Artist Statement

Kirsten Malcolm Berry

Artist's Statement

My work is drawn from the images of the New Testament. Integrated into each painting is the verse on which it is based, written in Greek. The Greek links viewers to the original form of the text and its unfamiliar script hints at God's global grace to ‘every tribe and language’.

The configurations of repeated shapes reflect the influence of several indigenous art forms. The daughter of Presbyterian missionaries, I grew up in the Philippines and was exposed to the decorative use of patterns on Filipino and other Southeast Asian fabrics, basketry and brass. Geometric woolen tapestries of my Scandinavian heritage have also affected my sense of design, as have Native American weaving, Hmong reverse appliqué, traditional quilts and Byzantine mosaics.

The exercise of faith is difficult for those of us who long for perceptible signs of God’s presence. I paint the images of the Bible to help me translate the abstract into the tangible; through pictures I grasp that the Word indeed became flesh.

Technical Information: I begin each image in pencil on cotton rag paper. With a small (#1) brush, I follow with watercolors, using pigments mixed to a thicker consistency than is typical for most watercolorists. After applying all the color, I complete the process by erasing the pencil lines. Forty to fifty hours are spent on each painting. The framed size of each piece is 26” x 26”; actual image size is 16” x 16”.

Resume

EDUCATION
B.A., Major in Art, Bethel College (now Bethel University), St. Paul, MN, 1974-78
Additional coursework in Drawing, Painting, Watercolor: University of Minnesota, 1978-80 and University of Iowa, 1981-82

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Festival of the Arts, Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, MN, April 27 - May 4, 2008
Church of Christ the King (Roman Catholic), Minneapolis, MN, Dec. 2, 2007 - Jan. 13, 2008 (with Tom Coleman)
Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church, Chaska, MN, Sep. 9 - Oct. 7, 2007
Hope Presbyterian Church, Richfield, MN, July 1 - Aug. 26, 2007
Benedictine Center, St. Paul's Monastery, St. Paul, MN, Sep. 3 - Oct. 17, 2006
Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center, Macalester College, St. Paul, MN, April 2006
St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Mahtomedi, MN, Sep. 11 – Oct. 9, 2005
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, MN, November, 2004
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, First Floor Gallery, Minneapolis, MN, Oct., 2002
United Theologicial Seminary of the Twin Cities, New Brighton, MN, April/May 2002
Presbyterian Church (USA) National Office, Louisville, KY, June, 2001
St. Paul Office of Senator Paul Wellstone, St. Paul, MN, Nov./Dec. 2000
Lexington Christian Academy, Lexington, MA, Sep. 2000
Lutheran Brotherhood First Floor Gallery, Minneapolis, MN, May 2000
Canaan Gallery, Littleton, CO, Dec. 1999 - Jan. 2000
Presbyterian Homes - Bloomington Campus, Bloomington, MN, Sep./Oct./Nov. 1999
Great River Arts Association, Morrison County Government Center, Little Falls, MN, July/August 1999
Hope Presbyterian Church, Richfield, MN, May/June 1999
Lutheran Brotherhood First Floor Gallery, Minneapolis, MN, June 1998
First Lutheran Church, Duluth, MN, March/April 1998
Howard Conn Fine Arts Gallery, Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis, MN, Dec. 1997 - Jan. 1998
Roseville Lutheran Church, Roseville, MN, Aug./Sep. 1997
Como Park Lutheran Church, St. Paul, MN, June/July 1997
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Bayport, MN, Feb./March 1997
Messiah United Methodist Church, Plymouth, MN, Jan. 1997
Hope Presbyterian Church, Richfield, MN, Nov./Dec. 1996
Biblical Arts Center, Dallas, TX, Aug./Oct. 1996
Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, MN, July 1996
Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN, March/April 1996
United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, New Brighton, MN, Jan./Feb. 1996
The Marian Library, IMRI, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH, Sep./Nov. 1995
Minnetonka Baptist Church, Minnetonka, MN, May 1995
Christ Presbyterian Church, Edina, MN, April 1995
New Commandment Church, Minneapolis, MN, Jan./Feb. 1995
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Bayport, MN, Nov./Dec. 1994
Bloomington Covenant Church, Bloomington, MN, Oct. 1994
Festival of the Arts, Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, MN, April 1994
Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, MN, April/May 1993
The Arts Center, Jamestown, ND, March 1992 (with Bro. Basil Atwell, OSB)
Cloister Gallery, House of Hope Presbyterian Church, St. Paul, MN, Nov. 1991
Hope Presbyterian Church, Richfield, MN, May - July 1990

