Dorothy Krause shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Dorothy, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
I easily lose track of time making art. I am a painter by training and collage-maker by nature. Since being introduced to computers in the mid 1960’s, I’ve combined traditional and digital media. It may take hours or months to finish a piece or a series and while I’m involved, it’s all consuming.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
In the past I made large format work but now I primarily make small collages, assemblages and artist books – books as works of art. I decide on a concept, and then choose the structure, the binding, the pages, the cover and the box, if it has one, to support the concept. I assemble the components and begin the process of trying to pull it together.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
As an only child, I was encouraged to pursue my goals and throughout my life I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time to succeed in both academic and artistic careers. I spent 30 years at Massachusetts College in Boston teaching and in administration. During the latter years, I had a 3200 ft2 studio, full-time assistant and several galleries handling my large mixed media pieces.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
In 2011 I became a snowbird between New England and Fort Lauderdale and three years later moved to Florida full time and shifted to work that could be made in my guestroom/ studio. For the most part, my current work is sold through rare book dealers so I no longer have to pack and ship large exhibitions to galleries. The University of Miami Libraries has the largest collection of my work with 115 books and a series, “Cuba: history rewritten”, with twenty-five 12’ x 24” book-related diptychs, including Reglea. It was a major shift that has worked out well.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
In my artist books, which allow me to rant, I try to focus on and articulate what I consider foundational truths about environment and climate, government and governance, individuals and society. Permian references the largest mass extinction in Earth’s history, Concordat examines the relationship between Hitler’s programs and the Catholic church, and DNA considers our uniqueness and our common ancestry.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I have always made art and am grateful that I can continue to be productive, making work that is meaningful to me and to the hundred plus museums and libraries who collect my work and share it with the public.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.DotKrause.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dotkrause
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