Tideline Visions: The Art of Seaweed A Pop Up Show

The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) Store and photographic artist Karen Clark will present a pop-up show & sale of Karen’s work on Saturday, September 25, 2021, from 11 am-2 pm on the museum’s patio overlooking the Harbor.

Karen Clark states, “I see art in everything. It’s the way I’ve always been. I feel grateful to experience the world in such a beautiful and visual way.” She gathers materials at the tideline for her current work of photographing the natural beauty of seaweed. While some might overlook seaweed as an art material, or simply pass by it without a second glance, Karen is drawn to it for its colors, textures, and form. Her photographic art involves layering and playing with the organic materials, typically on the very same day she finds it, as the vibrancy of the colors fades if kept too long.

The artist offers her original photography printed on ready-to-hang metal canvas, as well as on cards and tea towels, and the September 25 show will feature 22 pieces of art as well as the smaller items. Karen believes everyone should have access to original works of art, so she remains dedicated to keeping her pieces affordable.

Karen Clark grew up in Massachusetts and spent summers in Cape Cod and Maine, where she fell in love with the ocean and simultaneously developed a passion for art. She received her BFA in art education from the University of Colorado at Boulder. While Karen spent much of her career as a professional photographer, she and her husband shifted gears and now own Whimsy Antiques, a playful vintage shop in Carpinteria. Not only is Karen the shop’s stylist, but she has also branched out and taken on several interior design jobs for local homeowners. When not at the shop or honing her interior design skills, Karen spends her time at the seashore, where she continuously finds inspiration for her art and photography.