"I earned my M.Ed through an international program in Poland (I'm half Polish) and have worked most of my life in the field of education, but I've always been a closet artist. I drew for fun all through school and even still have a children's book I wrote and illustrated when I was a first-grader. It was about two friends, both of whom were named Pooh. [*laughs*] I decided it was time to get out of the field of education and do art full-time when my daughter was born. Of course, since she was a baby, I was also a full-time mom, but I could work around her schedule because I do watercolors. With watercolor, you don't just sit down and do a whole painting at once; the piece has to dry and rest along the way. That's how I've worked all through her childhood.
"I do occasional shows of my own pieces, but the project I'm most interested in right now is one I put together called 'What We Kept' that's on display at the University of Memphis Art Museum through July 2. It's a collection of treasured objects---and the stories behind those objects---that women from all over the world brought with them when they moved to the Memphis area. Thirty-three countries are represented, and the objects range from items of clothing and books to cooking utensils and figurines. My goal was (and is) to open dialogue between people. A museum holds a community’s heritage, and as new citizens come, the objects they bring with them become a part of the community’s heritage as well. I hope the exhibit will encourage people to examine their own heritage and to have conversations with the older members of their own families around objects that are special to them.
"I’m working on expanding the exhibit to other cities and countries with large international populations and am looking for collaborators and investors to help make that happen."
"I do occasional shows of my own pieces, but the project I'm most interested in right now is one I put together called 'What We Kept' that's on display at the University of Memphis Art Museum through July 2. It's a collection of treasured objects---and the stories behind those objects---that women from all over the world brought with them when they moved to the Memphis area. Thirty-three countries are represented, and the objects range from items of clothing and books to cooking utensils and figurines. My goal was (and is) to open dialogue between people. A museum holds a community’s heritage, and as new citizens come, the objects they bring with them become a part of the community’s heritage as well. I hope the exhibit will encourage people to examine their own heritage and to have conversations with the older members of their own families around objects that are special to them.
"I’m working on expanding the exhibit to other cities and countries with large international populations and am looking for collaborators and investors to help make that happen."
The exhibit, What I Kept, is on display March 14 - July 2, 2015, at the University of Memphis Art Museum. Hours are Monday – Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, except between temporary exhibits and on University holidays. 142 CFA Building / Memphis, TN 38152 / Phone: (901) 678-2224.
Some of Penny's paintings:
In addition to her M.Ed, Penny Karwacz holds a certificate in Museum Studies from the University of Memphis. She combines her background in education and non-profits with her interest in museums, social justice, international issues, history, and culture. She can be contacted at pennykarwacz@yahoo.com.
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