photo Credits: Alison Bailey Smith
 


 

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All artwork copyright © by the Artist