Judy Black Park hosting new exhibit

WASHINGTON — The Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens welcomes Karen Pepper and her art exhibit, “Summer 2022.” Pepper’s display will feature moving abstract expressionist pieces on canvas. The exhibit will be on view from Aug. 10-Sept. 11. An opening reception will be held from 3-5 p.m. Aug. 13.

Pepper has spent more than two decades of her artistic career in Washington. After a short stint as a licensed Practical Nurse in Pennsylvania, Pepper decided to follow her passion for art and moved to Hilo, Hawaii to pursue art education at the University of Hawaii. During this period, she began to explore and become increasingly interested in abstract expressionism. Pepper then went on to complete a B.A. in Art Education at Kutztown University back in Pennsylvania.

Pepper’s marriage to her husband took her on an adventure to a small Alpine village in Leysin, Switzerland where she lived for seven years for her husband’s work. During these years, she continued to explore painting — not just the physical part of creating work, but also in visiting and studying works of art throughout Europe’s museums and galleries. The family, which by then included two daughters, relocated to Connecticut in 1999.

Pepper’s show at the park is an experimentation in mixed media using different processes to apply paint to stretched canvas. The main three mediums she explores are oil, acrylic and enamel. Acrylic is usually applied first, then oil, then enamel which is either poured directly from the can or with an enamel saturated paint brush. The enamel is allowed to fall arbitrarily to create its own shape by dripping from the can while the paint brush makes fluid lines across the painting. Pepper also uses edgers or palette knives to move paint around the canvas while adding sand to create a thick texture. Additionally, she played with letter, number or Mandala stencils in this current collection.

Learn more at thejudyblackparkandgardens.org.