News and Events
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K. L. McKENNA WINS PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD AT COWGIRL UP! 2015 DESERT CABALLEROS WESTERN MUSEUM, WICKENBURG, AZ   (WICKENBURG, AZ) March 21, 2015 - Painter K. L. McKenna won the People's Choice award at the 10th Annual Cowgirl Up! Exhibition at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg, AZ. Each year the museum hosts Cowgirl Up! which exhibits the art of 58 talented women artists of the west. "I am very honored to receive this award from the Desert Caballeros Western Museum and thank the people who voted!" ### EXHBITION OPENS AT WHITE PINES, BYRDCLIFFE ART COLONY IN WOODSTOCK, NY Inaugural Exhibition at the Walls of White Pines, Byrdcliffe • Katharine L. McKenna: American Painter  (WOODSTOCK, NY) June 13, 2014 - Painter Katharine L. McKenna inaugurates a new summer series of exhibitions at White Pines, the most spectacular of the historical buildings at the Byrdcliffe Art Colony, organized by Heather Hutchinson and Byron Bell. McKenna’s luminous landscape paintings will be the first to enliven the space in the original home of Byrdcliffe founders Ralph and Jane Whitehead, built in 1902. Dubbed the Walls of White Pines, the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild’s new exhibition space allows visitors to engage with contemporary visual art by regional artists while also voyaging back in time to explore the origins of the Arts and Crafts movement in the United States. Born in California and a long-time resident of Woodstock, Katharine L. McKenna divides her time between the Hudson Valley and the American West. Her often large-scale oil paintings, developed according to what she defines as “color-light-spirit technique,” reveal a profound attachment to the quintessential formal and coloristic harmonies of Wyoming, Colorado, and Arizona. Monumental rock formations meet flat plains; angular highways cut eerily through landscapes otherwise seemingly uninhabited; high-keyed contrasts of purple and green, orange and blue, surge as seductive lessons in the power of complementaries; endless sky and natural geometries dominate. McKenna’s artistic paragons are evident: Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin in the realms of color and line; Pierre Bonnard in the flattened patterning of her expansive compositions; Georgia O’Keeffe in every way. Wavering between the abstract and vividly spatial, McKenna's landscapes such as Rock Creek, WY or On the Road to Sheridan, WY define landscape as landscape, respecting but defying the structured, staged formality of Hudson River painters such as Thomas Cole. Like her Post-Impressionist models, McKenna works in the often vertical, all-over formats of Japanese artists such as Hokusai or Hiroshige. Her signature, a square consisting of schematic initials and the year in which a work was completed, is a tribute to Japanese printmaker stamps. The landscapes comprising Katharine L. McKenna: American Painter reveal her recent conceptual interests in the work of Georgia O'Keeffe, who along with Charles Sheeler and Marsden Hartley was one of the first American painters to adapt 20th-century European modernism to a specifically American idiom. McKenna, as did O'Keeffe, moves between locales in the west and east of the United States: and like O'Keefe, McKenna imbues all her work with the essence of place. McKenna serves as Vice-President of the Arts Society of Kingston (A.S.K.), which she co-founded in 1995. The exhibition is organized by Heather Hutchison and Byron Bell, a visual artist and architect, respectively, and both long-term members of Byrdcliffe's Exhibition Committee. McKenna will give a talk starting at 4:30 during the reception in White Pines, June 13. In addition to experiencing her lushly colorful landscapes, visitors to the exhibition Katharine L. McKenna: American Painter will be able to explore parts of White Pines, constructed in 1902 as the home of Ralph and Jane Whitehead. Along with Bolton Brown and Hervey White, the Whiteheads founded the Byrdcliffe Art Colony, which has been an enduring site of collaboration for artists, writers, and musicians for the past 112 years. Ralph Whitehead was an acolyte of William Morris, the English designer and theorist who defined the Arts and Crafts aesthetic, which privileges hand-made and individually crafted decorative arts, furniture, and architecture in direct reaction to industrialization. White Pines is the quintessence of that streamlined elegance; its interior consists of exclusively horizontal and vertical forms, the unadorned purity of line of its built-in furniture, grand staircase, and dark wood surfaces reflecting the fundamentally modernist ethos of the Arts and Crafts movement. White Pines, the jewel of Byrdcliffe, is now a summer exhibition space that celebrates the depth of the Whiteheads' dedication to the visual arts. After the opening of Katharine L. McKenna: American Painter on June 13, a gala fundraising dinner will be held in the beautiful Loom Room at White Pines. Held in honor of McKenna's contributions to the arts and dedication to Byrdcliffe's interdisciplinary vision, all proceeds from this benefit will go towards sustaining the organization's mission as a locus for creative encounters for artists, students, arts professionals, and toward preserving Byrdcliffe's remarkable heritage. For more information about this special event, call Jeremy Adams or Derin Tanyol at 845.679.2079. Location: The Walls of White Pines, 454 Upper Byrdcliffe Road, Woodstock Dates: June 13 – July 27, 2014 Gallery hours: Saturdays & Sundays 12-5 pm during run of exhibition; Tuesdays through Friday by appointment Opening reception: Friday, June 13, 4-6 pm at White Pines, 454 Upper Byrdcliffe Road Admission: Free ### EXHIBITION OPENS AT THE ROCKWELL MUSEUM, CORNING, NY Painted Journeys • In the Spirit of the American West  (CORNING, NY) February 11, 2014 - The Rockwell Museum is opening a new exhibition of paintings by three Woodstock, NY painters in a show called Painted Journeys: In the Spirit of the American West on January 24, 2014. The public is invited to an opening reception on Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. Reservations are required by 5:00 p.m. on January 28 and can be made by visiting rockwellmuseum.org. ### Recent Paintings from the American West by K.L. McKenna (New York, NY) June 1, 2013 - Prince Street Gallery is pleased to present K.L. McKenna's vivid paintings from Wyoming in her solo exhibition at the gallery.
