Kay Carlson

“Running Fence rearranged my ideas about art," says Kay Carlson. As she drove toward Valley Ford in September 1976,the landscape moved; a curve of the white fence curled to her right, another popped up to the left. "It was a living drawing in space. Up close, Running Fence was translucent with shifting light as it strained back and forth in the wind, then powerful in falling down toward the ocean. It was a moving painting, heightening my awareness of the landscape." As a participant in the original historic event, Carlson is uniquely qualified as an artist for RunningFence-recycled. A plein air painter specializing in Northern California scenes, Kay Carlson's colorful brushstrokes instantly usher her viewers into an emotional connection with the vineyards, panoramic coastlines and mountains she calls home.

Her impressive credentials span two decades. Carlson received her B.F.A. from the University of Wisconsin and quickly followed her interest in painting, enrolling in postgraduate study at the San Francisco Art Institute. Her diverse accomplishments include sixteen solo exhibitions and over fifty group shows. Solos include the Mondavi Winery, Sausalito City Hall in Sausalito, California, the University of California, and the BankAmerica World Headquarters in San Francisco. Her work has been displayed at the Picasso Museum in Barcelona, Spain, the Extemporanea di Nicola XXI in Tuscany, Italy, 3Com and Loral Corporations in San Jose, and a host of galleries in New York, Los Angeles, Oregon and California. In 2000 she was awarded the American Impressionist Society 2nd Annual Merit Award. She also founded Marin Open Studios to increase the public's awareness and appreciation of local artists.

Recognized as an expert in her field, Carlson was chosen as a juror for the JCC Art Exhibition in San Rafael and also the Artisan's Gallery in Mill Valley. She served as a board member on the Marin Arts Council for five years and curated Art Exhibitions at the Concordia Argonaut Club in San Francisco. She held the position of Art Critic at City of Celebration Newspaper in San Francisco, and was president of Sight/Insight Art Center in Mill Valley, California. She has been profiled in numerous fine arts publications, and her many collectors range from corporations to individuals residing all over the United States.

Visit Kay Carlson's website at: www.kaycarlson.com