Karen Lee
Whether in my earlier career as a psychotherapist or now as a visual artist, I have always been fascinated by the stories we tell ourselves. These subjective narratives become fixed in our thoughts and memories, and they guide our understanding of the world and our place in it. The stories are populated by ghosts of the people who raised us; who became our friends and lovers; who supported or thwarted our goals and desires; and with whom we continue to interact despite their being long gone. Our storylines continually evolve over time to incorporate new people, situations, and explanations of who we are. And just as talk therapy can help us better understand these self-composed narratives, so too can a work of art be a catalyst for this process. The impact of our autobiographical narratives on our present life is a theme I return to again and again in my work. The viewer of my artwork will have her or his own uniquely personal emotional response, one I hope will deepen their understanding of themselves and the stories they tell. My work isn’t photography in the traditional sense; rather, it’s a mixed media approach that combines digital photography and fiber arts. I use elements of multiple photos to compose a new image reflecting the story I want to tell. I then print the image on specially treated fabric using fine art archival pigment inks. Next I layer and stitch the piece to create additional texture and highlight specific areas. The final step is the application of three coats of varnish, and then it’s ready to be matted and framed. The completed work appears to be a painting, but I know there’s photographic “buried treasure” at its core.
