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It is my opinion that artists are society’s true visionaries – they not only see the world as it is, but as it could be. One of my favorite quotes comes from Marc Chagall, for it speaks to my own reasons for choosing art as a profession. He wrote, “I had to find some special occupation, some kind of work that would not force me to turn away from the sky and the stars, that would allow me to discover the meaning of life.” For me, engaging the muse is an ambitious undertaking - a heroic quest for truth. As such, much of my work is about the actual process of creation. I rarely approach a blank canvas with a clear idea of its final outcome. Instead, it is about recklessly diving into the unknown and seeing where the journey takes me. I have a background in psychology and I think that training has helped me to be more fearless in terms of my art: to stay in the moment and trust the process. I find that my work has to go through some period of chaos. In my paintings, as in life, it is seeing the turmoil through to resolution that ultimately provides greater depth and character. I am so awed by this life! Though the world contains much tragedy and pain, ultimately it is the majesty of nature, the resiliency of spirit, and the very miracle of our being that inspires and fills us with wonder. Through painting, I attempt to tap into the Mystery and capture something of our true essence – the peace and transcending beauty that we are if we only allow ourselves to be. If forced to say what my art depicts, I would have to say love and spirit and awe. At the same time, the viewer is very much part of the process. The very nature of abstract art allows each individual to bring their own experience to a painting. Once I finish a piece it has a life of its own separate from my understanding and impression of it. It develops its own relationship with those who view it. It is fascinating to hear what other people see – a face, a sunset, a landscape – and always gratifying when someone emotionally connects to my art.
Biography Growing up in Washington DC, Kristine Kowalski’s passion for contemporary art was ignited at an early age by her frequent visits to the National Gallery and Hirshhorn Museum. Standing before the works of modern masters she was deeply moved by their use of color and abstract form. Inspired to try her own hand at art, she began painting in 1997 and established Keridwen Studios in 1999. Since that time, her work has been exhibited in numerous solo and group shows. Kristine is featured in the September 2008 issue of Chesapeake Life Magazine, the January/February 2002 issue of Colorado Homes & Lifestyles Magazine and received a mention in a March 2008 edition of The Washington Post. She has exhibited her work at New York’s Morgan Lehman Gallery and in Boulder, CO at Art & Soul Gallery, MacLaren Markowitz Gallery, and The Dairy Center for the Arts. In 2005 Kristine moved aboard a 41’ sailboat, Yemaya, in Annapolis, MD with her long-time partner Eric Meyer and their wild cat Bungee. She is an Artist-in-Residence at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, is currently working on illustrations for two children’s books that she authored, and is the board president for Creating Communities. Her paintings can be found in private collections throughout the United States and Europe.
Selected Exhibitions
2009 Angels and Other Things, Whole Foods Market, Annapolis, MD* 2009 Selected Works, Loews Hotel, Annapolis, MD* 2009 Create, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis, MD 2008 She, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis, MD* 2008 Arts Alive!, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis, MD 2008 All That Art, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis, MD 2008 Embassy Series Gala, Residence of the Indonesian Ambassador, Washington, DC 2008 Art, Art, Java Java, Kiawah Island, SC* 2007 Arts Alive!, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis, MD 2007 All That Art, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis, MD 2005 Selected Works, Java Java, Kiawah Island, SC* 2004 Selected Works, Magnolia, Boulder, CO 2003 Smaller than a Bread Box, Morgan Lehman Gallery, Lakeville, CT 2003 Elements, Morgan Lehman Gallery, Lakeville, CT 2003 Selected Works, Magnolia, Boulder, CO 2003 Holiday, Manning Place, Washington DC* 2002 Longmont Studio Tour, Keridwen Studios, Longmont, CO 2002 Joy!, Art & Soul Gallery, Boulder, CO* 2002 Diamonds & Spurs, NCAR, Boulder, CO 2002 Quartets, MacLaren Markowitz Gallery, Boulder, CO 2002 Quartets, Limbo, Boulder, CO 2001 Artful Quartet: Conversations in Image, Dairy Center for the Arts, Boulder, CO 2001 Blue Eyes Snap Like Fire, Art & Soul Gallery, Boulder, CO* 2001 Denver AIDS Art Auction, Pepsi Center, Denver, CO 2001 Art/AIDS 2001, Boulder Public Library, Boulder, CO 2000 Dreaming Red, Limbo, Boulder, CO* 2000 Selected Works, Colorado Business Bank, Boulder, CO 2000 Women Driven to Abstraction, MacLaren Markowitz Gallery, Boulder, CO 1999 Kristine Kowalski: Early Works, Over the Moon, Longmont, CO* 1997 Visions and Verses in Private, Naropa University, Boulder, CO * indicates a solo exhibition
Awards 2006-9 Artist-in-Residence, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis, MD 2002 Scholarship, Anderson Ranch, Snowmass, CO 2001 AHAB/Addison Mini-Grant, Art & Humanities Assembly of Boulder 2001 Mini-Grant for Visual Arts Projects, City of Boulder Arts Commission 2000 Community Curator, The Dairy Center for the Arts, Boulder, CO
Selected Publications 2008 Chesapeake Life Magazine (September issue) 2008 The Capital Online – Meet the Locals (June 12) 2008 The Island Connection (May issue) 2008 The Washington Post (March 13) 2007 The Capital (March 18) 2007 Bay Weekly (March edition) 2006 Naropa University – Catalog Cover (Spring edition) 2002 Bombay Gin: Bomb’s Away (June edition) 2002 Colorado Homes & Lifestyles Magazine (January/February issue) 2001 Boulder Weekly (October 4) 2001 Boulder Daily Camera (May 31, June 1, September 23) 2001 Colorado Women’s Magazine (June issue)
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