Incubus’ Choice: Close-up on Iris rising (Kimberly Berg)

What message(s) do you want to express through your work?

I’m mainly interested in creating images that enhance a women’s sense of self. I want to create images that will enable women to see that part of themselves that has been systematically censored for thousands of years by a patriarchical culture that too often stigmatizes and condemns women from the moment they leave the womb. As an artist I want to help women reclaim their natural birthright, that is, their spiritual, sensuous, creative, intuitive, playful, earth-centered self.

Which artists inspire you?, who are your masters?

The artists I most admire include Degas, Gauguin, the Impressionists, Bouguereau, the Renaissance painters, Rembrandt, Ingres, Courbet, Corot, Vermeer, and Velazquez (not in that order). I feel closest to Degas because he worked with pastels and used the nude figure in much of his work.

What have you gained by being on the internet?

The internet is a great way to reach out to a much broader audience than would ever be possible through a gallery or museum. I’m more interested in showing my work than selling it, so the internet serves my purposes perfectly. The only problem serving a virtual audience is that it’s hard to get feedback. Even with the guestbook few people have the interest or take the time to use it.

Did the internet enable you to meet new models, to find new exhibit places?

As far as models are concerned, I did get an email once from a model. Unfortunately she lived in California and I live in upstate New York. Nevertheless, I never have had problems finding suitable models. Often my best models volunteered to model. For the last several years I’ve been in charge of a life drawing group at a local Arts Center, so that has helped as well.
So far my website has not produced any gallery invitations other than that to enter various competitions. Usually when that happens, I don’t have any trouble getting accepted. That’s how I was accepted in the present show in Montreal (Quebec).

Could you tell us a few words about the place you live/work in?

My living/studio situation is highly unconventional. I live in a one-room cabin in the Adirondacks. I moved to the Adirondacks and built a cabin after spending time in New York City. I found from that experience that I needed a quiet, undisturbed, natural environment to do my creative work. As you can see from the art, this place has served me well. It’s not just a place to live but it’s my spiritual, earthbased center for living a creative life. I find that I can only practice my art at the fringes of our culture. Nevertheless, I keep an attentive eye focused at the center.

Close-up on…