Artist's Reception & Gallery Talk: Photographs, Collages and Monoprints by Karen Skelton September 3, 2010

rtist’s Reception & Gallery Talk: Friday, September 3rd, 5:00 – 7:00 pm

The Exhibitions Program of Bard College at Simon’s Rock announces the opening of its 2010-2011 season at the Atrium Gallery with an exhibition by Great Barrington-based artist Karen Skelton. An artist’s reception and gallery talk will take place at the gallery on Friday, September 3rd from 5:00 - 7:00pm. The Atrium Gallery is located within the Alumni Library at Simon’s Rock. The gallery is open during regular library hours while the college is in session: weekdays 8:30am – midnight and weekends 11:00am - midnight.

Skelton first picked up a camera when she arrived in New York City in 1976 to study at the School of Visual Arts and it became a life-long inspiration and creative outlet in her career as an artist, printmaker, and graphic designer. Skelton’s early work for the renowned and influential graphic designer Milton Glaser led her into successful creations of wall paper and fabric design for companies such as F. Schumacher. Breaking out on her own, Skelton founded Potluck Studios, a ceramic-based design company that climbed to international sales and acclaim. Currently Skelton is a partner in LookWrite, a graphic design and publications team based in Great Barrington.

For Skelton, photography can be an end in itself or a means to another image. She often uses the photos as raw material for creating another piece such as a collage, or works with the colors and adds layer, or creates a miniseries based on a theme. Skelton’s foundational belief in photography is that the act of taking a photograph has already transformed the subject entirely. The artist strives to move away from “designing” to a more personal and layered expression, with no need to exclude or choose.