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Alon Kaplan interviews Karla Gudeon
AK – The woman with long red hair that appears in a number of pieces – is she an idealized projection of Jewish women, or how you see yourself? Where did you meet her? How did she come into being?
KG -- I don’t think idealized is the right word. She seems global to me –-- every woman can see herself in her. She projects an inner beauty and represents strong women everywhere. I want my work to evoke feelings of recognition in women. Strong Women are whom I admire, want to be like, enjoy hanging out with. I am interested in influential women in history and today. I also focus on visually showing strong friendships between women.
AK – When you made the commitment to become a full-time artist, did you come with certain visual styles or images that you like?
KG -- The tree, birds and pomegranates were the first to come. At the time I was trying to combine an aesthetic that I saw as my own and an aesthetic that I admired. But it really runs the gamut from Persian miniatures to tons of influence from Indian art and then also my favorite American printmaker Leonard Baskin – my work is not anything like his, but his work does evoke a strong emotion and I hope my work does the same.
AK -- I can see the Persian miniatures: geometric shapes, the color combinations, the patterning.
KG – Yes! Patterning is so much of what I do. In the clothes and the detailing – it’s an integral part of what I do.
AK -- It’s interesting now that I’m thinking about it – you are influenced by Persian and Indian art, which is how Jewish art has been influenced in the past.
KG -- Yes, and by Jewish illuminated manuscripts. My initial foray into the whole world of Jewish art was in ketubot. I did one of a kind ketubot before I did my line of engraving. Much more rendered, much less the style I have now. A whole different side of me. I did spend a lot of time studying illustrated manuscripts.
AK -- It seems like some of the power and freshness of your work is because you are going directly to the source. At the same time, your work has a freedom to it that Indian and Persian art almost—well, let’s just say they are going for a more formalized vision of energy.
KG -- Exactly. That’s where I think my love of South American, primitive, and outsider art comes in. This is naive art, art by untrained artists, even art by men and women who had been institutionalized in prisons or asylums. Their art is full of raw emotion, heartfelt responses, and depth of soul. I also love the art of kids I have taught: their work is inspirational – so free and full of heart.
AK -- Do you see yourself as an outsider artist?
KG -- [laughs] Not at all! My art is from my heart and I hope from a depth of soul – which is where the overlap is. But I was schooled. I give my schooling credit for having helped my artistic abilities. Plus I have been very much a part of mainstream society.
AK -- In terms of incorporating Jewish themes, Hebrew writing – and I’m not going to say ‘Jewish sensibility’ because I don’t know what that means today – but do you see yourself as a Jewish Artist?
KG -- [laughs] Hmm. The specific phrase “Jewish Artist” isn’t working for me. I see myself as an artist who puts every side of herself into her work – especially the joy and the pride that I get from my Jewish heritage. I’m not one of these people who bemoan a terrible childhood. I come from an extraordinary family. My husband and two sons give me daily joy and my extended family is so inspirational and there is a diversity of people doing all different kinds of things that are wonderful. One thing that has given me so much happiness is the family gatherings, especially around the Jewish holidays. What you see in my work are loving families celebrating Jewish holidays and events together.
AK -- I’m seeing that in your artwork.
KG -- I have a whole series of pieces that revolve around little Yiddishisms- and to me those phrases are all a tribute to my grandmothers.
AK -- Did they have a big influence over you in terms of--?
KG --Everything.
AK -- The original strong women?
KG -- Both grandmothers were strong women and great influences on me, but the grandmother everyone says I take after, both in actions and appearance, loved people, was entertaining, really didn’t give a hoot what people thought, was so much fun. Just infused everything with life. She had this real attitude of, “this is who I am.”
AK -- Definitely the joy comes through. The Judaism that you portray is full of light and color. It’s how I imagine the Bible would look if the words literally came to life. Judaism taking place in the Garden of Eden.
KG -- People who come to my house are sometimes stunned by the artwork that I have chosen to display because it represents a vision of a darker period in Jewish history, or more of a provoking art than people would expect me to own. I’m not simply a happy go lucky person. I feel very deeply the societal woes of past and present. But while I respond to that, it is not where that I want to go with my own artwork. I need to keep my artwork towards that joyful side.
AK -- That is the Judaism that I want my daughters to know. Growing up, there was such a sense of those who weren’t with us, such a shadow over the holidays. I want something different for my children.
KG -- I know exactly what you’re saying.
AK -- The first time I saw your work, it was like that story you tell about meeting the three other women artists and feeling like you were going to be best friends forever. I felt like I knew your work – not that it was familiar – that there was something rich and traditional about your art, something from my childhood. It felt like this is exactly what Nishima and I have been working for – a place to showcase modern, vibrant Jewish artwork filled with life and meaning and poetry.
KG -- That makes me feel incredibly good. That’s the end that keeps me going. Having people connect to my work. It makes me feel fulfilled.
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Karla Gudeon's engaging engravings are created using techniques that produce artwork that is brightly colored, textural, fresh, and evocative.
Karla's original designs unite dry-point engraving, a method of hand-pulled printmaking, with watercolor painting, thus achieving one-of-a-kind status for each piece. Beautiful hand-made papers with organic fiber inclusions provide a natural yet elegant surface for Karla's work.
Mouldings are selected from the framing industry's most eclectic leading edge designs. Her distinct decorative frames augment and complement her unique colors and compositions.
The images incorporated into Karla's engravings depict representations of life, love, family, community, ritual and customs in a world of fanciful forms and highlighted natural beauty.
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"I strive to portray metaphoric imagery of those who have resonance and meaning in my life, heroes of biblical proportions and personal heroes." -Karla
Karla Gudeon is a storyteller. She culls her images from her own cultural heritage and family lore. It is through Karla's natural ability to tell a story, her humor and wit, that her work attains its universal appeal. As with the best folk and lyrical art, Karla's work is wholly accessible while encompassing emotional honesty and layers of meaning. Her chosen medium, the limited edition dry-point engraving, allows her work to circulate to an ever widening circle of collectors and admirers. Each print, hand water colored in bright, rich hues, remains truly unique. The imagery, interpretations, and stories embodied in these works touch the soul and warm the heart of the observer.
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