MAY EXHIBITION
Mixed Media/Encaustic
Reception: Friday, May 4th, 5:30 - 7:00pm 

 A Piece of Work, Inc. is excited to announce the return of First Friday Art Walks in Olde Town Spirit Lake!  On Friday, May 5th, from 5:30 – 7:00pm A Piece of Work, Inc. will be hosting a reception for May Exhibition Cove artist Karess Knudtson!  Free to attend and open to the public, there will be complimentary food and drink served. 
Karess Knudtson resides with her family in the beautiful countryside along the Little Sioux River in Milford, IA.  Karess studied art and worked in the art department at Minnesota State University, Mankato.  She graduated from Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Virginia Tech with a Masters of Arts in Education. 
"My family and I enjoy exploring our many acres of restored prairie, woodlands and the Little Sioux River as it winds through them,” said Karess.  “We spend as much time outside as we can during all of the seasons, enjoying the diversity and beauty of each one.  The creative process has been a very important part of me for as long as I can remember.  The art pieces that I am currently offering are all original and hand-worked.  Each begins with my photograph and evolves into a mixed media piece of art.  The photo is digitally and physically manipulated.  Some pieces are then created with an upcycled “canvas” which might include barn wood, metal remnants and other “historic” reused materials.   Encaustic painting with beeswax adds yet another dimension of beauty and protection.  As I began exploring the technique of encaustic painting… I felt like I was “home.”   Loving the outdoors and having been an environmental educator and naturalist, all of my earlier experiences come together in this art form.  It combines artistically the elements that I am passionate about....photography, nature, upcycling, and prairies.  I use my camera, computer and tactile media as others would use paints or pencils.”

“There is beauty in every moment of everyday, but in our fast-paced lives it is too easy to let the beautiful moments and objects get away, and we quickly move on.  The intent of my photography and subsequent art is… to capture the beauty of everyday and recapture the beauty of materials from the past by manipulating them into a work of art...reflecting beauty in a place, a time, a life...."
Karess will be giving an Artist’s Talk at about 6:10pm during her reception on Friday, May 5th.  Everyone is encouraged to stop by the gallery, as well as Art on 16th which will also be open for the Art Walk.  Questions can be directed to 712-336-1077 or emailed to apieceofworkinc@gmail.com.  More information on A Piece of Work, Inc.’s upcoming events and 26 Member Artists can be found on the Events page.

EXHIBITION SERIES
In an effort to provide an opportunity for Member Artists and Non-Member Artists to display their work and gain additional exposure, we are offering a special exhibition series to present their works to the general public at the Emporium of Original Art. A special area within the gallery has been dedicated as the “Exhibition Cove”. The artist exhibitions will be for one calendar month.
We are currently accepting applications for months in 2012. If you are interested please visit the For Artists page for more information, or email apieceofworkinc@gmail.com.

EXHIBITION COVE SCHEDULE
January: Rachael Sitzman - Encaustic/Mixed Media  
April: Photography Exhibit in conjunction with Nation Crime Victim Rights Week
May: Karess Knudtson - Mixed Media/Photography
June: Avis Davis & Dan Ruf - Paintings and Nature Photography
July: Nick VonOhlen - Wildlife Photography
August: Denice Peters - Pastels
September: Joel Lueck - 3-D Rendering and Pen & Ink
October: Jennifer Samuels-Tewes - Nature Photography 
November: Glenda Drennen - Watercolor
December: Rhonda Saunders - Pencil Drawings