Where: Prince Street Gallery "WYOMING" consists of 18 recent oil paintings by K.L. McKenna, many of which were painted over the past three years on site at the HF Bar Ranch near Sheridan, WY. McKenna's inspiration is rooted in childhood experiences with her paleontologist father, whose expeditions with the Museum of Natural History exposed her to the great state of Wyoming, a territory that represents the concept of wide open spaces, dirt roads and the final frontier. The artist's landscape paintings of the American West exhibit her unusual sense of color and light. Influenced in part by the Post-Impressionists of the last century, she uses color and light to express the spirit of place in her paintings of Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, S. Dakota, Idaho and Arizona. K.L. McKenna has exhibited at many Museums, including the Booth Museum of Western Art, the Yellowstone Art Museum, The Museum of Northern Arizona, the Buffalo Bill Cody Historical Center and the Desert Caballeros Museum. Her work is included in museum permanent collections at the Museum of Northern Arizona, the Booth Museum and the Woodstock Artists Association and Museum. Her work was also featured on the national television show, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." A future exhibition at the Rockwell Museum of Western Art called "Painted Journeys • Visions from the American West" in Corning, NY is planned for January through May of 2014. "My goal is to create indelible paintings that are unique and individual, each with their own personality and expression." K.L. McKenna Prince Street Gallery is located at 530 West 25th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10001 ### NATURE IN TRANSLATION: VISIONS OF FLAT ROCK BROOK THROUGH PAINTINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHY A Fundraising Event for the Flat Rock Brook Nature Center, Englewood, NJ (Englewood,, NJ) March 1, 2013 - Flat Rock Brook Nature Center is pleased to present "Nature in Translation • Visions of Flat Rock Brook Through Painting and Photography" "Nature in Translation" consists of 20 oil paintings and 12 black and white photographs of Flat Rock Brook Nature Center. Inspired by black and white photographs taken by K.L. McKenna of the nature center in the 1970's, Sara Harris and K.L. McKenna create a body of work that individualizes their own unique personal interpretation of nature in the photograph. The artists usually do not work from photographs, but wanted to create paintings that would show different approaches toward the same 2 dimensional photographic representation, thereby creating an exact viewpoint from which to draw. "Nature in Translation" depicts different media and viewpoints of the same natural settings. The artists aspire to "translate" the vision from photography to oil painting through each artist's personal language or style of painting. Inspired by Post Impressionism and Fauvism, Sara Harris and K.L. McKenna are both keenly interested in color, which created challenges for interpretation from black and white photographs. K.L. McKenna has exhibited at many museums, including the Booth Museum of Western Art, the Yellowstone Art Museum, The Museum of Northern Arizona, the Buffalo Bill Cody Historical Center and the Desert Caballeros Museum. A future exhibition at the Rockwell Museum of Western Art called "Painted Journeys • Visions from the American West" in Corning, NY is planned for January through May of 2014. Raised in Washington, D.C., Sara Harris's love for the art began early. She was accepted at the Corcoran Museum School and continued her studies at Pratt Institute and the Arts Student League in New York City. Harris had had a number of solo and group gallery exhibitions. Her work is in many private and corporate collections. Flat Rock Brook Nature Center is located at 443 Van Nostrand Ave, Englewood, NJ 07631 Hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 p.m Weekends 1:00 -5:00 PM. For Further Information: 201-567-1265, www.flatrockbrook.org • www.klmckenna.com • www.saraharrisgallery.com ### PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY K.L. McKENNA REQUESTED BY THE GRAMMY FOUNDATION FOR AWARD PRESENTATION B&W photographs from the mid 70's presented by the Grammy Foundation amplify the era of folk music for the Caffé Lena History Project (Los Angeles, CA) February 9, 2012 - Four photographs of performances of Don McLean and Arlo Guthrie taken by K.L. McKenna in 1975 were used in a presentation by the Grammy Foundation in support of the Caffé Lena History Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to documenting the history and impact of Caffé Lena and commemorating the life and legacy of Lena Spencer. Caffé Lena is the oldest continuously operating folk music coffeehouse venue in America. The Caffé Lena History Project was recently awarded $4,000 by the GRAMMY Foundation for their work in identifying, cataloging and preserving rare reel to reel recordings of live performances at Caffé Lena between 1960 and 1975, as well as preserving oral histories and related photographs. ### K.L. McKENNA AT THE PRINCE STREET GALLERY IN NEW YORK K.L. McKenna exhibits her pastel drawing "Cleopatra" in Winter Show (New York, NY) January 3, 2012 - Prince Street Gallery's group exhibition in New York called, "Winter Thoughts, Works on Paper" included K.L. McKenna's 19" x 25" piece, "Cleopatra", a semi abstract pastel. ### A Color Theory Workshop at the Woodstock School of Art (Woodstock, NY) January 17 - K.L. McKenna offers a color theory workshop at the Woodstock School of Art in Woodstock, NY. Students learn to experiment with color through specific studies loosely based on the theories of Josef Albers. By studying the interaction of color with Color-Aid paper, the student begins to understand color by solving problems such as the illusion of transparency, illusion of light, color translation, color translucency, middle mixing, pointillism and changing color perception. This class is guaranteed to bring visual awareness to color and can help anyone use it in a deliberate way with their paintings, crafts and/or design fields. ### K.L. McKENNA EXHIBITS AT PRINCE STREET GALLERY, NY, NY "Colorado River Gorge, AZ," is exhibited along with other new members' works (New York, NY) January 4, 2012 - K.L. McKenna's painting "Colorado River Gorge, AZ," made it on time to the Prince Street Gallery exhibition, "Newest Artists, Newest Year," after being lost for a week in New York City. Delivery was made two streets away, but a Good Samaritan super and his friend walked the painting over to the gallery, where it was expertly hung with an exhibit of high quality colorful paintings of fellow new members. Phew! ### GALLERY 501 FEATURES 23 PAINTINGS BY K.L. McKENNA Surrounded by fine art, a fabulous reception and party was had by all (Villanova, PA) November 11, 2011 - A lively and well attended reception and cocktail party was hosted by Gale Hayman-Hoffman at her incredible 501 Gallery space in Villanova, PA on 11/11/11. The reception was held, as the full moon rose, in honor of two artists on exhibition in the space, Jane Retif and K.L. McKenna. The artists paint in very different styles, but are both keenly interested in color, which created a dynamic counterpoint throughout the exhibition. The large open space allows the paintings to sing and vibrate with the help of museum quality lighting. ###
