ANNOUNCING FALL SUMI-E PAINTING CLASSES

For more info, go to: http://www.karenssumi-eprints.com/upcoming-sumi-e-classes.php

I'm excited to announce Sumi-e Painting Classes are set!!
At the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
Classes begin Sept 5!
To reserve your spot, or questions, contact Karen at karenkurkajensen@gmail.com

Enroll early to assure having your materials here for class.
2-hour Sessions on Saturdays in September through December
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA

The Spirit of Sumi-e: Introduction to East Asian Brush Painting
Painting classes with Karen Kurka Jensen at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art

Originating thousands of years ago, ink painting or sumi-e, as it is called, is one of the oldest art forms. Deceptively simple in appearance, sumi-e can be a refuge of inner-peace and self-enlightenment. Learn to find the essence of your subject, its spiritual quality and then how to put the whole world in a brush stroke.

First session starts Sept 5 for 6 weeks. Classes meet for 2 hours. Choose the class time that works for you.

First session : Sept 5 – Oct 17, with a break on Sept 26.
1A: Morning class 10:30-12:30
1B: Afternoon class 1:30-3:30

Second session : Oct 24 – Dec 5, with a break on Nov 28.
2A: Morning class 10:30-12:30
2B: Afternoon class 1:30-3:30

Signup now to secure your place, space is limited.
Tuition: $210/6 weeks.
50% family discount on second tuition if parent and child wish to participate together.
Call Karen at (319) 396-9735 or email karenkurkajensen@gmail.com
register now

Self Defense for Women: Pass it on

25% raped?

Please help me get the word out. A friend of ours, Jeff Schmatt, jeff@rubicon-photo.com, is teaching a valuable Self-Defense class for College-bound women. Jeff is a professional photographer http://www.rubicon-photo.com/ and a Tai-Chi and self-defense instructor with a heart of gold.

Help people help themselves. Pass the word on.

Hello
Please forward this announcment for a Self-Defense class for College bound women. Please print/forward this email to any young ladies that would benefit from learning some basic self-defense before heading off to college.

In brief the class is this Thursday the 30th at 7 pm until 9 pm, At Elliott’s Uptown Fitness Center –1st Street Building
Mount Vernon, IA. Cost is $25 each or $40 when signed up with a buddy. $30 at the door.
Group rates available. Reservations are recommended.

I attended a special self-defense class this winter and certified by http://www.justyellfire.com/
to teach their basic techniques. I also have over 25 years of martial arts experience and have been teaching martial arts for 20 years. I have been a Tai Chi instructor for the GWAEA College for Kid program of 17 years. This is my first official class under using the name “Circle Out Self-Defense.”

The statistics are not really pleasant for our young women—just one horrifying stat is 1 in 4 young ladies raped before graduating high school; this is one reason why Dallas Jesup creator of JustYellFire.com has developed these basic techniques to help young women empower themselves and reverse these statistics. Miss Jesup’s goal is to get this program as part of high school curriculum so girls will be presented this information four times in high school.

We teach our children fire drills, tornado drills, but what about personal safety drills?? Have you taught your child about how to protect themselves from attack? Have you talked to them what to do or not to do? This class will involve watching the JustYellFire.com DVD and a discussion and the second half will be hands on practicing of these essential defense tactics. We will discuss specific topics for college age women regarding dorm life, parties, and dating.

Thank you for helping spread the word about this event.
Jeff Schmatt
Email: jeff@rubicon-photo.com
Website: http://www.rubicon-photo.com/
319.895.8776

Priscilla Steele's review

Thank you Priscilla for this review! http://www.campbellsteele.com/blog/
See more of my shikishi boards at http://www.karenkurkajensen.com/shikishi_board_tiles.html

Karen Kurka Jensen / Shikishi boards
Written by Priscilla June 30, 2009, 6:10 pm

Shikishi board #1 / 9.5″ x 10.5″ / $150 (framed) / Karen Kurka Jensen

“Living only for the moment, turning our full attention to the pleasures of the moon, the snow, the cherry blossoms and the maple leaves; singing songs, drinking wine, diverting ourselves in just floating, floating; … refusing to be disheartened… this is what we call the floating world…”Description of the images created by Japanese (ukiyo-e) wood-cut artists Hokusai Katsushika’s Kanagawa Great Wave.

For me, the miraculous abstraction of Karen Kurka Jensen’s “shikishi boards” is a 21st century parallel to the decorative beauty of the wood-cuts of the Japanese ukiyo-e artists. Washes of metallic pigments collapse the illusion of deep space, and, like Hokusai Katsushika’s iconic, “Kanagawa Great Wave”, create a dramatic interplay of convoluted form, line and color. Their visual impact is cosmic and oceanic in nature. This has been the foundation for my on-going affection for these small sumi-e paintings.

'Grace' happened as grace usually does - she was given

This week I will deliver the original of one of my most favorite pieces, Grace, to its new home, purchased by one of my best friends, Anne & Joe Sara. Grace will have plenty of company, as Anne and Joe own upward of probably 20+ of my paintings. Their home is a virtual museum/gallery of my work, representing every phase and style of my painting as it has evolved. I couldn't be more thrilled that Grace is owned by these wonderful friends.

Grace was born through near-failure, and while the image represents that process, the name, Grace, represents the story of my life, as my past is not made up of always making the right decisions, yet here I am now, filled with a life of blessings.

I was painting with Susan Frame, my mentor, teacher, and friend, along the Minnesota northshore, in Grand Marais. Susan teaches a workshop there every summer, which is a place where I return to every year, to fill my spirit.

After a long, frustrating day of painting, part of this image emerged, but it wasn't looking right, it wasn't enough. Another failure, I thought, ready to toss it away, as I have in the past. I asked Susan for her advice and she gently instructed " maybe just a little touch of color here, a little there" - and then she let me be. I still wasn't sure I could salvage it.

But I took a deep breath, released it slowly, touched my brush to the paper, and...grace flowed - through me, through my brush, on to the paper.

It was enough.
You know, grace is always enough.

teaching

my kids are so fun... and so talented!
I'm teaching beginning sumi-e to middle schoolers during the College for Kids program at Coe College
oh my... the talent...
more than anything i want to expose them to a new way of seeing
that the world around them is alive
they are a part of it as it is a part of them
very zen
but very relevant
even today
if this world is to continue to roll across the universe
we all need to see (feel, breathe, touch, hear) and respect our relationship to our environment
we need responsive, compassionate people
can sumi-e teach this?
i believe it can
so i teach

Sumi-e

Getting ready to teach again has brought me words for my work.

Sumi-e is about touching the world around you
with all your senses,
and in turn, letting the world touch you
then learning to express that touch in the language of brush and ink.

yesterday

trying to get back in the saddle with painting. why so difficult?
it's been more than a few days with marketing, trying to write a grant proposal and getting ready for teaching again.
if I could only apply for the grant using my brushwork instead of wordwork...

okay, back to painting...