Karen Rechtschaffen

Anti-Drug Bus
found objects, mixed media
8 x 8.5 x 3.5 in.

I originally started making these pieces to entertain myself—a pleasant diversion after thirty years of direct service and advocacy work. Now, as I make my creations open for public viewing, it is my hope that people will enjoy them as art, while maybe finding a social or political message worth considering or even embracing.

As a self-taught artist, I see my work as highly accessible. For some, I hope it will be the colors that compel the eye to look more deeply. For others, I imagine the intricate designs or detailed narrative is the draw to look further.

Part of my creative process is to locate discarded items. Whether I find the item at a garage sale, thrift store or abandoned on the street, I know that every piece has a story. My challenge is to rework these items to have a new tale, often with a written message and a piece of my own interpretation of the past, present and future.

© Karen Rechtschaffen