EXHIBITION OPENS IN WOODSTOCK, NY AT THE WFG GALLERY Color & Light: The Spirit of Big Sky Country (Woodstock, NY) October 15, 2011 - K.L. McKenna's solo exhibition at the WFG Gallery in Woodstock, NY opens Saturday night. McKenna is exhibiting a combination of recent paintings with a few older ones. Most remarkable are the paintings done on paper, which seem to define a new direction for McKenna. McKenna is known for her enthusiasm for color in her art and is inspired by western landscapes. As Paul Smart from the Woodstock Times writes, "It appears that your work is taking subtle leaps, becoming truly comfortable in its various strengths. I plan to write about that process, as manifested in the paintings I've seen over the years...through concentration on a landscape that resonates with who you are to what seems an utterly confident aesthetic of more recent years that just keeps getting stronger." ### PAINTED JOURNEYS EXHIBIT TRAVELS TO THE CLAYTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS Maryville, Tennessee welcomes a visual panorama of the southwest (Maryville, TN) May 17, 2011 - K.L. McKenna, Judy Abbott and Eva van Rijn traveled with their exhibition "Painted Journeys on the Colorado Plateau" to the Clayton Center for the Arts in Maryville, TN. The exhibition was previously exhibited at the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff. Each painter exhibited 9 paintings exemplifying their different styles. "Maryville College had the privilege of hosting their group exhibition, Painted Journeys on the Colorado Plateau, for two months earlier this year. The show was well received and drew numerous positive responses from our audiences. Many said it was the best show they'd ever seen. Significantly, many viewers came back to see the show again.... Painted Journeys on the Colorado Plateau is a cohesive, accessible, and visually compelling exhibit. The diversity of approach and style and the consistency of subject are things that our audiences resonated with immediately...." --Carl Gombert, Ph.D., Professor of Art and Curator at Clayton Center for the Arts at Maryville College. ### LEMURS TAKE OVER THE RUBIN MUSEUM OF ART FOR A NIGHT The Lemur Conservation Foundation hosts an exhibition and a benefit (New York, NY) January 27, 2011 - The Lemur Conservation Foundation of Myakka City, FL, exhibits "Red Lemurs" oil painting by K.L. McKenna at the Rubin Museum of Art, NY, NY. The Lemur Conservation Foundation hosted “Mifohaza (Wake Up!)”, a benefit to help Madagascar survive and to support the Lemur Conservation. “Red Lemurs” is from the permanent collection of the LCF. ### THE ARTS SOCIETY OF KINGSTON (ASK) EXHIBITS "NEW WEST EXPRESSIONS" Paintings of Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Arizona by K.L. McKenna (Kingston, NY) September 4, 2010 - 19 paintings of the west by K.L. McKenna representing recent work are being exhibited at the Arts Society of Kingston (ASK) in their main gallery at 97 Broadway, Kingston. "I started off showing small works with ASK many years ago, so it is a delight to exhibit solo in this large room with my larger recent work," says K.L. McKenna. ### MUSEUM OF NORTHERN ARIZONA SELECTS K.L. McKENNA OIL PAINTING FOR PERMANENT COLLECTION “Little Colorado River I, AZ” is chosen (Flagstaff, AZ) March 30, 2009 - The Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff has chosen "Little Colorado River I, AZ" for their permanent collection. The painting is one of 12 pieces painted during the residency program the year before and subsequently exhibited for six months at the museum. "With her broad expressionistic brushwork and brilliant color, K.L. McKenna depicts an energetic and vibrant vision of the land. She says, 'I was fortunate to have been brought up in a family that honored and cherished nature. The way I was taught to explore and prospect the land gave me a sensitive appreciation and ability to evoke the divine essence of the natural West in my paintings.' As the most abstract of the three painters in this exhibit, McKenna's paintings celebrate the warm color and dynamic structure of the landscape." -- Alan Petersen, MNA Curator ### THE MUSEUM OF NORTHERN ARIZONA EXHIBITS "PAINTED JOURNEYS ON THE COLORADO PLATEAU" Three Woodstock, New York plein aire painters kick off the Museum of Northern Arizona’s Artist-In-Residency Program with an extraordinary exhibition of oil paintings dedicated to the Colorado Plateau that runs through May 26, 2009. (Woodstock, NY) March 10, 2009 -- Painted Journeys on the Colorado Plateau is an exhibition that has developed out of the Artist-In-Residency Program at the Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff. Three Woodstock, NY painters, Judy Abbott, Katharine L. McKenna, and Eva van Rijn each completed a residency where they created a large body of work dedicated to the Colorado Plateau, a region that encompasses a large area of Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. The exhibition brings together the talents of these three plein aire painters who are drawn to a common subject, the American western landscape. The artistic expressions of Abbott, van Rijn and McKenna share a reverence for the land that is common in theme but individual in style. Passionate colors, jewel-like brilliance, and awesome atmosphere portray a celebration of the "spirit of place." The three Hudson Valley painters each seek in their own way, a modern interpretation of the sublime, much in the same manner as did Hudson Valley artists such as Church, Kensett and Carlson of the nineteenth century. The goal of the Artist-In-Residency Program at the Museum of Northern Arizona is to develop new insights and understandings of the Colorado Plateau region through the artistic process. It offers professional writers, composers, and visual and performing artists the opportunity to pursue their artistic discipline, while immersed in the inspiring landscape of northern Arizona and the Colorado Plateau. The finished artwork created as a result of the residency will characterize the Colorado Plateau for present and future generations and offer Museum visitors an opportunity to see the Plateau’s heritage through the eyes and ears of the contributing artists. ### GRAND OPENING AT VISIONS WEST GALLERY, DENVER FEATURES K.L. MCKENNA'S WORK Visions West Gallery expands from Montana to Colorado (Kingston, NY) Sept 