Spring Art Exhibition at the Park City Library

Two very different art styles are on exhibit at Park City Library. Works from local artists Karen Kurka Jensen and Linda McCausland may be viewed around the second floor and in the reading room alcove now through May 18, 2018.

Karen Kurka Jensen specializes in sumi-e ink and watercolor on xuan paper. Also known as literati painting, it is of Chinese origin and uses black calligraphy ink on rice paper. Jensen adds watercolor to the mix. She feels her works are her interpretive vision of nature focusing on unity of peace and healing.

Thirty years ago an accident left the artist with a diagnosis of chronic pain for the rest of her life which she refused to accept. “I searched for alternative medicine and was introduced to a Chinese doctor who healed me in less than 2 years. He also introduced me to the Chinese culture, traditions and history which led me to two sumi-e artists. I studied with them and once I touched the paper with my brush loaded with ink, I fell in love and never turned back” notes Karen.

More of Karen's work can be found at Prothro Gallery on Main Street in Park City.

Linda McCausland enjoys pushing the colors and textures in her art rather than portray them exactly as they exist in reality. She works with encaustic and mixed media which is also known as hot wax painting. This process involves using heated beeswax and adding colored pigments. The liquid or paste can then be applied to a surface like prepared wood, canvas or other materials.

Linda has been using this technique since learning it at a Salt Lake workshop in 2008. “I like that it's a medium I can layer objects into and create interesting collages. It enables me to use photographs and different papers as a starting point and then continue from there. In addition, it is an exciting method in itself. Due to having to heat everything to ‘set’ it, one sometimes gets very interesting and unexpected results.”

Visit the Park City Library this spring and experience the artwork for yourself. Works in the exhibition are for sale by contacting the artists directly: Karen Kurka Jensen at karenkurkajensen@gmail.com or Linda McCausland at lpmccausland@yahoo.com.