Regarding the samples I chose to represent the years 2011 – 2013, I love the flow between each artwork. It validates that my instinct and intuition for creativity have common ground in shape, symbol, theme and asymmetry. That connectedness suggests that I write first, then you can scroll through and have the experience perhaps similar to the surprise I had in choosing.
There was so much to choose from, it took hours. Total artworks for that period is 249. It seems like a pinnacle time: along with productivity, there were solo exhibits, Gardenshapes, Realms of Wonder and Light as a Feather. UK HealthCare commissioned me to create Garden of Healing, Garden of Hope for their first collaborative Teresa Garbulinska Annual Premier Concert Series.
I received the Al Smith Fellowship from the Kentucky Arts Council. The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce purchased three artworks. KET was here for two days filming a feature video for Kentucky Life Series (click here to watch it). It was ARTTOUR’s first year and I gave artist talks. I became a consultant with the Kentucky Peer Advisory Network.
This post is a bit different because there are many images and links in case you want to follow the stories further.
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Queen Anne’s Lace Garden”, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2011, private collection
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Garden of Healing, Garden of Hope”, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2011, Commissioned by UK HealthCare
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Garden for Blue Grossbeaks”, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2011
© Kathleen O’Brien, ” Above Beyond”, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2011, in the Winter Salon, purchase by Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Executive Suite at the KY Chamber of Commerce, with Above and Beyond and two Treasure Maps
© Kathleen O’Brien, “12 Flowers, 3 Shapes”, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2011, private collection
© Kathleen O’Brien, “1 Light of the Earth, Primary Arithmetic”, watercolor, drawing, petals, mica, collage, 2012, private collection
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Song for Rainbow Parrot”, watercolor, drawing, petals, mica, collage, 2012, featured in the Uncommonwealth exhibit
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Garden for Oriole”, watercolor, drawing, petals, mica, collage, 2012, private collection
© Kathleen O’Brien, “By the Beautiful Sea, Greece”, watercolor, drawing, petals, mica, collage, 2012
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Dawn Space”, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2012
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Nesting”, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2012, private collection
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Realm of Water”, watercolor, drawing, petals, mica, collage, 2012, private collection
© Kathleen O’Brien, “3 Worlds”, watercolor, drawing, petals, mica, collage, 2012
© Kathleen O’Brien, “As Above, So Below“, watercolor, drawing, petals, collage, 2013, this was published in Lithuanian Knitting: Continuing Traditions by Donna Druchunas
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Traveling Shrine for World Appreciation “, oil, drawing, objects, mirrors, 2013, featured in Realms of Wonder exhibit
© Kathleen O’Brien, “Floral-Freeway-Nest“, oil, drawing, objects, beads, 2013, private collection, this was a Give into the Groove project at tribeca trunk
Kentucky Educational TV film crew, Prentice Walker, videographer, Valerie Trimble, producer & Roger Tremaine, audio, producer, July 2012
looking back on this twenty fifth day of February, 2022, I am humbled to observe my little self noticing how empowering it is that now after 10 years I can again apply to be a Al Smith Fellow for the second and last time. At my age I can only comment, that it would be a nice feather in my cap, for my children and grandchildren