6, 2007 -- K.L. McKenna has been invited to participate in "Western Art Revolution", the grand opening show for the new Visions West Gallery in Denver, CO. Visions West Galleries are dynamic art galleries striving to push the boundaries of Western art. McKenna has been featured at Vision West Galleries in Bozeman and Livingston, MT since their conception in 2006. The grand opening for Visions West Denver is September 28, 2007, 1715 Wazee St., Denver, CO (303)292-0909 Photos From the Opening: http://www.303magazine.com/galleries/visionwest/index.htm ### MUSEUM OF NORTHERN ARIZONA LAUNCHES NEW ARTISTS' RESIDENCY PROGRAM Residency is the Museum's First (Kingston, NY) Sept 6, 2007 -- K.L. McKenna, Judy Abbott and Eva van Rijn, three New York Hudson Valley artists, are the first artists to participate in a new residency program instituted at the Museum of Northern Arizona. The residency program will bring visiting artists to the museum for three week periods of work and research. The residency will provide artists of all disciplines the opportunity to create their work while immersed in the geography and regional culture of the Colorado Plateau and giving them access to the wealth of the Museum's collections. Lectures on the works of McKenna, Abbott and Rijn are scheduled for September 22, 2007 at the museum in Flagstaff, AZ. Call for details, 928-774-5211. ### THE NATIONAL ARTS CLUB EXHIBITS THREE WOODSTOCK ARTISTS Three Woodstock, NY painters showcase recent work both common in theme and individual in style at the National Arts Club, New York City, NY Photos from the Opening at the National Arts Club on May 22, 2007 in New York City Woodstock, NY(Woodstock, NY) May 1, 2007 -- Painted Journeys • In Search of the Sublime brings together the talents of three Woodstock, NY painters who are dedicated to a common subject, the American western landscape. Abbott, van Rijn and McKenna share a reverence for the land that is expressed through their work. Passionate colors jewel like brilliance and awesome atmosphere portray a celebration of the sublime.
Following a Woodstock tradition, these artists spend time painting in America's western states. Their work expresses a sense of the spiritual power of the great vistas and intimate places of mesas, canyons and deserts. Abbott says, "Abandoning the traditional precepts and techniques in which I was trained, I seek to perceive and convey a sense of the unique spirit of a place. Working on location allows me the sublime experience of being part of a sacred place, one in which I belong." McKenna adds, "I was fortunate to have been brought up in a family that honored and cherished nature. The way I was taught to explore and prospect the land gave me a sensitive appreciation and ability to evoke the divine essence of the natural west in my paintings." van Rijn says, "I look for places that inspire in me a sense of awe and sometimes even of danger. I want my paintings to express that sense of vastness, because along with it comes an accompanying awareness of inner space, only occasionally viewed, hardly explored." K.L. MCKENNA IS FEATURED ARTIST IN COLORADO MAGAZINE ONLINE PUBLICATION K.L. McKenna is featured artist in Colorado Magazine Online publication. (Kingston, NY) April 1, 2007 -- K.L. McKenna is the featured artist in the art section of the April publication Colorado Magazine Online, Coloradomagazineonline.com. ### DWIGHT-ENGLEWOOD SCHOOL HONORS K.L. McKENNA AS DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA ### THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF ULSTER COUNTY HONORS KATHARINE L. MCKENNA "Katharine L. McKenna helped develop fundraising event" (Kingston, NY) September 7, 2006 -- The Jewish Federation of Ulster County, Kingston, NY awarded $1,000 to the Arts Society of Kingston in honor of Katharine L. McKenna at their tenth anniversary "Fall for Art" juried show. McKenna was "the driving force who, 10 years ago, steered our fledgling Jewish Foundation committee to undertake an Art Show & Sale, now known as Fall for Art," a successful fundraising art exhibition and sale with an attendance of 350 or more. "When we asked Katharine if she thought we should undertake such an endeavor, her response was, "Go for it!!" and we did," says Barbara Cohen, committee chair. ### US AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE IN OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO EXHIBITS K.L. MCKENNA PAINTINGS (Kingston, NY) September 6, 2006 -- The exhibit "Art in Embassies" features two K.L. McKenna paintings at US Ambassador Jeanine Jackson's residence in Ouagadougou, in the West Africa Republic of Burkina Faso. ### EXTREME MAKOVER: HOME EDITION SELECTS TWO PAINTINGS BY K.L. McKENNA FOR
APRIL EPISODE
(Kingston, NY) April 10, 2006 -- Two of K.L. McKenna's paintings, "Front Range, Silver Spruce Ranch, CO" and "Cedar Mountain, Big Horns, WY" were requested for an episode of
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to be aired on ABC, Sunday, April 9th,
2006 at 8pm. The two hour episode will feature the Craft Family in San
Antonio,Texas. ### U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS PAINTINGS BY K.L. MCKENNA
(Kingston, NY) March 24, 2006 -- Two of K.L. McKenna's paintings, "Bluffs at Fiddleback Ranch, WY" and
"Wyoming Farmland Triptych" were requested by Ambassador Jeanine Jackson
through the U.S. State Department's "Art in Embassies Program" for
placement in her new diplomatic residence in Ouagadougou, in the West
Africa Republic of Burkina Faso. Ambassador Jackson, who was recently confirmed as Ambassador to Burkina
Faso, is a native of Sheridan, Wyoming. ### PAINTING BY K.L. MCKENNA IS SELECTED FOR MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION
(Kingston, NY) January 11, 2006 -- James Burns, Director of Curatorial
Services and the collections committee of the Booth Museum in Cartersville,
Georgia have selected K.L. McKenna's painting "Wind River Canyon", oil on
board, 25 x 20 inches, for their permanent collection. In writing to
McKenna, Burns notes "The committee unanimously agrees that this is a
superb example of your work and makes a wonderful addition to the Museum's
existing holdings." ###
BOOTH WESTERN ART MUSEUM EXHIBITS PAINTINGS BY K.L. MCKENNA
(Cartersville, GA) August 20, 2005 --- The Booth Western Art Museum, a
state-of-the-art 80,000 square foot facility in Cartersville, near
Atlanta, GA is hosting an exhibition of works by K.L. McKenna ### K.L. McKENNA GIVES LECTURE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, OMAHA, NOVEMBER
3, 2004 (Omaha, NE) October 12, 2004 -- Katharine is one of the "New Breed" that combines Art and Computer Science. Katharine L. McKenna has a BA in American Studies with a minor in
Anthropology from Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut and a
Master of Industrial Design from the Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York.
