Today we’d like to introduce you to Karin Tuck Petersen
Hi Karin Tuck, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have been surrounded by art for my entire life. Growing up outside of Washington D.C., my family and friends would go to museums frequently. My dad filled the house with art from international business trips, and I surrounded myself with a musical and artistic crowd, taking countless art classes and submersing myself into a creative scene. I went to Otis College of Art and Design, in Los Angeles, where I focused heavily on sculpture, fiber art, woodwork, and bronze casting. I was captivated by blending materials.
When I had my first child, I learned the art of quilting, and that became a wonderful creative outlet. Making my own patterns, I started to veer away from traditional quilting to focus on Art Quilts. I created my own process of piecing and layering, while maintaining the historical process.
Through the years, I have pushed myself mentally and creatively, to stretch the boundaries of my work as a fiber artist. I am lucky to have a few fantasic mentors. One of the highlights of the past year was a summer Art Residency at Chautauqua Institution, in New York. It was inspiring to be surrounded by talented artists and be able to create in my own studio space 24/7. The Austin art scene is fun, accepting, and fascinating. I am lucky to show in a number of galleries here, while working on commissions and new projects.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Taking time off from a professional artist practice has been the biggest struggle for me. I have had to relearn the industry. I have consistently continued to make art, but the ways of getting art out into the public has changed considerably. I have learned quickly how to create my own website, work on artist statements, and the application process. I joined The Works Membership, an online group, which has helped demonstrably. It has been extraordinary to create and show new work on different platforms.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My process is ever changing, as I am interested in material play. My work consists of layers of recycled, reused, or gifted textiles, reducing environmental waste, while sewing with various methods. Thinking about the complexity of material and movement, I rip, cut, weave, and manipulate textiles without any specific pattern or guide. I have an abstract idea, and mold it with my hands.
I make my work to examine the subject of choice and tangled responses to trauma or chaos, thinking about exploring beyond the familiar first look and diving into the state of changing emotions in a state of flux.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
I have learned that I am a deeply feeling, process driven artist. Being able to talk about why I make art, and then consistently working, changing, and learning, makes me a better artist. Sometimes the best way to create is to veer from a proscribed path and experiment with passion for making new things.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.karintuckpetersenart.com/
- Instagram: @tucksews
