DOROTHY KRAKAUER

 

            "There is beauty even in a thorn. Beauty is everywhere. I love light, shadow, movement, and color.  I find newness every day, and I love to be outside when I produce my artwork. Nature has been good to me for there is where I find my most beautiful subjects."

 

            Dorothy Krakauer was born on the Indian Nations Reservations at Columbia Falls, Montana. Her unique background instilled in her an extensive knowledge and great love of nature, which she has come to express through her artwork. 

 

            Each rendition, whether in pencil, oils, pastels or watercolors is characterized by personal experience with her subject.  Intimacy and movement are achieved by careful brush and pencil strokes, color choice and diverse reflection of light.  Her technique enables her to portray the individual character of each subject. Her photographs reflect this same intimacy and are often thought to be paintings.

 

            Dorothy's world travels have allowed her to paint, sketch and photograph her subjects on location in Asia, Europe, Canada, South America, Turkey and the United States.  She studied photography design and printing at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City.  While living in Tokyo, Dorothy studied oil painting from 1966-1967 with Shunjiro Nakamura, a Japanese Living National Treasure. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Art, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 1977, and studied drawing and painting from the live model at Massachusetts College of Art.

 

            During the years 1973-1975 while living in Izmir, Turkey, Dorothy created an original oil painting of Saint Francis of Assisi in the sanctuary of the then 101-year-old Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist.  The painting was designated a National Art Treasure of Turkey.  Dorothy was also responsible for the renovation of the sanctuary, including the cleaning and repair of five other oil paintings, the walls and chandeliers.  During that period she also repaired and restored frescoes in the seventeenth century Church of Saint Polycarp in Izmir, and did the photography for books on Turkish embroidery and the old gates of Bornova, near Izmir.

 

            Dorothy has worked as a professional fashion model in Japan, the United States and Turkey.  She also has performed in dance competitions, and sung in school and community choirs for many years. She has taught oil painting to private students, photomontage to children of personal need, personal growth and fashion modeling, English as a second language, and classes on Asian and Near Eastern culture.  She has presented lectures on Life as a Woman Artist to college and church groups, and has been a Guest Speaker at Career Counseling Seminars for university students.

 

            Dorothy is a co-founder of Fountain Gallery, New York City, where she has served as a member of the Steering Committee and as curator for the Fountain Gallery Annual Celebration of Life Benefit.  She has curated exhibits for other artists and galleries in the United States and Turkey. 

 

            Her awards include being twice honored by Emperor Hirohito of Japan for her work in the international community while living in Tokyo from 1965-1968.  She received the NATO Award for Women for Outstanding Leadership and the Christian Community Award for Leadership in Izmir, Turkey, in 1975.  She has also received awards in the fields of professional modeling and ballroom dancing. 

 

            Dorothy has exhibited her artwork in Japan, Turkey, Europe and the United States, including solo exhibits in the greater Metropolitan Boston area; Playa del Ingles, Gran Canaria; New York City; and numerous group exhbits throughout the world.  She was presented an award in the 1974 International Arts and Crafts Exhibit, Kordon Hotel, Izmir, Turkey. She received Second Place in the Angel Orensanz Foundation Fourth International Artists Award held in New York City, Paris and Venice in 2004, and is a recipient of the 2008 World of Best Art Visionary/Innovator Achievement Award, New York and Worldwide, presented by Sorrell Publishing Company. Her artwork hangs in private collections throughout the United States, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Turkey, South and Central America.

 

Contact Information:  Telephone:  212.977.4180        dakrakauer@yahoo.com