MY STORY
My Story:
A little backstory about that drives my creative practice.
Years ago, I was standing in the dressing room of a Nordstrom near my home. I was with my young daughter, and we had some sort of event coming up so we popped over to the nearest store in search of something new to wear, now it is mostly vintage for us but back then we visited many dressing rooms. Anyway as we entered the dressing rooms straight ahead on the back wall just inside the dressing rooms (out of view from passersby) was a giant portrait, a historical figure of a woman, she was dressed in 18th century clothing, a beautiful silk dress the lightest shade of shimmery blue, her hair piled high on top of her head, dark curls cascading down the sides, her neck covered in pearls, layer after layer. She had white feathers and pink ribbons woven through her hair; her lips were the color of berries like she had just eaten a purple popsicle. She was formal, beautiful, unapproachable, something you would see in The National Gallery, not in the dressing room of Nordstrom. Everything about her said you can look but do not touch, you can admire from afar, but I am not accessible. Except there was one small detail that changed things, her entire story shifted because of this one small detail. She wore a jet-black ribbon over her eyes. The simple act of obscuring her eyes changed the entire narrative. A whole new story appeared because of that one small detail.
I was so drawn-in I stopped and stared, wondering, curious, what was her story? Did she choose her band-of-black or was it placed by someone? Was it nefarious or a playful act? I wanted to know her story. From that moment her story became my story, I saw bands of black ribbon everywhere, I still do. At that moment I knew what I loved, what drew me in, it was the unexpectedness, the counterpoint, the idea that one simple change could generate mystery, curiosity, wonder and rewrite a story, that’s what drew me in and kept my attention, the ability to create a new narrative, visually. I still remember very vividly every detail of the woman and exactly what I felt when I saw her with my young daughter in tow.
Although I didn’t know at the time experiencing that portrait all those years ago was a pivotal moment for me, it was the start of my pursuit of the unexpected, one I wouldn’t formally attend to until years later, post living in Europe as an expat (visiting museums, soaking up black ribbons) post a professional career in the high-tech sector and two grown children. Everything up to and since then has lent narration to my story. I came full circle back to that moment in that Nordstrom dressing room ready to pursue my passion, my pursuit of the unexpected.
Artist Statement:
Contrapuntal Kate (CP KATE) is my art business. The term con·tra·pun·tal, borrowed from music, reflects my methodology: the art of combining two relatively independent melodies to produce a unique, third narrative. That third narrative is my passion. I love the pairing of disparate elements whether it be in food, fashion, or art. I’m drawn to visual conflict; it’s the push and pull I find thrilling. I’m inspired by the photography of Timothy Walker; his work embodies a beautiful tension I look to replicate in my art.
My sculptures integrate representations of historical figures with everyday objects, offering a contemporary take on a cast of characters from the past. The unexpected pairings depict contrast with irreverence.
I employ traditional artisan techniques in my artistic practice. Molds are created from foods like Oreos, Peeps, fresh fruit, and baked goods, as well as found objects such as paint cans, cardboard boxes, tech devices and toys. After casting in hand-dyed plaster, I begin the collage process creating hats for figures like Queens and Greek deities. Humor, whimsy and irony are intentionally integrated into my work to infuse levity and offer viewers a lighter perspective through sculpture. In addition to my logo, each piece is signed with a small peace sign, serving as a meaningful symbol throughout my body of work.
Biography
Kate Rasmussen (CP KATE) is an accomplished sculptural collagist. Her artwork elevates the ordinary and makes the precious more approachable as she pairs everyday objects or ephemera pulled from pop culture with elements of historical figures. Kate’s sculptures evoke humor and irony, and she finds ‘pairing disparate elements in a slightly satirical way highly entertaining.’ Many of her pieces are characterized by food as fashion and she draws inspiration from both.
Kate spent her professional career negotiating global manufacturing agreements and managing software development programs within the high-technology sector. Motivated by a growing passion for the arts, she transitioned from the technology industry to focus on sculpture where she spent years honing her craft. Kate is self-taught in the art of mold making, rotational casting and a multitude of finishing techniques. For her large-scale works, she employs a custom-built, six-foot-tall steel rotational casting machine, while smaller components are rotated by hand. Each piece is crafted using her self-developed formula of acrylic polymer and alpha gypsum, ensuring both uniqueness and craftsmanship within her home studio.
Originally from Minnesota, Kate earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of Minesota. She has lived in several locations, including Seattle, Ireland, Paris and is currently based in Portland, Oregon.
Follow Kate on Instagram @cpkatemaker