Art Exhibit: Karen Bright “It’s a Question of Survival” [a collection of thoughtful paintings] at Atlantic Highlands Arts Council Opening Reception, January 29th from 6-8pm. Artist talk begins at 6:30. Masks required.
Atlantic Highlands Arts Council 54 First Avenue, PO Box 236
Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716
Artist Statement: To convey with abstract form, work that is both measured and unexpected. Informed by the natural environment but influenced by global concerns, the images that evolve out of my process are intended to present conflicting concepts. When I work, I consider the complexity of our world—the composed against the mystical, the beautiful alongside the grotesque, and the colorful hovering next to the haunted—as a virtual potpourri of the emotional connections that make up one’s life. I often consider how descending darkness – whether actual or state of mind – can affect our sense of well-being and purpose. Starting with the bones of an idea, beeswax, resin, and pigment, elements are added and subtracted, scraped and wiped. There is a lot of quiet contemplation as I journey each piece to its end state – the time stamp – where the machinations regarding my own survival and the survival of all that live can stop their progressive march. This internal sourcing matched with the physical labor of art-making connects me to the final expression and completion. My influences are many, but to name a few long standing ones who have been primary to my artistic development, I wish to acknowledge Georgia O’Keeffe, Lee Bontecou, Kiki Smith, Mark Rothko, Paul Klee, László Moholy-Nagy, Oskar Schlemmer, Harry Bertoia, Jasper Johns and so many more—I thank them for their inspiration over many years.
With a background in drawing, printmaking and graphic design, current fine art work is focused on painting and sculpture rendered with encaustic, dry pigment, paper, graphite, and found organic or man-made elements. Working in the abstract, a consistent focus is to create work which comments on the fragile structure of our world. Depending on the piece, this focus can originate from the natural environment or be derived out of the larger human experience.
Karen Bright/Studio Bright – Exhibiting since 1981, Karen’s work has been widely shown and has won many exhibition awards. Recent grants include: two awards from the Urban Coast Institute at Monmouth University, a project grant from International Encaustic Artists. Artist-in-residency appointments include: Weir Farm National Historic Site, Petrified Forest National Park, and Hot Springs National Park. Karen currently serves as a Professor in the Department of Art and Design at Monmouth University teaching upper level courses in graphic and interactive design. Previous academic appointments include: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and Parsons School of Design in New York City. Professor Bright owns and operates Studio Bright in Oceanport, New Jersey. Academic degrees include an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Graphic Design, and a BFA with honors, from the University of the Arts in Printmaking.
