Karen Karnes
Encyclopedia
Karen Karnes is an American ceramist, best known for her earth-toned stoneware ceramics. She was born in 1925 in New York City
, United States
, where she attended art schools for children. Her garment worker parents were Russian and Polish immigrants. Karen was influenced in many ways by her parents' communist philosophies, and has professed respect for working in small communities.
Karen applied and was accepted to the La Guardia High School. As a child she was surrounded by urban realities and visual influences, but she claims that her parents' old-world ideals kept her grounded.
Karnes today makes more contemporary vessels, which are given different attention to design than her original pottery.
She still today makes many traditional forms. Today Karen primarily fills her kilns with more contemporary forms, but she continues to produce casseroles, teapots, cups and bowls.
When Karen was in her mid-twenties, she and her husband David Weinrib moved down to North Carolina
to attend/work at the Black Mountain College
. One of her friends at the Black Mountain College was Merce Cunningham
, and she lived with his partner John Cage
. Both Cunningham and Cage were impressed with Zen Buddhist thought, and were intrigued by what chance had to do with an outcome. They expressed this in their compositions and choreography, in music and dance. “Nichi, nichi kore ko kore.” Every day is a good Day, a Zen Buddhist saying, was one they as a group enjoyed reminding each other of.
While in the Carolinas, Karen Karnes became a country potter. She was introduced to potters such as Bernard Leach
, Shoji Hamada
, and local Americans Malcom Davis and Mark Shapiro. Karen decided to live the rest of her life on a farm, working with clay and using old firing practices such as wood and salt firing. In 2005, her house and studio burned to the ground because of a kiln fire. With the help of donations from a large pottery sale, Karen rebuilt her country house and studio. She received a Graduate Fellowship from Alfred University
, and more recently won a gold medal for the consummate craftsmanship from The American Craft Council
. Her work is displayed in numerous galleries and permanent collections worldwide.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where she attended art schools for children. Her garment worker parents were Russian and Polish immigrants. Karen was influenced in many ways by her parents' communist philosophies, and has professed respect for working in small communities.
Karen applied and was accepted to the La Guardia High School. As a child she was surrounded by urban realities and visual influences, but she claims that her parents' old-world ideals kept her grounded.
Karnes today makes more contemporary vessels, which are given different attention to design than her original pottery.
She still today makes many traditional forms. Today Karen primarily fills her kilns with more contemporary forms, but she continues to produce casseroles, teapots, cups and bowls.
When Karen was in her mid-twenties, she and her husband David Weinrib moved down to North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
to attend/work at the Black Mountain College
Black Mountain College
Black Mountain College, a school founded in 1933 in Black Mountain, North Carolina, was a new kind of college in the United States in which the study of art was seen to be central to a liberal arts education, and in which John Dewey's principles of education played a major role...
. One of her friends at the Black Mountain College was Merce Cunningham
Merce Cunningham
Mercier "Merce" Philip Cunningham was an American dancer and choreographer who was at the forefront of the American avant-garde for more than 50 years. Throughout much of his life, Cunningham was considered one of the greatest creative forces in American dance...
, and she lived with his partner John Cage
John Cage
John Milton Cage Jr. was an American composer, music theorist, writer, philosopher and artist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde...
. Both Cunningham and Cage were impressed with Zen Buddhist thought, and were intrigued by what chance had to do with an outcome. They expressed this in their compositions and choreography, in music and dance. “Nichi, nichi kore ko kore.” Every day is a good Day, a Zen Buddhist saying, was one they as a group enjoyed reminding each other of.
While in the Carolinas, Karen Karnes became a country potter. She was introduced to potters such as Bernard Leach
Bernard Leach
Bernard Howell Leach, CBE, CH , was a British studio potter and art teacher. He is regarded as the "Father of British studio pottery"-Biography:...
, Shoji Hamada
Shoji Hamada
was a Japanese potter. He was a significant influence on studio pottery of the twentieth century, and a major figure of the mingei folk-art movement, establishing the town of Mashiko as a world-renowned pottery centre.- Biography :...
, and local Americans Malcom Davis and Mark Shapiro. Karen decided to live the rest of her life on a farm, working with clay and using old firing practices such as wood and salt firing. In 2005, her house and studio burned to the ground because of a kiln fire. With the help of donations from a large pottery sale, Karen rebuilt her country house and studio. She received a Graduate Fellowship from Alfred University
Alfred University
Alfred University is a small, comprehensive university in the Village of Alfred in Western New York, USA, an hour and a half south of Rochester and two hours southeast of Buffalo. Alfred has an undergraduate population of around 2,000, and approximately 300 graduate students...
, and more recently won a gold medal for the consummate craftsmanship from The American Craft Council
American Craft Council
The American Craft Council , was founded in 1943 as a national, nonprofit, educational organization to support and foster interest in the crafts in America. The council sponsers national craft shows, publishes American Craft magazine, and has an extensive awards program...
. Her work is displayed in numerous galleries and permanent collections worldwide.