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art events & info

Karen Wirth - 3D Artist

2/10/2009

204 Educational Sciences Building
1025 West Johnson Street
Madison, WI 53706
5:40 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Karen Wirth will speak of her latest artwork which will be on view at the Kohler Art Library through March 20, 2009.

Wirth's unique books and sculptural works clearly illuminate a vast encyclopedic imagination. Her artworks communicate a long-term fascination with architecture, visual language systems, and the dynamics of both public and private spaces. Her works serve to disorient and reorient the way a viewing participant understands and imagines the world. Her work has been exhibited extensively, including the Smithsonian Institution and the Walker Art Center. Her book works include offset editions (Visual Studies Workshop Press), one of a kind sculptural pieces, and rooms sized installations (Walker Art Center). In the past few years, Wirth's work has expanded into the public sphere. She designed the grand staircase at the Open Book Center with MSR Architects, and has worked with architect teams designing light rail stations for the Minneapolis Hiawatha Project Light Rail Transit system.

Karen Wirth is currently Chair of the Fine Arts Department, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, is an artist and educator whose work encompasses a range of subjects including architecture, sculpture and books. She received an MFA in sculpture at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and a BFA in Art Education at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. She has received numerous grants, including the Bush and McKnight Artist Fellowships, NEA Fellowship, Minnesota State Arts Board, and Jerome Book Arts Fellowships. Published writing includes essays for JAB (Journal for Artists Books), catalog essays for Minnesota Center for Book Arts and College of Visual Arts, and book reviews for Women's' Studio Workshop. Wirth has lectured internationally including the Cornell Program in Rome and Camberwell College in London.

Funding provided by the Brittingham Fund.

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