YearnScapes
Solo show
ART OPENING

Wednesday November 13, 2019
6-9 PM.
Artist talk 7:30 – 8 PM

Mixed Media- Textile Wall hangings
Karen Thomas

Karen Thomas

Sliding scale donation-

all welcome

Herbal teas and fruit available

“I arrived in prison in 1982, at the age of 35.  Prison life is dull, drab, and devoid of stimulation.  I was in need of an escape from the stultifying routine. I knew that, in order to do my sentence of 25 to life,  I needed to create some beauty with which to surround myself.

The result is these YearnScapes. I’ve been making them since 1983; my creativity continues.  I was released on April 18, 2017.”

I arrived in prison in 1982, at the age of 35. Prison life is dull, drab, and devoid of stimulation. I was in need of an escape from the stultifying routine that had suddenly become my daily life. Prior to my incarceration, I was always creative; knitting, crocheting, cooking, sewing my own clothing, and decorating my home. I knew that, in order to do my sentence of 25 to life, I needed to create some beauty with which to surround myself. We had an organization called Long Termers’ Committee, and there was a craft component to that organization, and space to create crafts. I explained my needs and wishes to Bedford Hills Superintendent Elaine Lord, and asked for permission to use fabric, scissors, quilt batting, straight pins, thread and needles. She encouraged the women to express ourselves, and granted me the space and materials to create my wall hangings. Because I had no access to a window I was compelled to create windows. I craved a view of beauty. My wall hangings have, at times, a literal window frame, showcasing a view I think of as somewhere I would like to be. Even when no window frame is present, as with the snow globes and and glass hanging ornaments, each one is a view or vignette of my past life and inspired by my memories, or is a glimpse of something I yearn for, and wish were my reality, or were a part of my past that made me who I am today. I was 34.5 years old when I committed my crime. I served precisely 34.5 years. I was released on April 18, 2017.

I call my art “Yearnscapes.”