Kathleen Carlo-Kendall facts for kids

Kathleen Carlo-Kendall is a talented artist from Alaska. She was born in Tanana, Alaska, and is a member of the Koyukon Athabaskan community. She is well-known for her amazing carvings.

Early Life and Art Beginnings

Kathleen Carlo was born in Tanana, Alaska. Her parents were Poldine and William "Bill" Carlo. When she was five years old, her family moved to Fairbanks. She still lives there today.

Kathleen started making art at the Native Arts Center. This center is part of the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. Her teacher was a famous artist named Ronald Senungetuk. Kathleen loved art ever since she was in high school. Her artwork often tells a story or shows a special spirit. Sometimes, her art is simply inspired by the natural shape of the wood. She earned a special degree in Metalsmithing. However, she sees herself more as a woodworker than a metalsmith.

Her Artistic Journey

Kathleen finished her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1984. She earned it from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. At that time, not many women were carving masks. Kathleen was one of the few who did.

Besides making masks, Kathleen also enjoys working with wood panels and metals. She even creates sculptures out of ice! She also loves to teach. Since 1990, she has taught carving at the University of Alaska Summer Fine Arts Camp. Kathleen has won many awards for her art. Her work has been chosen for special art projects twice. You can see her art in many places. These include the University of Alaska State Museum and the Anchorage Museum of History and Art. Her art is also in many private collections.

Her Unique Art Style

Kathleen Carlo-Kendall uses both metal and wood in her art. She likes how the hard metal and soft wood look together. She sees herself as a modern Native artist. This is different from a traditional artist. Traditional art often follows very old ways. Modern art can mix old ideas with new ones.

Masks were not used much by her own Koyukon people. So, Kathleen looked to other cultures for ideas. She found inspiration from Yup'ik masks and other traditions.