Kenlynn K. Schroeder

Pandemic, The Light Therein
International Virtual Art Exhibition Series

(September 2020)

BIO

Thirty years ago I studied art in California and New York. I studied at the Florence, Italy Art Institute in 1916 and in Sienna, Italy in 1917. After losing eyesight due to glaucoma I decided to open wider access to my art for blind people. I affixed objects to my canvas and invited blind people to touch. I had two exhibitions in Madrid, Spain, “Joyful Art For Touching,” in 2018 and “Joyful Art: using one or more of your six senses" in 2019. They were huge successes enjoyed by sighted and blind people of all ages. I am approved for a third art residency in Barcelona, Spain, now postponed. COVID-19 struck; art for “touching” was over. Now I create “Joyful Art for Change.”

Artist Statement

My philosophy is to strive for a joyous life. Hence I create joyous art to promote harmony between and among all people of all abilities and our planet's earth and sea. I save and recycle everything and affix all manner of objects securely to my canvas. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, I pivoted to creating a series of "Joyful Art For Change". I took a lesson from my career in international disaster response: "Don't just help people rebuild the same old way; rebuild for a better and sustained future." Albert Einstein once said "In midst of difficulty lies opportunity." As we emerge out of this crisis we must not overlook opportunities to make changes for the better in our world.