By Kim McDarison
An opening reception was held Saturday at the Fort Atkinson Club community center for the Frances Jones Highsmith Art Show.
The show, which runs through April 7, features the work of several local artists, including husband and wife Brian and Angie Szabo, and Mark Skudlarek, a potter from Cambridge. Also featured is the work of the late Kim Karow, an elementary school art teacher within the School District of Janesville who harbored an enthusiasm for prairie and sedge, and was interested in biological sciences. Her work is influenced by her interests. A resident of Fort Atkinson, she died in 2019 at the age of 56.
According to a show brochure, the exhibition, sale and fundraiser is named for another Fort Atkinson resident: Jones Highsmith, who was born Mary Frances Cole in 1927 and grew up in Fort Atkinson. Jones Highsmith left the area to further her education. She graduated from Milwaukee Downer Seminary in 1945 and attended Wheaton College in Norton, Mass., for two years, before transferring to the Rhode Island School of Design. She graduated in 1950 with a bachelor’s of fine arts degree in fashion illustration.
In 1965, Jones Highsmith moved to Arizona where she served as an art teacher at both the elementary and middle school levels.
“We are honored that her daughters, Betsy and Kate, have allowed us to honor Fanny’s design sense and artistry by holding this show,” the brochure states.
Of Karow, the brochure states: “Kim had a gift for creating nature-themed pieces of great depth and sensitivity and impeccable attention to detail. Kim will be remembered for her dedication to prairie restoration, her amazing silverpoint drawings, her printmaking and collage work, and her many contributions to the field of art education.”
Karow — a graduate of both the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned her undergraduate degree in elementary and art education, and the UW-Whitewater, where she earned a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction — also was a longtime member of the Black Hawk Artists group, the brochure noted.
As reported in an earlier story about Karow, she joined the group in 1996 and was a participant in some 20 of the group’s annual shows.
As quoted in the earlier story, Angie Szabo, a fellow Black Hawk Artist and Fort Atkinson High School Art teacher said: “Kim’s spirit always brought each of us joy, and her artwork was both impeccably beautiful and deeply insightful.”
In attendance during the show were at least two of Karow’s five siblings, Karen Wilson, from Baltimore, and Lynn Potter, Middleton.
Karow’s 2-year-old grandson, Wesley, found entertainment moving exuberantly between the display panels that held his grandmother’s work.
The show also serves as a fundraiser for a one-time art scholarship which will be offered to a Fort Atkinson High School student graduating this year and planning to attend college to study art, Potter, an organizer of the scholarship, said.
Proceeds from the sale of Karow’s work will be used to fund the scholarship.
All of the 2D pieces in the show are Karow’s, a show organizer, Sally Koehler said.
While Karow’s pieces fill two rooms within the Fort Atkinson Club community center, not all of the pieces are for sale. Visitors to the exhibition will fine “NFS” noted on pieces that are in the show for exhibit only.
During Saturday’s event, some 120 people arrived to view the art and visit with the 3D artists.
All three 3D artists were on hand to greet visitors and talk about art.
Angie Szabo sported a pair of earrings made by her husband. Brian Szabo, a Sicangu Lakota artist who creates contemporary jewelry with traditional motifs, said materials used in his wife’s earrings included bison bone, bison horn and pipestone.
Pipestone, he said, was used by Native Americans to hold tobacco. It was a stone collected and used for making ceremonial pipes.
“The stone comes from Minnesota and it was very spiritual to the natives,” Brian Szabo said.
Angie Szabo also is a creator of jewelry. Her creations are made from brass, copper and sterling silver with unique stones.
“Most of her work is very feminine in nature and often highly reflective of our natural world,” the show brochure states.
Surrounded by visitors, Skudlarek, too, was eager to share information about his craft. he encouraged visitors to touch and hold ceramic pieces.
According to the show brochure, Skudlarek’s journey as an artist has led him through such places as central Minnesota and central France. In 1988, he moved to Wisconsin. Today he operates a three-chamber Japanese-inspired kiln from his home.
Those interested in viewing or purchasing works at the Frances Jones Highsmith Art Show may do so between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily through Thursday.
The Fort Atkinson Club community center is located at 211 S. Water St. in Fort Atkinson.
An earlier story, announcing the Frances Jones Highsmith Art Show, is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/fort-atkinson-club-to-host-art-show-in-april/.
An earlier story about Kim Karow is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/karows-artwork-sought-for-inclusion-in-memorial-catalog/.
For more information about the Fort Atkinson Club, visit: www.fortatkinsonclub.org.
More information about the Black Hawk Artists group is here: https://www.facebook.com/Black-Hawk-Artists-137123439767921/.
Longtime friend of the late Kim Karow, Gigi Glanzer, Columbus, peruses the display panels holding Karow’s work. Several of Karow’s pieces on display are also for sale, the proceeds from which will fund an art scholarship to be awarded to a 2022 Fort Atkinson High School graduate.
One of many pieces made by artist Kim Karow on display at the Frances Jones Highsmith Art Show. The show is open for viewing at the Fort Atkinson Club community center.
Kim Karow’s sister, Karen Wilson, from Baltimore, takes photos of her sister’s work. Wilson, and another sister in attendance, Lynn Potter, from Middleton, said they are among six siblings: one brother and five sisters in all.
Fort Atkinson resident Ann Engelman examines a piece for sale made by Angie Szabo.
Angie Szabo models an earring made by her husband, Brian Szabo. Both husband and wife have pieces for sale at the Frances Jones Highsmith Art Show. Angie Szabo is a member of the Black Hawk Artists group and an art teacher at the Fort Atkinson High School.
A necklace made by Angie Szabo.
Brian Szabo, a Sicangu Lakota artist whose work uses materials such as bones, horns, and antlers from buffalo, elk, deer and antelope to create pieces steeped in Native American traditions, holds a piece made by his wife, Angie Szabo, called “Love Birds.” The piece was made in honor of his birthday, Brian Szabo said. The piece is offered at the show for viewing only.
Several pieces made by Brian Szabo.
Friend of the artist, David Brueckner, from left, and the artist, Mark Skudlarek, a potter from Cambridge, hold pieces of Skudlarek’s work. Skudlarek encourages patrons to touch and hold the pieces, which are meant to beautifully provide both form and function.
Several pieces made by Mark Skudlarek.
Pat Jones, from left, and Angela Nelson, both of Fort Atkinson, view Karow’s work.
Among pieces of Kim Karow’s work on display is “Perpetual Joy,” at left, a mixed media piece made in 2016. The piece is owned by Dale Karow and is offered at the show for viewing only.
Visitors to Saturday’s opening reception of the Frances Jones Highsmith Art Show enjoy art, and opportunities to mingle with guests and the artists, as well as several members of the late Kim Karow’s family.
Several pieces of Kim Karow’s art are seen in the entryway of the Fort Atkinson Club community center.
A portrait of Kim Karow welcomes visitors as they sign the art show guest book. Her spirit, as so eloquently described by artist Angie Szabo, “brought each of us joy.” Through her art, her relationship with life, and art, is renewed.
Photos by Kim McDarison.
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