She has had numerous solo and juried shows. Her paintings are currently
represented by several galleries including Dolce in Telluride, CO,
Windham Fine Arts in Windham, NY, Red Raven Gallery in Big Sky, MT. She
also has her own art gallery, the Coffey Gallery in Kingston, NY. ### TELLURIDE GALLERY DOLCE JEWELS FEATURES THE WORK OF WOODSTOCK ARTIST K.L. McKENNA (Telluride, CO) June 30, 2004 -- Telluride -- Dolce Jewels is featuring new work of K.L. McKenna in the show "On The Way To Telluride" July 2 through July 31, 2004. Located at 226 W Colorado Avenue in Telluride. Dolce Jewels specializes in fine jewelry, gemstones and fine art. K.L. McKenna will be traveling from Woodstock, NY to be present at the opening reception on Saturday, July 10, from 4 to 9pm. The exhibition will consist of recent oils of Wyoming in addition to works painted in and around Telluride. The uninhibited use of color and light in these vibrant, colorful paintings have made K.L. McKenna very much in demand with collectors. ### DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER FROM GERMANY FILMS K.L. McKENNA
(Kingston, NY) April 28, 2004 -- Kingston --German director Tilman Buettner of ARD, German Television, filmed K. L. McKenna painting in her studio for a documentary film about time. The film examines the subject of time from different vantage points, from high speed society to a slower paced lifestyle. The five part series, produced by Renee Silverman in New York, shows how high end career personalities have successfully gotten off the fast track onto a slower one. The film , titled "Zeitreisen" which means "Time Travel" when translated, will be aired on ARD German Television next fall. ### WINDHAM FINE ARTS EXHIBITS THE WORK OF K.L. McKENNA (Windham, NY) March 12, 2004 -- Windham -- Windham Fine Arts proudly presents K.L. McKenna in the show "A Body of Work", March 12 through April 4, 2004. Opening reception, Saturday, March 13, 4:30 - 6:30pm . ### THE YELLOWSTONE ART MUSEUM ANNUAL AUCTION SUPPORTED BY K.L. McKENNA DONATION (Billings, MT) March 6, 2004 -- Billings -- The Yellowstone Art Museum, a major contemporary art museum in Billings, MT, celebrated its 36th Annual Party and Auction on March 6, 2004. K.L. McKenna's oil painting,"Three Trees At Canyon de Chelly", was one of the 156 pieces of art work bid on by over 550 patrons. This auction is the museum's premier benefit fund-raising event. Revenues from the event go to support all facets of the museums operations. ### BIG SKY, MONTANA'S RED RAVEN GALLERY REPRESENTS ARTIST K.L. McKENNA (Big Sky, MT) January 15, 2004 -- Big Sky -- The newly opened Red Raven Gallery has included artist K.L. McKenna in their stable of fine artists. The Red Raven Gallery, located in Big Sky, MT, has carved its own niche in town and is also featuring the works of acclaimed contemporary artists such as Gennie DeWeese, Harold Schlotzhauer, Cydette Vikander, Heather Carisch. "I am more then pleased to show my work in Montana again, and look forward to painting more scenes from the area," says K.L. McKenna. ### THE WOODSTOCK GUILD, WOODSTOCK, NY EXHIBITS WORK OF K.L. McKENNA (Woodstock, NY) December 2, 2003 -- Woodstock -- K.L. McKenna participates in the Woodstock Guild's annual "5 X 7 Show" at the Kleinart/James Art Center, Woodstock, NY. This is a special exhibition of over 100 original works of art on 5 x 7 canvases, each being anonymous until after purchase. K.L. McKenna's work continues to sell for the fifth consecutive year. The proceeds go toward the Kleinart/James Exhibition Program of The Woodstock Guild. ### SENATE HOUSE SHOWS K.L.McKENNA WORKS WITH THE ARTISTS' SOCIETY OF KINGSTON (Kingston, NY) October 25, 2003 -- Kingston -- K.L. McKenna participates in the Artists' Society of Kingston's show "Kaleidoscope" at the Senate House, Kingston, NY. The show, October 25 and 26, 2004, includes a diverse and select group of Hudson Valley artists. ### K.L. McKenna is one the most successful contemporary American artists on the landscape today. Her work is featured in galleries and private collections throughout the world. K.L. McKenna illuminates each painting with her signature color-light-spirit technique. GERMAN GALLERIES EXHIBIT SIX K.L. McKENNA PAINTINGS (Cologne, Germany) October 17, 2003 -- Cologne-- The Rhine-Hudson-Bridge Exchange Exhibition titled "Potluck", sponsored by the Arts Society of Kingston, features 26 artists from the Kinston area. The exhibition opens in Cologne, Germany on October 17, 2003. Six paintings of K.L. McKenna will be on exhibit in the Brauweiler Abbey, Brauweiler, Germany and in the Cultural Center Lohrerhof, Hurth, Germany through October. ### WOODSTOCK ARTISTS ASSOCIATION CHOOSES K.L. McKENNA DRAWING (Woodstock, NY) August 30, 2003 -- Woodstock -- The Woodstock Artists Association, Woodstock, NY chooses drawing of K.L. McKenna for the Woodstock Beau Arts Ball Journal. The journal and the ball, presented Saturday, August 30, 2003, celebrates and honors Woodstock, the "Colony of the Arts", and its creative past, while inspiring and uplifting its creative present. ### PRINCE STREET GALLERY, NY, NY INVITES K.L. McKENNA TO EXHIBIT (NY, NY) July 15, 2003 -- New York City -- Prince Street Gallery, located in the vibrant section of Chelsea, New York City, NY selects K.L. McKenna for "Small Works Invitational 2003" July 15 - August 2, 2003. The Prince Street Gallery is a long standing cooperative gallery in New York City. ### KAATSKILL LIFE MAGAZINE FEATURES ARTICLE ON K.L.MCKENNA Nationally sold New York regional magazine salutes K.L.McKenna's (Kingston, NY) June 30, 2003 -- Kingston -- Kaatskill Life Magazine features an article about Katharine L. McKenna in their latest Summer 2003 Issue. The article, written by Mary Cassai, called "Kingston's Golden Girl" gives a history of McKenna's career path. "At age 20 she left college, rather than wasting her father's money. She believed the route to maturity was through a career, but which one?" That path included exhibition and industrial design, graphical user interface and database design - to finally painting western landscapes. The feature goes on to explain how she started the Coffey Gallery in Kingston as well as her role in the birth of the Arts Society of Kingston, which currently has more than 300 members. ### Fletcher Gallery, Woodstock, NY. K.L. McKenna participates in "The Painted Vase III Silent Auction (Woodstock, NY) June 29, 2003 -- Woodstock -- "The Painted Vase III" Silent Auction held at the prominent Fletcher Gallery in Woodstock, NY, is to benefit the Woodstock Play House. All Vases are hand thrown by Rich Conti and painted by prominent Woodstock artists. ### K.L.McKENNA PLANS PAINTING TRIP TO THE WEST Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Colorado comprise current plans to visit (Kingston, NY) June 12, 2003 -- Kingston -- Contemporary American Artist K.L.McKenna will be traveling to Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Colorado in July on a painting trip with her family. "It's that time of year again when I feel the need to go out west and gather new material, new inspiration, new sites. I can never get enough of the long distance vistas the west is known for." K.L.McKenna is planning on creating at least 18 new oil paintings this summer. ###
LEMUR CONSERVATION FOUNDATION COMMISSIONS K.L.McKENNA TO PAINT RED LEMURS K.L. McKenna travels to Reserve to paint Lemurs from Madagascar (Myakka City, FL) March 10, 2003 -- Myakka City -- Contemporary American
Artist, K.L. McKenna has been commissioned to do a painting of lemurs for
the Myakka City Lemur Reserve by the Lemur Conservation Foundation.
K.L.McKenna traveled to Florida where she studied the Lemurs in their
habitat. Upon her arrival to the reserve, one lemur rushed down the
tree, climbed up her leg and back onto her shoulder, where he proceeded
to further introduce himself by licking her cheek.
### PRATT INSTITUTE ELECTS KATHARINE L. McKENNA TO BOARD OF TRUSTEES K.L. McKenna Nominated To Board of Pratt Institute (Kingston, NY) November 26, 2002 -- New York -- Contemporary American Artist, K.L. McKenna has been elected to the Board of Trustees of Pratt Institute. Chosen for her experiences, background and interests, K.L. McKenna will serve a three year term beginning on December 11, 2002. Robert H. Siegel, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Pratt said, "Pratt is an extraordinary and vital school consisting of art, design, architecture, and information and library sciences. I look forward to working with. . . [K.L. McKenna], as does President Schutte and each of our trustees, in furthering Pratt's reputation, quality and resources." Pratt Institute is a college founded 116 years ago by Charles Pratt. He revolutionized higher education by challenging the traditional concept as purely an intellectual exercise. Today, more than any other art and design school, Pratt offers undergraduate majors more than 20 programs and graduate majors more than 15 majors. The first art teacher at Pratt was a pupil of Cezanne; the second art teacher, a student of Matisse. The college campus is located in Brooklyn, New York. For more information on Pratt, please visit www.pratt.edu. ### YELLOWSTONE ART MUSEUM SELECTS WORK OF K.L.McKENNA Yellowstone Art Museum selects "Red Wall at Hole in the Wall" for annual exhibition "Expanded Horizons" (Kingston, NY) November 26, 2002 -- The Yellowstone Art Museum, a major contemporary art museum in Billings, Montana has selected "Red Wall at Hole in the Wall" an oil painting by K.L.McKenna for the 37th annual exhibition and auction "Expanded Horizons," an important fund raiser for the museum. The longest running annual auction of its kind, it showcases artists from all over the country, from Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Vermont, New York, Florida, Colorado and California. A broad spectrum of contemporary art is auctioned both silent and live. Painting, sculpture and photography range from $200 - $80,000 each. The exhibit runs January 24, 2003 - March 1st, the day of the auction. ### CATSKILL MOUNTAIN GUIDE MAGAZINE VISITS THE STUDIO OF K.L.McKENNA
(Kingston, NY) November 6, 2002 -- Catskill Mountain Guide
interviews K.L.McKenna about her role in founding the Arts Society
of Kingston (A.S.K.) in Kingston, NY. ### FOUR K.L.McKENNA PAINTINGS SELECTED BY INTERNATIONAL ART PUBLICATION Book featuring select group of national and international artists sells at museum book stores (Woodstock, NY) October 28, 2002 -- Book Art Press selects four oil paintings by K.L.McKenna to be printed in the latest annual publication of New Art International. K.L.McKenna is featured on pp. 114 -15 with four color plates; "Paradise Valley"; "Sawtooth and Rocky MT Rain"; "Flat Tops Wilderness, CO" and "Shell Creek Canyon." The hard bound book is being sold through the Museum of Modern Art Book Store, Metropolitan Museum Store, Barnes and Noble, Rizzoli's and other fine bookstores. The 2002 - 2003 edition will be available late November, 2002. ### COLLEGE FOUNDATION HONORS KATHARINE L. McKENNA AND MARK BRAUNSTEIN AT "GALAXY OF STARS" GALA DINNER "Katharine L. McKenna and Mark Braunstein launch a gentle but persistent force in Ulster County..."
