By Joe Barr
We first learned of Karen when she emailed Expose Kenosha.
“I am an artist that lives in Kenosha County and was not aware of a vibrant and active arts community.”
I emailed Karen, and later called her. Her enthusiasm for her art was contagious, and she was eager to share and learn with other artists.
Joe: Hi Karen. We just met, and I know very little about you. Why don’t you introduce yourself?
Karen: My name is Karen Griffin. I live in Salem, Wisconsin, and I’m an artist that is trying to promote herself.
Joe: How did you come to email Expose Kenosha, Karen?
Karen: There was as an ad on Craig’s List. That’s how I found Expose Kenosha. It was talking about writers and saying that writers were needed.
That’s why I sent the email. I wanted to be a writer and I said “Hopefully it’s a paying job, because I’m a starving artist”.
Joe: Well… The work is fun, and you would have good company, but the pay… Continue reading →
by Roberta Williams
I first met Colleen Steenhagen a little over a year ago when she opened her shop Down the Rabbit Hole. We had crossed paths in New Orleans, but never met and I immediately recognized her as a kindred spirit. Colleen is a spirited artist, photographer, and entrepreneur who left her native Kenosha early in life in search of adventure and great photo ops. Lucky for all of us she decided to put down roots back in her hometown. These roots are in the form of the magical shop on 7th Avenue, Down the Rabbit Hole. Her line is “You never know what you will find inside,” and believe me that’s so true!
The shop is an oasis of Joy in the sea of mega-superstores and mass production that surrounds us. Tibetan prayer flags fly outside and beckon us into the shop, which reminds me of the markets and bazaars you find in foreign lands. You can find everything to delight your senses – tea, chocolate, aromatherapy oils, incense, candles, Buddhas, Ganeshes, books, music, cards, accessories- the list goes on & on. And, of course, you can view Colleen’s wonderful digital images, which she calls collage/mandalas. Colleen also carries the work of many local artists (beaded pillows, stuffed rabbits, jewelry, purses, prints, paintings, artist trading cards). Don’t miss the wabi sabi shelf while you are there!
Colleen has also brought in tarot readers and a henna art painter, which adds to the exotic air of the place. There are not too many places in Kenosha where you can go to get this feeling. I always half expect a snake charmer to be sitting in the corner some days, or a white rabbit serving tea at the tables in back.
I recently got Colleen to take time out from her busy schedule to answer some questions for ExposeKenosha. She was preparing for her Day of the Dead celebration. For this traditional Mexican celebration on November 2nd she set up a Day of the Dead altar in her shop; complete with skeletons, candles, cut papers and the breads, candies and exotic fruits of Mexico. Friends and patrons brought photos of their lost loved ones to place on the altar. It was a real Down the Rabbit Hole experience.
How long have you been taking pictures?
I started taking pictures when I was 5yrs old. I was inspired by my father’s photography. Of course I wanted to do it myself, so he bought me my first camera, a Brownie. I spent my school years taking pictures of friends, and field trips…it wasn’t until college though, that I approached it as an art.
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