“Mixed Media Funhouse” is the art studio of Kristen Penrod. Her escape is not one of travel, but a journey of the mind. She creates one-of-kind assemblages that can be described as somewhere between whimsical and peculiar. Her followers describe her works as “sheer artistic brilliance,” “magical with merriment,” and “upfront with style and deep meaning.”
Kristen’s favorite medium is her imagination. She practices stretching her imagination by selecting random vintage objects that evolve into body parts, enclosures, and amusing characters with deeply meaningful backstories. These assemblage creations are a mix of a fictional characters and non-fictional stories that connect with the viewer.
“The Revolver” is a whimsical Mary Poppins type figure with wings and revolving doors on each side of her dress. Her story is about the various people that come and go in life, She decides who comes, who goes, and when.
“The Vicious Cycle” is a mischievous juggling puppet riding a bike. He himself is the vicious cycle in our lives that can be repeated with or without our permission. He asks the observer to ponder the importance of stopping the negative cycle.
In a more whimsical scene, “Sailing on a Starry Night”, Vincent van Gogh sails a magical boat with stars shooting up all around him.
Humor is a key element in “Life is Like Riding a Bicycle”, which has Einstein wearing a physics suit sitting on a penny farthing.
Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.
Albert Einstein
Kristen believes that creating these assemblage characters may have something to do with her past. She portrayed various characters while touring with “Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom on Ice” immediately following high school. She traveled the globe for years, including several Asian and US tours. When she donned different costumes, something magical happened. She would transform into other personalities, which would take over. She was delighted when the audience erupted in laughter.
Upon entering the funhouse today, Kristen turns on her music, dons her goggles, and her imagination ignites! She swings into action, deconstructing toys (after she plays with them of course!). Then she decapitates dolls, adds vintage objects, restructures, rearranges, adds texture, and finally paints them all to look like one “being” from a faraway land. When you look at Kristen’s art, you are immediately invited to escape, wonder, be surprised, or laugh – So submit your ADMIT ONE ticket and enjoy the ride!