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Arts Fair, Grace Church, Roseville, MN, May 15, 2005 (Juried)
The Coming Dawn: The Art of Advent, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, MN, Dec. 2004 – Jan. 2005
(Invitational)
Annual Art Exhibit, Daylesford Abbey, Paoli, PA, March/April, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998 (Invitational)
The MacLaurin Institute Exhibition, Cowles Auditorium, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Oct 2003 (Juried)
Christian Art Festival, Cross View Lutheran Church, Edina, MN, May 2003, 1999, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1992, 1991 (Juried) Festival Award -’95, ’92
Peace and Reconciliation, Central Baptist Church, St. Paul, MN, April, 2003 (Juried)
Hope in the Midst of Suffering, Central Baptist Church, St. Paul, MN, March, 2002 (Juried)
2001 Religious Art Show, N.E. Minneapolis Artist Concierge Service, N.E. Minneapolis Arts Association & Elim Baptist Church, Minneapolis, MN, March, 2001 (Juried)
Christian Art Festival, Woodbury Lutheran Church, Woodbury, MN, Feb. 2001 (Juried)
The Foot in the Door Show 2000, The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN, Jan.-March 2000
Visions V, Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, KY. Sep./Oct. 1999 (Juried)
Christmas Exhibition, Visions Gallery, Albany, NY, Nov./Dec. 1998 (Invitational)
15th Anniversary Show, Douglas-Baker Gallery, Minneapolis, MN, May/June 1998 (Invitational)
Liturgical & Sacred Art Exhibition, Springfield Art Association, Springfield, IL, May/June 1998, 1996. (Juried) Purchase Award, 1996
Scribes of Hope, CIVA Traveling Calligraphy Show, 1997-98 (Juried)
(Venues: American Bible Society Gallery, New York City, NY; First Presbyterian Church, Portland, OR; Cross View Lutheran Church, Edina, MN; Regent College, Vancouver, BC; Biblical Arts Center, Dallas, TX; Scottsdale Bible Church, Scottsdale, AZ; Belmont University, Nashville, TN; Bay Presbyterian Church, Cleveland, OH; First Presbyterian Church, Orlando, FL; Billy Graham Center Museum, Wheaton, IL; Roberts Wesleyan University, Rochester, NY; Houghton College, Houghton, NY; Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, PA)
Christians for Biblical Equality - Biennial Conference, Bethel College, Arden Hills, MN, July 31 - Aug. 2, 1997 (Invitational)
Exhibition of Liturgical Arts, The Creator’s Hands Gallery, Rochester, NY, March/April 1997 (Juried)
Not One Jot Nor Tittle, Visions Gallery, Albany, NY, May - June 1996 (Invitational)
Behold the Lamb: The Life of Christ, Biblical Arts Center, Dallas, TX. March/April 1996 (Invitational)
Lent/Easter Group Show, Wooddale Church, Eden Prairie, MN, March/April 1996 (Invitational)
Expressions of Devotion, Premier Gallery, Minneapolis, MN, July /Aug. 1995 (Juried)
RE-Manifesting the Sacred, (CIVA Exhibit), Bade Museum, Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA, July - Oct.1995 (Juried)
Ecclesiastical Art Exhibit, Historic Trinity Lutheran Church, Detroit, MI, May 1995 (Juried)
National Christian Fine Arts Exhibit, San Juan College, Farmington, NM, March/April 1995 (Juried) Honorable Mention.
Select Art Show, Wooddale Church, Eden Prairie, MN, June 1994 (Invitational)
Festival of Rededication, University Lutheran Church of Hope, Minneapolis, MN, Oct. 1991 (Invitational)

