L. OETTINGER – CAPTURES THE MAGIC OF THE STARS

By Trish Williamson

I was delighted to meet with resident Kathleen Oettinger, an exceptional artist, who currently has a solo exhibit on display through April 2 in the Centennial Hills Library. I hope you will visit the exhibit.

“My intention for this solo show is to send more love and healing into the world. The works, and each step in their creation, even to the individual stitches, were done with that hope. I see them as a merging of religious iconography and mandalas that can be used to find a space for centeredness and connection in any given moment,” Kathleen

Art was a healing modality for Kathleen to deal with issues, especially during her teenage years. “I integrated art into every aspect of my life. I was never not in that art space,” she said.

From her earliest years Kathleen Oettinger remembers the nursery rhyme, “Star light, star bright, the first star I see tonight; I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight,” and how she gazed with wonderment into the alluring night sky

You might say Kathleen was blessed to find her passion at a very young age. She was surprised at Kindergarten graduation with an art award. She instinctively drew a cat on a rug with one and two-point perspectives. “I received a lot of positive attention; that was the beginning for me,” Kathleen noted.

The biggest inspirations on her art, she reflected, were the Impressionist artist Vincent Van Gogh. She was particularly moved by The Starry Night and has recreated her own self-portrait of Van Gogh's masterpiece Kathleen also credits Hilma Af Klint, a Swedish artist and mystic, whose abstract expressionism had a strong influence on her work.

Also, inspired by her Finnish heritage, after graduating Pratt Institute with a BFA in Printmaking, she focused on creating wood cuts depicting women mentioned in the Kalevala, the national epic poem of Finland.

“My goal as an artist,” Kathleen said, “is to invite viewers into a journey of their own. Through my art I seek to communicate with them in a way that supports a sense of belonging within the mystery we inhabit together.”

Over the years, her use of artistic materials has changed – from pencil drawings to wood cuts, to watercolors, to oil paintings, to fabrics and other embellishments.

Her newest solo exhibit, at Centennial Hills Library, was inspired by stunning images from the Hubble Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope. She used various layers of fiber, stitching, beads and sequins to create a graphic, compelling artist's impression of the cosmos.

“When I looked at the Hubble photographs, they were so beautiful to me. The whole Hubble series reflected peace and harmony The James Webb photographs made me feel joy and gratitude,” Kathleen explained.

A s a p r o f e s s i o n a l a r t i s t , K a t h l e e n h a s received many awards and recognitions. She is very proud of her involvement with former First Lady Roslyn Carter's organization, Every Child By Two Kathleen received an award from Mrs. Carter for her creativity and service to American children in her work as editor and art editor A big part of her life as an artist was being involved with The Women's Caucus for Art. As a Board member, she was privileged to represent the organization at the Fourth United Nations World Women's Conference held in Beijing, China. But perhaps, her proudest moment was when Kathleen was selected as the feature artist of the Contemporary F i n n i s h - A m e r i c a n A r t i s t S e r i e s b y F i n l a n d i a U n i v e r s i t y i n Hancock, Michigan.

E d u c a t o r, m a r r i a g e & family therapist, d r u g a n d a l c o h o l c o u n s e l o r, s p i r i t u a l director, editor and columnist are some of the other pursuits K a t h l e e n h a s embraced as part of h e r l i f e - l o n g experience. Her love of learning is evident in the many degrees she has accumulated t o b e c o m e a l l s h e wants to

In every aspect of her career, Kathleen has never deviated from her passion. “I want to use my gifts to help people heal and reach their full potential whether it is though art, my work with the church, being a marriage and family therapist or being a wife and mother.”

Kathleen and her husband, Frank, are blessed with three daughtersMeredith, Melanie and Megan – and six grandchildren.

Congratulations on your exhibit, Kathleen! Please continue to look to the stars. Please visit her exhibit at the Centennial Hills Library, located at 6711 N. Buffalo Dr, on Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. or Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.