(Kingston, NY) October 4, 2002 -- Ulster Community College Foundation honors Katharine L. McKenna and Mark Braunstein for their contributions to the community by promoting the arts and through their personal generosity. The College Foundation states that, "The entire community is grateful to Katharine and Mark for their commitment, ‘to continue to work toward the goals of bringing light and hope... to inspire and respect... to reach out into our communities helping our neighbors worldwide.'" ### WORLD RENOWNED ART MAGAZINE INTERVIEWS KATHARINE L. McKENNA Art World News asks how an artist entrepreneur is willing to take risks with art and international exchanges (Kingston, NY) September 2002 -- Art World New
Magazine focuses on how artist- gallery owner Katharine L. McKenna
has impact in the art world. "Katharine McKenna of Coffey
Gallery, Kingston, NY, thinks the artist entrepreneur may be more
willing to take risks than the ‘professional' dealer
and is more community-minded....Her Coffey Gallery carries eight
artists representative of her ‘interest in unsafe art...'" ### LOOKING GLASS MAGAZINE MAGNIFIES THE PAINTING PROCESS OF K.L.McKENNA Monthly news publication focuses on artist's signature color/light/spirit technique (Kingston, NY) March 2002 -- Gordon James of Looking Glass Magazine publishes in-depth interview on the unique color/light/spirit technique of K.L.McKenna. She says about painting in Wyoming, "When I'm there, I have an experience with the land. I have an intimate relationship with the land for that moment, then I come back and revisit that feeling in the studio as I paint."Most notably are McKenna's comments on a sudden change of style while painting recently. She says, "Before, I was doing what I was taught, which was to follow the lines, to describe boundaries with line. Recently I've worked through the line and have been painting with a more atmospheric style. The line is still there underneath for structure. But now for example I'll find myself combining the sky with the earth." ### KINGSTON TIMES HIGHLIGHTS HOW PAINTER KATHARINE L. McKENNA LEADS THE WAY FOR NEW SPIRIT ON KINGSTON'S WALL STREET K.L.McKenna starts trend of artists buying real estate in Uptown Kingston (Kingston, NY) April 27, 2000 -- Kingston Times
publishes article highlighting how Katharine L. McKenna enjoys the
new circumstances on Kingston's Uptown Wall Street. She says
in the article that the arts have always propelled other uses. The
article goes on to say that "Artists are able to transform
space in ways which other people appreciate. There's room
in Kingston for artists, space that's 20 minutes from Woodstock
and two hours from New York City." ### HUDSON VALLEY MAGAZINE INTERVIEWS KATHARINE L. McKENNA ABOUT ART AS A TRUE ECONOMIC ENGINE Article highlights McKenna's active leadership in the Kingston art scene (Kingston, NY) March 1997 -- Hudson Valley Magazine interviews Katharine L. McKenna, president of the Arts Society of Kingston, in article "An Artful Revival," about the recent influx of artists arriving in Kingston, NY. McKenna states, "Our goal is to promote the arts, visual, poetry, music -- and create exhibition opportunities. We've also been writing a newsletter and we're trying to get artists in Kingston to meet each other." ### WORLD WIDE MAGAZINE FEATURES ART OF KATHARINE L. McKENNA Washington Post's World and I Magazine reviews the work of Katharine L. McKenna(Kingston, NY) March 1997 -- World and I Magazine article "Toward the Light" features the work of Katharine L. McKenna in their March issue. Six full color plates of paintings are presented along with an in-depth interview about her painting process and life history. Writes Osmond, who wrote the article, "...vivid color--along with an almost musical treatment of nuanced tones and interconnecting lines and structure--is the hallmark of her work." ### |
PRATT INSTITUTE ELECTS KATHARINE L. McKENNA TO BOARD OF TRUSTEES K.L. McKenna Nominated To Board of Pratt Institute (Kingston, NY) November 26, 2002 -- New York -- Contemporary American Artist, K.L. McKenna has been elected to the Board of Trustees of Pratt Institute. Chosen for her experiences, background and interests, K.L. McKenna will serve a three year term beginning on December 11, 2002. Robert H. Siegel, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Pratt said, “Pratt is an extraordinary and vital school consisting of art, design, architecture, and information and library sciences. I look forward to working with. . . [K.L. McKenna], as does President Schutte and each of our trustees, in furthering Pratt’s reputation, quality and resources.” Pratt Institute is a college founded 116 years ago by Charles Pratt. He revolutionized higher education by challenging the traditional concept as purely an intellectual exercise. Today, more than any other art and design school, Pratt offers undergraduate majors more than 20 programs and graduate majors more than 15 majors. The first art teacher at Pratt was a pupil of Cezanne; the second art teacher, a student of Matisse. The college campus is located in Brooklyn, New York. For more information on Pratt, please visit www.pratt.edu. ### YELLOWSTONE ART MUSEUM SELECTS WORK OF K.L.McKENNA Yellowstone Art Museum selects “Red Wall at Hole in the Wall” for annual exhibition “Expanded Horizons” (Kingston, NY) November 26, 2002 -- The Yellowstone Art Museum, a major contemporary art museum in Billings, Montana has selected “Red Wall at Hole in the Wall” an oil painting by K.L.McKenna for the 37th annual exhibition and auction “Expanded Horizons,” an important fund raiser for the museum. The longest running