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