Kim Mikenis Primary Medium: Mixed media Other media: Paint, Sculpture, Collage, Performance Keywords: Narrative, Repetition, Animal, Human, Social

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Artist Statement
I wrestle with paper, sculpt, assemble, collage, paint and sew. My enjoyment with play and constant movement has spurned creation of dozens of shadow puppet shows and stop motion animations. I am also inspired by travels abroad, my own restlessness, the comforts of home, circus, human fears, social behavior and animals.

This year in addition to several new paintings and a puffy sculptured Pineapple Bird, I will be showcasing a new series of three dimensional narrative works of painted and collaged shadow puppet pieces from some of my favorite performances this year at the Galapagos in Brooklyn and Dixon Place in NYC. I will also have fancy costumes pieces on display with elaborate headdresses and my mobile puppet outrigger to view.






















Artist Bio
Kim Mikenis
93 Olive Street # 3
New Haven, CT
06511
www.sharkinmysink.com


Master of Public Health 2005
Bachelors of Science 1997

Solo Exhibits:
Hula Hoops, Circus Troops and Things that go Bump in the Night: Place to Ponder Gallery, September 2007
Kim Mikenis: Koffee?, December 2005

Group Exhibits:
Women in History: New Britain City Hall, March 2009
Free AC: New Haven Public Library, July 2008
An Experiment in Light and Sound: City Lights Gallery, May 2008
PLUSH: Hello My Name is Gallery, March 2008
UN+ART: Hartford Artspace, January 2008
Art and Animation Festival, Milford Fine Arts Council, November 2007
Small Works: Milford Fine Arts Council, June 2007
The IRS Thinks We're Dead, The Nest, November 2006
Art That Brings Meaning to your Life: Hygienic Gallery, January 2006
Feet: Artwell Gallery, November 2005
Untitled: The Space, June 2005
Untitled: The Neverending Bookstore, October 2002
City Wide Open Studios 2000-2008


Juried Shows and Auctions:
New Britain Museum of Art Annual Art Auction, May 2010 & 2009
CT + 5 West Hartford Art League, April 2009
CONNcentric: ArtSpace, 2008

Puppet Shows:
the SPACE in CHOMP!: May 30th 2010
The Bindlestiff Variety Show at Galapagos, Brooklyn: May 3, 2010
ArtSpace Underground: April 10, 2010
The Statue of Liberty Takes a Holiday at Dixon Place: Feb 10, 2010
The Robin Banks Show at York St Cafe: November 2009
Un Neuf es un Neuf: A Cavalcade of Puppets: Cafe 9 September 09
Galapagos: Dumbo, Brooklyn June 2009
Muttering Udders!: Bellies Beards and Barnacles: Pockabook Cabaret, May 2009
The Valentine Puppet Passion Special: Café 9, February 2009
Perhaps Puppet?: Four Resolutions For You: ArtSpace Underground, January 2009
The Tale of the 5 Headed Beast: The Little Theatre, October 2008
Puppets Before Bedtime: Café 9, September 2008
Joseph Grady in Cable Love: recorded and televised on The Chad Raines Show, CTV: August 2008
Parlez Vous Puppet?: Art League of New Britain September 2008, and at Café 9, July 2008
Puppet Mayhem: Café 9, August 2007
The Mysterious Disappearance of the Harbor Seals of New Haven: Café 9, July 2007 and performed at Ideat Village June 2007
Little Henry Smote, the Turtle who Could Float: Milford Art Festival, July 2007
The Legend of Acho: The Space 2004
The Two-Headed Boy of Bengal: The Space 2004, Ideat Village 2004
The History of Dentistry in America: The Space 2004
The Life of Joseph Merrick: The Space 2003 and Ideat Village 2003
The Lonely Shark: Ideat Village 2002
Little Sam's Global Circus: Folk Festival New Haven 2001

Mural:
Rehabilitation Center in Luena, Angola July 2005

Animations:
The Passion of the Football
Escape from the Purse
Whatever Happened to Lillian Mosely
The Cowboy Who was too Big for this Town
Construction Joe in Naptime
Nivek and the Wondrous Land of Wonder
The Forgotten Briefcase
Dr. Octopus Adventures
Red Hot Jazz
Mr. Henry takes a Walk in the Woods after a Tough Day at Work


Additional Information:
Artist Talk: ArtSpace, New Haven November 2008
Planning Committee Member: Parachute Gallery
Member of Sewing Circle, ArtSpace


Additional Information
"Kim is by no means the type of puppeteer you'd find at the children's department at a local library on a stray weekend. A visit to the New Haven resident's website www.sharkinmysink makes that clear. Her work straddles the line of performance art and modern sculptures."
- Mike Chaiken. The Bristol Observer, May 28th, 2010.

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