Sparkly Kari Tarr
Menomonie artist scores Martha Stewart show visit
Bailey Berg, photos by Leah Dunbar |
UW- Stout painting and drawing professor Kari Tarr watches Martha Stewart’s show religiously. But never did she think she’d be the one teaching the domestic diva herself how to craft.
Tarr’s glitter paintings were selected from more than 3,500 applicants as finalists in Stewart’s “ReMarthable” craft contest.
“The contest was revolved around the idea of being ‘ReMarthable,’ ” Tarr explained. “Basically, the way she put it, it’s Martha Stewart with a twist.” Tarr learned about the contest while watching her show in late January, and contemplated about entering a piece.
“I only use Martha’s glitter in my pieces, because of the high quality,” Tarr explained. “I thought, ‘Well, I’m making art out of her craft materials, maybe that’s ReMarthable,’ so I just entered my painting into the contest to see what would happen.”
“I’ve always loved glitter, and it was just so gorgeous and sparkly. I always knew I wanted to do something with the glitter, I just didn’t know what that was.” – Artist Kari Tarr, who used said glitter for a piece on The Martha Stewart Show
Tarr says she draws inspiration for her work from 60s minimalist paintings, namely the work of Joseph Albers and Albert Kelly. Her first piece – a 25 square piece, each square a different color scheme – was based off of Joseph Albers Homage to the Square. It was the same piece that Stewart displayed on her show, along with Tarr’s striped painting, which was Tarr’s actual contest entry.
Tarr, who has always enjoyed crafting, picked up Stewart’s glitter at a craft supply store several years ago, but until just over a year ago it sat unused.
“I bought it because I’ve always loved glitter, and it was just so gorgeous and sparkly,” Tarr said. “I always knew I wanted to do something with the glitter, I just didn’t know what that was.”
“I’d been in a funk in the studio, and one day was thinking about color theory because I was teaching it in class,” Tarr explained. “I thought, ‘What if I take these different ideas and colors and use glitter?’ I experimented with it and it led to the big Joseph Albert piece.”
What Tarr thinks is most unique about her work is the meticulous fashion is which she applies the glitter. “I like a lot of clean, perfect lines,” Tarr said. “What I get the most feedback on is how impressed people are by how clean and perfect the lines are.”
“I do like the repetitive nature of the work, and I don’t mind painstakingly slow processes. Actually, I really enjoy that kind of work.”
This isn’t the first time Tarr’s work has gotten recognition. In 2009 some of Tarr’s oil paintings were accepted into New American Paintings, a juried exhibition. Besides glitter and oil painting, Tarr has also worked with acrylic paint and latex sculptures.
Tarr was first notified via e-mail that she’d be a potential finalist. This lead to a phone interview, and a call from the producers saying she was one of the five finalists. Tarr then made a 12-by-12 inch striped painting live with Stewart during the March 30 show. The show ran at 9am and 1pm on the Hallmark channel.
Four other contestants will demo their work during the week, competing towards the grand prize, the keys to a new 2011 BMW X3, which was customized by Stewart herself, which will be announced on April 1.
“I’ve been telling people, being able to glitter with Martha is definitely my own personal grand prize, and the car would just be an extra bonus if I did win,” Tarr said. View Tarr’s work at KariTarr.com.
