beadKRap

A studio artist who, for 24 years, resided in Colorado until relocating back to Canada in late 2016. Karen attended York University (Arts) and Ryerson (at the time Polytechnic Institute for Design). After a Craft Residency at Pilchuk Glass School in Seattle, she attended Pikes Peak Community College for metal smithing. Her coursework focused on colour and material development.
Karen exhibited at fine arts/crafts shows throughout Colorado, Michigan and starting in 2017, Ontario.
All the larger beads are made by hand. They are lampwork, where soda-lime (soft) glass is melted in the heat of a single-fuel torch and wound around a steel mandrel. All the beads are kiln-annealed for durability. Most of the findings are also handmade from silver or copper. All of the hollow beads and most of the other beads have metal (copper, silver, aluminum that is etched by laser) riveted onto the end of the bead. The hollow beads are usually filled with seed beads, copper springs, origami cranes, etc., before capping with silver discs or pennies. Last year, chains made solely from borosilicate glass were added to the work.