“Choosing to work in community as an artist came easy…In the early 70’s, with a BFA from Syracuse University in Advertising Art, I already knew I didn’t want to join the rat race of corporate advertising in NYC. I appreciated the power of visual arts to change the way people think and do things and I feared loosing that control if I tried to make a living at it. Instead I volunteered to work on the Syracuse Peace Council’s Peace Newsletter, helped draw and design posters for community events and worked on the Peace Calendar committee to illustrate important themes of peace and social justice.  I was thrilled to be selling ideas and not things. I loved working with others, brainstorming ideas and reaching consensus.

Join me in a show and tell of over 35 years as an artist in the community. ”    -karen kerney

ABOUT KAREN KERNEY:
A Syracuse Cultural Workers (SCW) founder, organic farmer, artist and activist, Karen enjoys the opportunities for collaboration and community that SCW affords. Among the chorus of voices there, hers always speaks for the small-scale, hands-on solution to any problem. With her partner John, who grows organic grapes along the Jamesville reservoir, she lives out the mantra of “building the world we want to live in”, one growing season at a time. Her talented hands and open heart have created moving and inspirational artwork for untold numbers of community groups working for change over the past 30 years.