Kari Kraus

The consistent theme of my work for the past few years has been based on Swarm theory and swarm intelligence. My pieces consist of numerous, often over 100 separate pieces of hand cut and dyed pieces of silk organza. The piece itself only takes shape upon the wall where it will live, fastened securely with dressmaker's pins. Each segment of the installation is deliberately positioned to reflect the atmosphere in which it inhabits. Copious amounts of time can be spent on a single installation, resulting in a one-of-a-kind piece that others can enjoy. With this mask I used black acrylic paint and hundreds of small marks suggesting a swarm/flock of birds, exploring yet another medium for a recurring theme within my work.