| West Kentucky Community and Technical College Clemens Fine Arts Center will present "Into the Land of Arches & Canyons" by Paducah artist Karen Goessman Anderson from
August 28 through September 26. An artist reception will be held in the Clemens Fine Arts Center Lobby Thursday, August 28 from 5-8 p.m. to open the show.
Karen's exhibit includes her acrylic canvas images and photographs of these southwest experiences at the opening reception. Also on display will be an assortment of Native American artifacts discovered by her father, Charles Goessman, throughout southern Illinois. She has spent the last 4 years creating a collection of acrylic paintings inspired by her many travels to the canyon lands of southern Utah.
"The high desert area throughout southern Utah is a magical land of countless artistic arches, fascinating canyons, and Native American rock art. It is an artist's paradise with ever changing images and mystery." said Anderson, "The ever changing colors and shadows on the rocks throughout the canyons are a beauty to behold. And the solitude that can be found there is indeed a spiritual experience."
The Anderson's extensive travels through Utah began after they discovered Moab, Utah while traveling between Colorado and Nevada visiting her brothers. Southern Utah contains some of the nation's most beautiful National Parks including Monument Valley, The Canyonlands, Arches, Mount Zion, and Bryce Canyon. Karen, her husband Keith, and their best friends Tom and Gail Butler spent 4 days for her 50th birthday in the bottom of the Grand Canyon at the Havasupia Indian Reservation hiking and exploring their numerous waterfalls and side canyons. Their story and photos were featured in Paducah Life Magazine.
Karen, a graduate of Zeigler-Royalton High School and Southern Illinois University, has spent the last 25 years in Paducah working as a Public Relations/Marketing Director for several business and organizations throughout the area including West Kentucky Community and Technical College, formerly Paducah Community College, Michelson Jewelers, Finkle's Inc., The United Way of Paducah, Paducah Summer Festival, and others. Her last art exhibit was in 1990 in downtown Paducah. |
