Sarah M. Kaiser

Email: sarahkaiser@yahoo.com
Website: http://sarah-kaiser.com/portfolio.html

Sarah M. Kaiser joined the faculty of the American Academy of Art, Chicago, in 2007. She has taught Fundamentals of Art (FND 101) at the school; watercolor and acrylic painting at the Lillstreet Art Center; drawing at the Hyde Park Art Center; and figure drawing and art history at the Harold Washington College and at Harper College. She graduated from the University of Chicago with an MFA in Painting (2003) and an MA in Art History (2006). Additionally, she has a BFA in painting and printmaking from Colorado State University (1997).

As a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society, College Art Association, and the Field Museum of Chicago, she recently exhibited her work in Chicago at the Hyde Park Art Center, ARC Gallery, and Around the Coyote Gallery. She has also shown her work at the Lubeznik Art Center in Michigan City, IN, and the Montserrat Gallery in New York City.

She volunteers at the Food Pantry for the Homeless in Hyde Park Chicago, and is a member of the First Unitarian Society of Chicago.

Interview

Sarah Kaiser’s ArtStyle Blog interview by Darrell Roberts was published in February, 2008 .

Gallery / Exhibitions

Recent / Upcoming Exhibitions:
Woman Made Gallery Spring Benefit. Live Auction. Catalyst Ranch, 656 W. Randolph, Chicago. Website: www.womanmade.org/auctions.html. Phone: 312-738-0400. Date of event: April 12, 2008. Reception and auction from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.

One Inspired Evening Art Auction. Juried group fundraiser for the homeless; featured live music and art. River East Art Center, 435 E. Illinois Street, Chicago. Website: www.inspirationcorp.org/events/events_art_auction.html. Phone: 773.878.0981 ext. 222. Date of Event: March 14, 2008. Reception: 6 to 10 p.m.

Subject/Object Exhibit. Juried group show which features faculty and student still life drawings. American Academy of Art Gallery, 322 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 300, Chicago. Hours: 12 to 5 p.m. Email: lburkhardt@aaart.edu. Phone: 312-461-0600. Dates of exhibition: January 5 to March 1, 2008.

Artist’s Statement

My name is Sarah Kaiser, and I am a painter and printmaker. I work in a very physical way by sanding and scraping the surface. I tend to paint with ethereal, translucent layers so that the white of the canvas reflects through the color to create luminous tones. I learned to give my canvases a diaphanous appearance by studying the watercolors of Winslow Homer -- I dilute paint so it behaves more like dye. I love seeing the fibrous weave of a brown, earthy linen canvas when covered by a thin wash. I am fascinated with the sky, and rub paint with rags to mimic wispy clouds. My compositions tend to have low horizon lines; the empty space created lets the image breathe.

I make whatever moves me. If I find a Bazooka gum wrapper on a wet sidewalk, I’ll scan it and enlarge it so that I can see all of the Benday dots. I’m an adjunct teacher, and I teach students about Lichtenstein. If some of the subject matter moves me to emulate it, then I will. Also, I draw and paint eyeglasses often. I became attracted to this metaphorical image when I was earning an MFA at the University of Chicago. Since I was feeling quite overwhelmed by a whirlwind of contemporary art theory I decided that I should only focus upon physical, real things instead of esoteric ideas. So, when I started fumbling around with a pair of glasses in front of a flood light, I noticed the glorious, long shadows that were elegantly draped across a table --they were casting sinuous lines and shadows that played a little game with each other. On a deeper level, I learned to be still, and to ground myself by looking outward. I like to draw because I can return to a still, orderly place where I make the rules, where I am in control.

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