A r t i s t   P a g e s

Karen Crislip's Statement

There is much in the natural world that interests me. I see tapestries everywhere I look – patterns and colors in my environment that first speak to me and then for me. Exploring tapestry technique continues to challenge me as I experiment and push personal boundaries – recently with form. I am also continuing to weave large pieces in my “Rock Striation” series. The strength and stability that coexist with the continually changing visual appearance of stone will always amaze and inspire me.

Karen Crislip's Biography

Karen Page Crislip has been experimenting in art and fiber as far back as she can remember since her mother and grandmothers were her first creative mentors. Karen studied art, design and education for her B.F.A. – and then education and printmaking for her M.Ed. She has taught art and has also worked as an art resource teacher in both public and private schools. Karen tired of black and white lithography as a medium and was moving into multi-colored printmaking when she rediscovered fiber and started taking workshops with artists whose work she admired.

Currently, Karen is also assembling a large tapestry consisting of forty 8" square pieces that she has been weaving, off and on, for the last year and a half--an abstract floral that will memorialize the tsunami of December 2004.  She mentors an apprentice, promotes her special “Tapestry for Teenagers” project, writes occasionally for journals and magazines and was chair for Small Format Frontiers, the ATA sponsored international, unjuried, small format tapestry show held in conjunction with HGA Convergence 2004. Karen shows, sells and teaches internationally. Currently, Karen is mentoring apprentices, collaborating with a tapestry weaver from Moldova, writing for journals and magazines, weaving her Estes Park "calendar series" and designing a large commission.