About Karen

crazy-me-photo500My purpose is to donate my work to organizations committed to development in Cambodia for use in find-raising activities.

 

Partner Non-Profit Organizations

  • United Cambodian Cultural Center, Long Beach CA.
  • Friends Without A Border (Angkor Children’s Hospital), New York NY.
  • New Hope for Cambodia, Baltimore MD.
  • Mekong Quilts, Phnom Penh Cambodia.

Invitational Shows

  • A Matter of Pattern, 2010.
  • The Kohler Gallery, 2009.
  • The Gallery Upstairs, Fairfield CT, Solo Show, 2008.

Juried Shows

  • Chernow Gallery, Housatonic Museum, Why Not Show, 2008.
  • Wittingham Gallery, Norwalk CT, 2008.
  • Rhonda Schaller Studio, New York NY, 2008.
  • Barnum Museum, Journey: Stories My Mother told Me, 2008.
  • Rhonda Schaller Studio, New York NY, A Small Ray of Hope, 2007.
  • SAQA On-line gallery show August 2007.
  • Rhonda Schaller Studio, New York NY, A Great Awakening Show, 2007, juried by Rhonda Schaller. Catalog available.
  • Fairfield Arts Council Gallery, The Banner Project 07 Show, 2007. Juried by Laura G. Einstein.
  • Grand Finale of the World Quilt Competition Tour, Schaumberg IL 2007.
  • Pacific International Quilt Festival, Santa Clara CA 2007.
  • World Quilt and Textile Show, Harrisburg PA 2007.
  • The Loft Gallery, San Pedro, CA 2007.
  • Quilter’s Heritage Quilt Show, Lancaster PA 2007.
  • Studio Art Quilters Association, Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival, New Art from an American Tradition, 2007. Juried by Juried by Aaron DeGroft, Director of the Muscatelle Museum of Art at William and Mary College.
  • Gallery at Merchant’s Square, New Art from an American Tradition, Williamsburg VA 2007. Juried by Aaron DeGroft, Director of the Muscatelle Museum of Art at William and Mary College.
  • Rhonda Schaller Studio, New York NY, ACCESS Show, 2007, juried by Rhonda Schaller. Catalog available.
  • Oakville Museum, Toronto ONT, Common Thread Exhibit, 2007. Juried by Barbara Klunder, professional textile artist; Joan Phillips, teacher; Michael Maynard, Associate Dean of Visual and Performing Arts, Sheridan Institute
  • Northern Star Quilter’s Guild show 2007
  • Bruce S. Kushner Gallery, Fairfield CT, 2006
  • Silvermine Guild Gallery, Norwalk CT 2006
  • Wittingham Galleryl, Norwalk, 2006
  • Northern Star Quilt Guild show, 2005
  • Many other local quilt guild shows 2000-2005

 

Publications

Read about Karen Maru and what inspires her at World of Threads Festival. She is featured among the Weekly Artist Interviews, highlighting fibre artists around the world.The festival is an international showcase of contemporary fibre art. They are a not-for-profit initiative with charitable status organized by dedicated volunteers. Their goal is to exhibit innovative fibre based art from around the world and to highlight the strength of local talent.
  • Catalog, Chernow Gallery, Why not? Show 2008
  • Studio Art Quilters Association, Portfolio 15, 2008
  • Catalog, Rhonda Schaller Gallery, Great Awakenings show, 2007
  • Catalog, Rhonda Schaller Gallery, Access show, 2007
  • Studio Art Quilters Association, Portfolio 14, 2007

 

Professional Activities

  • Curatorial committee, Bruce S. Kushner Gallery, Fairfield Public Library
  • Fairfield Arts Council, Putting the Arts in the Heart of Fairfield Committee

 

Grants/Awards

  • 2008 Visual Artists grant from Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism

Writing/Lecturing/Teaching

  • Developing Gallery Relationships, Studio Art Quilters Associates Journal, Vol 19, No 1, winter 2009
  • The Meanings of Khadi Cloth. Fiber Arts Journal, Summer 2008
  • Fiber Art and Thailand’s Handwoven Textiles, Studio Art Quilters Associates Journal, Vol 18, No 2, spring 2008
  • The Cotton Museum review for the Textile Society of America newsletter, winter 2008
  • Trends in Fiber Art article for Textile Society of America newsletter, summer 2007
  • Khmer Exhibit at Northern Star Quilters Guild, 2007
  • Review of Wadsworth Atheneum show for Textile Society of America newsletter, spring 2007
  • Fiber art series in Art Therapy program, Norwalk Hospital, 2006
  • Khmer Project Presentation at Crow Timber Frame Barn, 2006

 

Member

  • Women’s Caucus for the Arts – Connecticut, board member
  • Studio Art Quilters Association, professional member
  • Westport Arts Center

 

Education

  • BA Cornell University, MA Boston University, PhD Temple University (sociology)
  • Art education: MoMA, figure drawing, collage and painting semesters, Silvermine Art Guild, many fiber art classes at QSDS, QBL, Crow Barn etc.