Feature Articles
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January Issue 2006

Waterfront Gallery in Charleston, SC, Features Works by Karen A. Vournakis

The Waterfront Gallery located in Charleston, SC, is featuring new work by the photographer/mixed media artist, Karen A. Vournakis during the month of Jan. 2006.

This body of work represents the artist's continued explorations with her camera lens of historical sites. For many years Vournakis has been interested in history and architecture and has photographed archaeological sites in Greece and Italy. Recently she has turned her attention to Lowcountry plantations, namely in capturing the beauty of the interiors of Drayton Hall. The sense of history and time permeates the house and the artist is interested in recording with black & white film the craftsmanship and unique beauty of each room using natural light. Then she hand paints the image.

Vournakis works in the 19th Century tradition of hand painted photography, taken to a new level of subtlety in form and color. "I've developed a unique technique of layering oil, aquamarine crayons and colored pencil applied directly to a black/white photograph which is on fiber-base paper. The photograph is the basic structure on which I build a complex color image." This mixed media approach transforms the gelatin silver print into full color. The result is a unique blend of painting and photography.

Vournakis' extensive education in the arts began at Albion College in Albion, MI, where she received a BA in Fine Arts and continued her studies at Syracuse University's College of Visual & Performing Arts, were she received her Masters of Fine Arts. She taught photography at Syracuse University, Colgate University and Dartmouth College.

Vournakis' many years of participation in the arts has allowed her to create an internationally known presence and her work has been included in many collections including the Bibliotheque National, (Paris), the Everson Museum, (Syracuse NY), the Erie Museum, (Erie, PA), Kidder Peabody & Co. Inc. (New York City), the Atlantic Mutual Co. (Madison, NJ), Fidelity Management & Research, (Boston & London), Charleston Place Hotel (Charleston, SC), Woodstock Inn & Resort (Woodstock, VT), the Greek Embassy (Washington, DC) and the Roper Hospital in Charleston, SC.

Vournakis has been a member of the Waterfront Gallery, a premier artists' owned and managed gallery in the Historic District of Charleston, SC, since 1997. The Waterfront Gallery celebrated it 10th Anniversary in 2005 and continues to feature original works of art in oil, watercolor, pastels, mixed media, collage, photography and monotype prints from seventeen Charleston based artists.

For more information check our SC Commercial Gallery listings or call the gallery at 843/722-1155 or at (www.waterfrontartgallery.com)


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