An exhibit of the mixed media works of Karen Kassap
June 20 – August 20 

Opening Reception: Tuesday, June 25, 6:30 p.m.

Conversation with the artist: Saturday, August 17, 12:45 p.m.

Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel in New Haven. 

Artist Karen Kassap says her artwork is an expression of her identity as a woman, a mother, a wife and a Jew.

Kassap, who studied mixed media collage with Debi Pendell, says she enjoys this form of expression “because it lays apparent the dichotomy between the completed work and the many layers of paint and paper that form the foundation of the piece. The underlying support for my collages can seem chaotic and wild, and yet my goal as an artist is to draw the viewer in with something that is viscerally attractive, cohesive and sometimes quiet.”

Kassap works from many sources of inspiration, including photographs she has taken and artists she admires. She created her works from painted papers, printed papers, acrylic paint, acrylic gel medium, and various found objects.

 “The many layers required to create the work are often completely invisible to the viewer, but their existence is a mystery that draws one in,” she notes. “Sometimes, patient observation is rewarded with a glimpse of what lies beneath the surface – in the same way intimacy makes visible the hidden layers of oneself.”

Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel is located at 85 Harrison St. in New Haven.

For more information: office@beki.org.