Artwork copyright Karen Hackenberg. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Olympic Organic, 2009

Karen Hackenberg
American (born 1955)

Location: Peninsula College, Port Angeles

About the Artwork

"Olympic Organic" is part of a series of paintings by Karen Hackenberg that addresses the subject of beach trash in a light-hearted yet subversive way. Hackenberg describes her subjects as, "Castaways from grocery shelf life, synthetic products proudly and cheerily proclaim their natural rights as they strand and break apart on our inter-tidal coasts. As gyres of garbage swirl in the Pacific, plastic becomes the new sand."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Peninsula College.

About the Artist

Port Townsend, Washington-based painter Karen Hackenberg playfully challenges how waste affects the environment. In an ongoing painting and drawing series, she captures images of trash found near her studio. She also creates drawings on an iPad, intentionally leaving them unfinished. She has served as a panelist, curator, and instructor in both the field of art and environmental affairs.
Hackenberg received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).