annual auction of its kind, it showcases artists from all over the country, from Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Vermont, New York, Florida, Colorado and California. A broad spectrum of contemporary art is auctioned both silent and live. Painting, sculpture and photography range from $200 - $80,000 each. The exhibit runs January 24, 2003 - March 1st, the day of the auction. ### CATSKILL MOUNTAIN GUIDE MAGAZINE VISITS THE STUDIO OF K.L.McKENNA The Guide salutes Kingston’s thriving art community, crediting K.L.McKenna (Kingston, NY) November 6, 2002 -- Catskill Mountain Guide interviews K.L.McKenna about her role in founding the Arts Society of Kingston (A.S.K.) in Kingston, NY. The interview highlights K.L.McKenna’s work, “Not be missed in the Uptown Kingston portion of tour 2002 was exhibition curator McKenna’s own studio.... Her vibrant oil on canvas paintings capture western vistas - the buttes of Wyoming and landscapes of Montana - in burnt red, orange, yellow, and green reminiscent of Gauguin’s impressions of Tahiti. Partially a plein-air painter, McKenna begins many pieces on location with raw under paintings, broad, figurative brushstrokes rendered in Prussian blue against ochre-sienna tinged back color. Though she holds a master’s degree in Industrial Design from Pratt, her undergraduate study of native American artifacts more openly seeps into pieces such as Paradise Valley and Flat Tops Wilderness.” ### FOUR K.L.McKENNA PAINTINGS SELECTED BY INTERNATIONAL ART PUBLICATION Book featuring select group of national and international artists sells at museum book stores (Woodstock, NY) October 28, 2002 -- Book Art Press selects four oil paintings by K.L.McKenna to be printed in the latest annual publication of New Art International. K.L.McKenna is featured on pp. 114 -15 with four color plates; “Paradise Valley”; “Sawtooth and Rocky MT Rain”; “Flat Tops Wilderness, CO” and “Shell Creek Canyon.” The hard bound book is being sold through the Museum of Modern Art Book Store, Metropolitan Museum Store, Barnes and Noble, Rizzoli's and other fine bookstores. The 2002 - 2003 edition will be available late November, 2002. ### COLLEGE FOUNDATION HONORS KATHARINE L. McKENNA AND MARK BRAUNSTEIN AT “GALAXY OF STARS” GALA DINNER “Katharine L. McKenna and Mark Braunstein launch a gentle but persistent force in Ulster County...” (Kingston, NY) October 4, 2002 -- Ulster Community College Foundation honors Katharine L. McKenna and Mark Braunstein for their contributions to the community by promoting the arts and through their personal generosity. The College Foundation states that, “The entire community is grateful to Katharine and Mark for their commitment, ‘to continue to work toward the goals of bringing light and hope... to inspire and respect... to reach out into our communities helping our neighbors worldwide.’” ### WORLD RENOWNED ART MAGAZINE INTERVIEWS KATHARINE L. McKENNA Art World News asks how an artist entrepreneur is willing to take risks with art and international exchanges (Kingston, NY) September 2002 -- Art World New
Magazine focuses on how artist- gallery owner Katharine L. McKenna
has impact in the art world. “Katharine McKenna of Coffey
Gallery, Kingston, NY, thinks the artist entrepreneur may be more
willing to take risks than the ‘professional’ dealer
and is more community-minded....Her Coffey Gallery carries eight
artists representative of her ‘interest in unsafe art...’” ### LOOKING GLASS MAGAZINE MAGNIFIES THE PAINTING PROCESS OF K.L.McKENNA Monthly news publication focuses on artist’s signature color/light/spirit technique (Kingston, NY) March 2002 -- Gordon James of Looking
Glass Magazine publishes in-depth interview on the unique color/light/spirit
technique of K.L.McKenna. She says about painting in Wyoming, “When
I’m there, I have an experience with the land. I have an intimate
relationship with the land for that moment, then I come back and
revisit that feeling in the studio as I paint.” ### KINGSTON TIMES HIGHLIGHTS HOW PAINTER KATHARINE L. McKENNA LEADS THE WAY FOR NEW SPIRIT ON KINGSTON’S WALL STREET K.L.McKenna starts trend of artists buying real estate in Uptown Kingston (Kingston, NY) April 27, 2000 -- Kingston Times
publishes article highlighting how Katharine L. McKenna enjoys the
new circumstances on Kingston’s Uptown Wall Street. She says
in the article that the arts have always propelled other uses. The
article goes on to say that “Artists are able to transform
space in ways which other people appreciate. There’s room
in Kingston for artists, space that’s 20 minutes from Woodstock
and two hours from New York City.” ### HUDSON VALLEY MAGAZINE INTERVIEWS KATHARINE L. McKENNA ABOUT ART AS A TRUE ECONOMIC ENGINE Article highlights McKenna’s active leadership in the Kingston art scene (Kingston, NY) March 1997 -- Hudson Valley Magazine interviews Katharine L. McKenna, president of the Arts Society of Kingston, in article “An Artful Revival,” about the recent influx of artists arriving in Kingston, NY. McKenna states, “Our goal is to promote the arts, visual, poetry, music -- and create exhibition opportunities. We’ve also been writing a newsletter and we’re trying to get artists in Kingston to meet each other.” ### WORLD WIDE MAGAZINE FEATURES ART OF KATHARINE L. McKENNA Washington Post’s World and I Magazine reviews the work of Katharine L. McKenna (Kingston, NY) March 1997 -- World and I Magazine
article “Toward the Light” features the work of Katharine
L. McKenna in their March issue. Six full color plates of paintings
are presented along with an in-depth interview about her painting
process and life history. ### |