Karen Abel is a glass and ceramic artist with extensive experience teaching clay to elementary and middle school students as well as hosting ceramic and glass workshops for adults. She has been an artist-in-residence in the Issaquah School District where her focus is developing ceramic courses that are sequential, educational, fun and result in treasured projects. Karen works in clay, fused glass and lampworked beads; her passion is combining these materials with wire and found objects. Karen's background includes numerous studies at Pratt Fine Arts Center, BCC and Kirkland Arts Center in addition to an advertising degree from the University of Washington and more than a dozen years in corporate America managing wacky, creative teams. From these diverse experiences she's learned the value of enthusiasm, devotion to a mission and making space for dreaming and grand attempts. Her approach to teaching both adults and children in the ceramic and glass arts reflects this philosophy of inspiring and energizing others. She is a member of the National Art Education Association, past board member of Intiman Theatre, and cofounder of Tales Well Told, a non-profit organization for the support of storytelling. Karen is currently Executive Director of artEAST, a non-profit arts organization based in Issaquah, Washington. Contact Karen e: karen@theabels.org 425-313-9889 click on an image to view a larger version