Karen Kucharski

Karen Kucharski earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in printmaking from the Experimental Studios at Syracuse University in 1986, and a Bachelor or Arts degree in Studio Art from Harpur College, State University of New York, at Binghamton in 1980.  Karen has shown primarily in the upstate New York region, including the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center in Auburn, university galleries at Cornell University and Ithaca College, and regional private and non-profit galleries, including Atomic Tom’s Gallery in Binghamton and The Roxbury Arts Center in the Catskills.  Her work has been exhibited at the Waterworks Gallery and Fridholm Fine Arts Center in North Carolina, the Blue Heron Gallery in Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, and the North Bank Artists Gallery in Vancouver, Washington.  Karen’s work has been included in interactive presentations, including Tango paintings onstage with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra with guest musicians and dancers, at Artpark in Lewiston, New York, in 2007 and 2008.

Artist Statement

The ArcWater series highlights the built environment and elements of nature in a way that integrates the subjects beyond a traditionally contained format.  Their merging signifies the important role of an art setting to bring awareness to the objects and ideas we find precious, and the equal worthiness each of these imparts.  Each site presents an opportunity for the art to pour into, over, around, and through the space in a unique fashion, as if bringing a troupe of performers to react with the walls and corners for sheer joy.  It also invites participation of the viewer to explore the rhythms and structures of the environments accentuated.  I began to emphasize themes of participation and regeneration after recognizing a prevalence of isolation in representational imagery at the close of the 20th century.  I believe such themes of communication and participation are important for today’s vision.  The ArcWater series can be presented as digital prints or as installations.