INSTITUTIONAL PURCHASES/COLLECTIONS
Original Watercolors – Listed in order of acquisition:
Berea Lutheran Church, Richfield, MN
Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, MN
Cross View Lutheran Church, Edina, MN
Ebenezer Lutheran Brethren Church, Minneapolis, MN
Hope Presbyterian Church, Richfield, MN
Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Hastings, MN
Valley of Peace Lutheran Church, Golden Valley, MN (farewell gift)
Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN
Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, Springfield, IL
St. Paul’s Monastery (Benedictine Sisters), Maplewood, MN
First Lutheran Church, Duluth, MN
Sacred Heart Convent (Dominican Sisters), Springfield, IL
Houghton College, Houghton, NY
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, MN
Campus Ministry Advancement, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, St. Paul, MN (farewell gift)
Bethel Seminary, St. Paul, MN
Bethel Lutheran Church, Hudson, WI
Anchorage Lutheran Church, Anchorage, AK
Baker Publishing Group, Ada, MI
North Como Presbyterian Church, Roseville, MN
St. Paul Area Council of Churches, St. Paul, MN (farewell gift)
Maple Grove Lutheran Church, Maple Grove, MN (farewell gift)
Lexington Christian Academy, Lexington, MA
Lutheran Church of Peace, Maplewood, MN
Stadium Village Church, PC(USA), Minneapolis, MN
Oak Grove Presbyterian Church, Bloomington, MN
Chapel, Lutheran Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
Easter Lutheran Church, Eagan, MN
Lutheran Partners for Global Mission, Minneapolis, MN
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, MN
Horner Center for Lifelong Learning, Fuller Seminary, Pasedena, CA (farewell gift)
St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church, Plymouth, MN

WORK IN BOTH PRIVATE & INSTITUTIONAL COLLECTIONS
169 original watercolors
6,500+ signed offset & inkjet prints

PUBLISHED IMAGES
Salt of the Earth, A Christian Seasons Calendar, 2007-2008, illustration for the Season After Pentecost.
Salt of the Earth, A Christian Seasons Calendar, 2006-2007, illustration for the Season After Epiphany.
The Presbyterian Heritage Daily Devotional, P.J. Southam, Booksurge Publishing, 2006, cover illustration.
The Divine Embrace, Robert E. Webber, Baker Publishing Group, 2006, cover illustration.
Mutuality, published by Christians for Biblical Equality, Winter 2005, p.15.
Every Sunday Service Folders, Augsburg Fortress Publishers: 3/25/07, 10/10/04, 6/1/03, 4/1/01, 2/20/00, 1/10/99, 10/12/97.
The Lutheran, ELCA, April 2003, pp. 12-18.
Presbyterian Life & Times, News from the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, PC(USA), June 2001, p. 3.
Presbyterian Planning Calendar, 2001-2002, PC(USA), 13 images. (Calendar images also reproduced on bulletins and posters.)
Christianity and the Arts, Winter Issue, 2001, back cover illustration. Summer Issue, 1999, p. 63.
Exploring Christianity, Kenneth J. Collins, ed., Baker Books, 2000, cover illustration.
Renewing the Center, Stanley J. Grenz, Baker Books, 2000, cover illustration.
Baker Academic Catalog, Fall 2000, cover illustration.
View-book, Lexington Christian Academy, Lexington, MA, Fall, 2000, pp. 2, 6, 10, 14, 18 & cover illustration.
Environment & Art Letter, Liturgy Training Publications, Archdiocese of Chicago, April 2000, inside front cover spread.
Bethel Focus, published by Bethel College, St. Paul, MN, Spring Issue, 2000, pp.15-18.
Presence, The Journal of Spiritual Directors International, Sep. 1999, May 1999, Jan. 1999, cover illustration.
Horizons, published by Presbyterian Women, PC(USA), July/August 1999, p. 11.
Lutheran Campus Ministry, ELCA, St. Paul, MN, image reproduced as poster, note card, print, bulletin and bookmark, summer 1999.

home

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and prosper for us the work of our hands - O prosper the work of our hands!
Psalm 90:17