Educators

I am  a multidisciplinary visual artist, educator and visual arts advocate. I live at Schist Lake in Northern Manitoba. I work out of a studio there and at the Northern Visual Arts Centre (NorVA) in Flin Flon, MB.

Artist Statement Karen Clark

I am thrilled by the idea that people making and appreciating art works share so much with one another. This sharing is important to inspire conversations that are necessary in Canada today.

I paint the landscape here in the Boreal forest from the vantage point of my kayak or canoe. The terrain here is edgy and sharp. This is my cup of tea.

In June 29th 2026 I opened a show at the NorVA Centre in Flin Flon. The show of 31 oil paintings is focused on the local mine processing site nestled next to us here in Flin Flon. It is a remarkable juxtaposition, over 600 hectares devoted to extraction, crushing , smelting, prepping ore and managing waste products from those mining processes. The working title, The Long GoodBye: The Company, refers to the boom and bust cycle common to mine based towns throughout the world.  The show is exhibits until July 28 with an Artist Talk on July 21 2026.

Acknowledgement

My generation has seen the deconstruction of Canada’s colonial past. I follow the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the investigation of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls with a growing sense of horror and shame. Having my roots as a settler in this land, I have a shared sense of confusion and perplexity as to how we - settlers and Indigenous people - carry on together. As a result I find myself questioning my place in this landscape which is so fundamental to my sense of self.

For more than 30 years, I’ve been both an artist and an art teacher, passionately bringing creativity to life in our community. My focus has always been on making art accessible and enjoyable for everyone—from children in after-school programs, Seniors in local recreation centers, and adult art classes at Killarney Heritage Home for the Arts, United Arts Center Pilot Mound, and several other in Winnipeg. My art is deeply inspired by the natural beauty of southern Manitoba, and I love working in oil, acrylic, and watercolor. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of teaching in various art galleries and studios across southern Manitoba, and it’s been an incredible journey of sharing the joy of art with those around me.

𝘔𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦,
𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦-𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘵,
𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘵.