Karen Gorst
http://www.manuscriptarts.net/karen-home.htm
Karen Gorst is represented by Diane Calvert Medievales Enluminures,
Noyers, France. In 2002 she finished an illuminated Merchant Marine Honor
Roll Book to be part of the Smithsonian Collection. A leader in the field of
manuscript illumination, Ms. Gorst was one of 100 artists in the retrospective
exhibition Artist and Alphabet: 20th Century Calligraphy & Lettering Arts in
America. Her work reveals a deep spirituality and is in private collections in
the US and Europe.
As a faculty member of the renown School of Sacred Arts, NYC, from 1983 to
1992, Ms. Gorst deepened her connection to the transformational qualities of
this sacred art. In 1992, this spiritual connection lead her to co-found. The
Gabriel Guild. The Guild is a network of artists, scholars, and researchers
whose common interests are the technical and spiritual practices of
medieval/early renaissance manuscript illuminators. She is currently president
of the Board of Governors of the Society of Scribes, NYC.
Ms. Gorst's 20 years of experience researching and using medieval
techniques has made her an invaluable asset to historians, conservators &
especially to artists interested in learning to use medieval techniques. She
currently is a regular teacher at the Center for Book Arts and at Kremer
Pigments in NYC.
PROGRAMS FOR
MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES
2003
May The Spirit of Calligraphy, Panel Lecture with Elinor Holland, Donna Rubin
and Karen Gorst, Donnell Library Center, NYPL, NYC
April The Nature of Manuscripts, Friday Program, Pierpont Morgan Library,
NYC
March There's a Bug in My Ink, Family Program, Pierpont Morgan Library,
NYC
February There's a Bug in My Ink, Greenwich Public Library, Greenwich, CT
2002
December 2 Workshops: Teaching Manuscript Illumination to School
Children, Program for Museum Educators, Pierpont Morgan Library, NYC
October The Illuminator's Garden, Garden Day Lecture, The Cloisters, NYC
JulyAugust "Making Books for Children", Brooklyn Children's Museum,
Brooklyn, NY
June Medieval Ms. Illumination Workshop for Museum Interns, Cloisters, NYC
March Illuminated Manuscripts and Calligraphy, Workshop for Docents,
Cloisters, NYC
2001
April Poyet's Mss., Exhibition Tour for Society of Scribes, Pierpont Morgan
Library, NYC
March Making Illuminated Manuscripts-Family Program, Pierpont Morgan
Library, NYC
January Understanding Poyet's Mss., Lecture/Workshop for Docents, Pierpont
Morgan Library, NYC
2000
October "From Scribe to Gutengerg", High School Ed Program, Pierpont
Morgan Library, NYC
October Medieval Ms. Illumination, One week Class for Conservation Staff,
Huntington Library, San Marino, CA
August-October "Making Illuminated Mss" & "From Scribe to Gutengerg",
Designed Concepts, Demo/Materials/Handouts and Teachers' Resource
Guide for Elementary to High School
July "Making Illuminated Books", Brooklyn Children's Museum, Brooklyn, NY
1998
December Calligraphy Demonstration for Members & Trustees, Metropolitan
Museum of Art, NYC
June Panel: Authority & Authenticity, NYCMER Roundtable, Museum of the
American Indian, NYC
1997
November Making Illuminated Manuscripts-Family Program, Pierpont Morgan
Library, NYC
June Ms. Illumination Demonstration and Workshop for Museum Interns,
Cloisters, NYC
April The Gabriel Guild-Parent & Child Ms. Illumination Workshop, The
Museum for African Art, SOHO, NY
April The Gabriel Guild-Lecture: A Comparison of Techniques and
Philosophies of Making Medieval Manuscripts and Ethiopian Healing Scrolls,
The Museum for African Art, SOHO, NY
1996
October Techniques of Medieval Manuscript Production, Colloquium Speech,
Grad. School of Library Science, St. John's University, Queens, NY
1995
February Medieval Ms. Illumination, Two Lecture/demonstrations,
Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC
1994
December Medieval Ms. Illumination, Lecture/Demo, Adults & Children,
Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC
August Medieval Ms. Illumination, Two Lecture/demonstrations, Cloisters,
NYC
July Medieval Women: A Conference for Teachers-Women Artists and Their
Role in Manuscript Production, Two Lectures, Cloisters, NYC
April Medieval Ms. Illumination Workshop for Teachers, Cloisters, NYC
1993
September Medieval Ms. Illumination Workshop for Museum Interns,
Cloisters, NYC
September The Illuminator's Garden, Two Lectures, Cloisters, NYC
June Medieval Ms. Illumination Workshop for Museum Interns, Cloisters, NYC
1992
December Medieval Ms. Illumination, Two Lecture/demonstrations, Cloisters,
NYC
1991
October King Arthur Exhibition and Festival: Medieval Scriptorium, Interactive
demonstrations for Adults and Children, NY Public Library, 42nd St., NYC
June Medieval Ms. Illumination, Two Lecture/demonstrations, Cloisters, NYC
1990
March Vatican Council Conference on Art and the Sacred: Manuscript
Illumination Demonstration,
Fordham University, NYC
January Medieval Ms. Illumination, Two Lecture/demonstrations, Cloisters,
NYC
1988
May Manuscript Gilding Workshop, The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore, MD
July Medieval Ms. Illumination, Two Lecture/demonstrations, Cloisters, NYC
FULL-TIME
EXPERIENCE
1992 to 1995
The Gabriel Guild, Port Chester, NY, Teaching: Medieval Calligraphy,
Paleography, Ms. Illumination & Medieval Book Design. Classes held in Port
Chester, NY and NYC
1983 to 1992
School of Sacred Arts, NYC, Medieval Calligraphy, Medieval Ms. Illumination:
A Technical Approach and Advanced Medieval Manuscript Illumination
1981 to 1983
Scribes et Al, NYC, Staff Calligrapher/Illuminator
1980 to 1981
Ames and Rollinson, NYC, Staff Calligrapher/Illuminator
PART-TIME
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
1995 to 1998
The Gabriel Guild, Port Chester, NY, Teaching Calligraphy, Gilding
Techniques, Painting on Gold, Manuscript Illumination and Book Binding
1996 to Present
JapanAmerica Learning Center, Scarsdale, NY, Holiday Special: Greeting
Card Design, Decorated Letters, Color & Calligraphy, Spencerian, Italic,
Copperplate, Humanist, Roman Capitals, Rustics, Black Letter, Layout &
Design, Half Uncial, Uncial, Carolingian, Rotunda, Batarde, Italicized Gothic
1996 to 1999
92nd St. Y, NYC, Manuscript Illumination, co-instructor: Guadalupe Grimaldi
Greenwich Continuing Education, Greenwich, CT, The Illuminated Letter,
Basic Book Binding
1997 to 2000
Westchester Jewish Y's Summer Art Camp, Scarsdale, NY, Calligraphy and
Illumination (Ages 7-13)
1993 to 1998
A I Friedman, Port Chester, NY, Copperplate, Uncial, Italic, etc.
1996 to 1999
Center for Cont. Ed, Mamaroneck, NY, Copperplate, Italic, Uncial, Black
Letter, Italicized Gothic
1998 to 2000
Rowayton Art Center, Rowayton, CT, Italic & Uncial Calligraphy, Illumination:
Decorated Letter,
1996 to 1998
College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY, Ms. Illumination, Calligraphy
1996 to 1998
Scarsdale Cont. Ed, Scarsdale, NY, Copperplate, Italic, Uncial, Black Letter,
Italicized Gothic
1994 to 1996
New York Open Center, NYC, Med. Ms. Illumination, Black Letter I & II, Uncial
1995 to 1996
Rye Art Center, Rye, NY, Italic, Advanced Calligraphy, Roman Capitals
DEMONSTRATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
2003
May The Hand Written Text, Center for Book Arts, SOHO, NY
April-May Manuscript Illumination Workshop, Center for Book Arts, SOHO, NY
April Manuscript Illumination, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC
April Origin of Color, Kremer Pigments, SOHO, NY
February The Hand Written Text, Center for Book Arts, SOHO, NY
2002
September Medieval Book Production Lab for Course: From Papyrus to Print
to Pixel, Wellesley College, MA
JulyAugust The Hand Written Text, Center for Book Arts, SOHO, NY
June Calligraphy Workshop, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC
June Manuscript Illumination for Kids, City & Country School, NYC
JuneJuly Pastiglia, 4-Day Intensive, Isabel O'Neil Studio Workshop, NYC
June The Hand Written Text, Center for Book Arts, SOHO, NY
May Medieval Colors and Painting Techniques, Kremer Pigments, SOHO, NY
May Manuscript Illumination, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC
May Pen Pals- Favorite Tools, Society of Scribes, Harrison, NY
May Medieval Colors and Painting Techniques, Kremer Pigments, SOHO, NY
March Tricks of the Trade, Society of Scribes, Harrison, NY
March Pen Pals- Working with Printers, Society of Scribes, Harrison, NY
February The Hand Written Text, Center for Book Arts, SOHO, NY
February The Business of Calligraphy:Panel Discussion, Society of Scribes at
SVA Annex, NYC
February Origin of Color Class, Kremer Pigments, SOHO, NYC
2001
November Decorative Gilding, Center for Book Arts, SOHO, NY
October Medieval Manuscript Techniques, Kremer Pigments, SOHO, NYC
October The Origin of Color Class, Kremer Pigments, SOHO, NYC
July Quill Pen/Revolutionary Writing, Parent/Child Workshop, Jay Heritage
House, Rye, NY
JuneJuly Ms. Illumination and Artist's Books, Penland Craft School, NC, coinstructor: Grimaldi
June Medieval Manuscript Techniques, Kremer Pigments, SOHO, NYC
May Manuscript Illumination, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC
March Decorative Gilding, Center for Book Arts, SOHO, NY
February Calligraphy Workshop, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC
2000
September Decorative Gilding, Center for Book Arts, SOHO, NY
September Demo: Revolutionary War Lettering & Tools, Battle of Harlem
Heights, Harlem, NY
July Decorative Gilding, Center for Book Arts, SOHO, NY
July Quill Pen/Revolutionary Writing, Parent/Child Workshop, Jay Heritage
House, Rye, NY
May Manuscript Illumination, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC
May Calligraphy, Parent/Child Workshop, Cathedral of St. John the Divine,
NYC
May Medieval Manuscript Techniques, Kremer Pigments, SOHO, NYC
April-February Calligraphy Demonstration, Kate's Paperie, SOHO, NY
March Book Edge Gilding, Center for Book Arts, SOHO, NY
February Calligraphy, Illum. & Medieval Spirituality, Lecture, St. Peter's
Episcopal Church, Port Chester, NY
February Calligraphy Workshop, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC
January-February Medieval Manuscript Techniques, Kremer Pigments,
SOHO, NYC
1999
August Ms. Illumination & Calligraphy (3 Workshops: Calligraphy, Pigments,
Design), Noyers sur Serein, France Ms. June June Illumination & Artists'
Books, Penland Craft School, NC
May Calligraphy Workshop, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC
May Manuscript Illumination, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC
1998
October Med. Ms. Illumination Lecture & Workshop for the Paper
Conservation Dept., Buffalo State College, NY
August-September Ms. Illumination & Calligraphy (4 Workshops), Noyers sur
Serein, France: Gilding on Parchment / Ms. Illumination / Beginning
Calligraphy / Rotunda & Carolingian Calligraphy
July-April Book Edge Gilding (2 Workshops), Center for Book Arts, SOHO, NY
May Panel: "Med. Book Production Techniques,"
with Dorothy Africa: Medieval Book Binding, Pamela Rups: Directions Not
Included-The Making of a Bestiary using Medieval Techniques, Rick Cavasin:
Parchment Making, Karen Gorst: Why Did They Say That?, 33rd International
Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, MI
May Manuscript Illumination, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC
1997
November Gilding and Working on Parchment, NY Guild of Natural Science
Illustrators
November "Making, Verifying and Using Paints and Inks Made From Medieval
Recipes", Invitational Workshop for Students and Faculty, Wellesley College,
MA
November "Making, Verifying and Using Paints and Inks Made From Medieval
Recipes", Workshop for Honors Students and Faculty, Northeastern
University, Boston, MA
May "Making, Verifying and Using Paints and Inks Made From Medieval
Recipes", 32nd International Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo, MI
October Ms. Illumination, The Craft Students' League, NYC, co-instructor:
Guadalupe Grimaldi
September Illuminating Manuscripts: A Hands-on Workshop for Graduate
Students, School of Library Science, St. John's University, Queens, NY
August Ms. Illumination & Artists' Books, Penland Craft School, NC, coinstructor:Grimaldi
August Teaching Calligraphy: A Course for Elementary Teachers, Marion, NC
April Mss.: Culture & Technique, Inst. for Applied Philosophy, Mt. St.Vincent
College, Bronx, NY
April Improving the Compatibility of Paints, Inks & Papers, Dieu Donne
Papermill, NYC
January Coptic Book Binding, Training Seminar for MSR, Sands Point, LI
1996
December Gilding for Calligraphers-Demonstration, NY Society of Scribes,
NYC
November Painting on Gold Leaf, Baggot Leaf Company, SOHO, NY
October Gilding for Painters, Baggot Leaf Company, SOHO, NY
October Manuscript Illumination, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC
August Gilding on Paper, Dieu Donne Papermill, SOHO, NY
July Painting on Gold Leaf, Baggot Leaf Company, SOHO, NY
July Medieval Manuscript Illumination, Baggot Leaf Company, SOHO, NY
May-July Collage & Paper Sculpture, Westhab Facility for Homeless Children,
Elmsford, NY
May-July Late Medieval Panel Painting Techniques, Rye Art Center, Rye, NY
June Egg Tempera Painting Techniques, Gabriel Guild, Port Chester, NY
April Manuscript Illumination, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC
February-March Book Binding, Westhab Facility for Homeless Children,
Elmsford, NY
January Illuminating Mss.: A Workshop for Graduate Students, St. John's U.,
Queens, NY
1995
December Gilding on Paper, Baggot Leaf Company, SOHO, NY
November "Gilding: The Meditative Breath of God" The New York Open
Center, SOHO, NY
September Gilding on Leather, Training Seminar for MSR, Sands Point, LI
July "Celtic Letters: from Uncial to Zoomorphic" The New York Open Center,
NYC
May "From Uncial to Black Letter" The New York Open Center, NYC
1994
December Gilding on Paper Workshop, Dieu Donne Papermill, SOHO, NY
October Manuscript Illumination for Calligraphers, Island Scribes, LI, NY
1993
May "The Paper Chase" 2-Day Demonstration, Kate's Paperie, SOHO, NY
May Working with Paper Workshop, Dieu Donne Papermill, SOHO, NY
1992
November "The Paper Chase" 2-Day Demonstration, Kate's Paperie, SOHO,
NY
May "The Rhythmic Sounds of Writing" Island Scribes, LI, NY
1990
June "Oops! How to Correct Scribal Errors" Island Scribes, LI, NY
1989
August "The Alchemy of Medieval Ms. Illumination" Omega Institute,
Rhinebeck, NY
April The Making of Medieval Manuscripts, Lecture, Rutgers University, NJ
1988
September "E J's (Edward Johnston) Rules" St. Paul's Abbey, Newton, NJ
August "The Alchemy of Medieval Ms. Illumination" Omega Institute,
Rhinebeck, NY
January Medieval Manuscript Illumination Workshop, Vienna, Austria
1987
June Miniature Book Binding Workshop, A's Studio, SOHO, NY
June Medieval Calligraphy, The New York Open Center, NYC
February Quill Cutting Workshop, Island Scribes, LI, NY
1986
May Breaking E J's Rules" Island Scribes, LI, NY
February "Oops! How to Correct Scribal Errors" Island Scribes, LI, NY
January Medieval Manuscript Illumination Workshop, St. Paul's Abbey,
Newton, NJ
1985
October Miniature Book Binding, Penobscot Bay Scribes, ME
1984
March "Medieval Methods in the Modern World" Penobscot Bay Scribes, ME