Kathryn Peterson

Kathryn is an award-winning artist with a BA in Fine Art. She lived in many places before settling in San Diego, starting with her home state, Alaska. From ghost towns to large cities, she has experienced various countries & cultures. This variety is reflected in her art with her use of many genres and media.  As a conceptual artist, she uses found objects to imbue her artwork with symbolism and meaning.  She makes dresses from recycled materials, and also paints plein air, figures, whimsical and scientific artworks. Designing and creating recycled dresses combines Kathryn’s life-long interest in fashion design (she was sewing at age 10) and her attitude of repurposing and recycling unwanted products, appreciating the environment. Painting plein air provides skill building by working live and painting in the community--feeling that sense of fellowship and experiencing beautiful places. Being mix-handed deeply influences her art, thinking and reactions.  Active in numerous galleries, Kathryn’s work hangs in private collections all over the world, as well as in a large public collection in Idaho.

“Nature’s Renewal” is my eighth dress using recycled materials. My goal is to design dresses that are attractive for women to wear using the material’s particular characteristics express my theme. Each dress is laborious and takes months to produce. Pellegrino used to make the world’s best flavored water, Peach Clementine. It tasted like a fine chardonnay. For the last six years, friends came to my home knowing to carefully peel the foil cover off the cans, smiling that someday the detritus would be the basis of a wearable dress. Eventually Pellegrino stopped using the foil, then mysteriously, the yummy water altogether. I had just started this dress when Doris, JoLind, Janet and I met to collaborate, and we talked all about the bodice material, foil from cans of sparkling water inspired our thoughts of fruit and orchards. These friends and family supported me in the making of this dress from their care with their water, to this mannequin that Janet generously brought home for me years ago, the white plastic bags that Doris collected for me, the guidance of JoLind, their inspiration, and trips to Pink Zone with my daughter when she was a teenager that provided the petals.

CA

United States