Cupertino Courier 10-20-07 •
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~~lume bo, Number ~ • October io, 2007 • Cupertino, CA • Est.1947 • ~v~~v cupertinocouriercom
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~~~r. p~~~ 16
Artist Charlotte Kruk ~iiiiY I~er latest confection creation: a jacket made from Godiva clxocolate wrappers. the jacket was a
special commission for San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis.
.
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I'li< <<~_~,:~>i~ by Jacyuclin~ R:imseyer
Charlotte Kruk, an art teacher at Lynbrook High School, al~;o coaches the school's junior varsity field hockey team.
Charlotte Kruk is Cu ertino's `Artist of the Year'
p
By ERIN HUSSEY
ith their bright colors, was recently named Cupertino's sary waste that then just winds up money on such things as acces- Kruk first started making her
fashionable cuts and "DistinguishedArtistoftheYear." in the [rash. So I think there is a soriesfordogsversustheIragwar, candy creations in the late '90s
recognizable packaging, Each year the Cupertino Fine real interesting commentary on the media's fascination with while she was a fine arts under-
it'seasy toassume that Charlotte Arts Commission gives a local, how we sort of package ourselves celebrities and society's focus on a graduate student at San Jose State
Kruk's handmade candy wrapper Cupertino-involved artist anon- with clothing and how we some- person's weight. University. Frustrated by having to
clothes are sweet. But, instead of monetary award that recognizes times don't see beyond the plastic "I know my work doesn't show spend copious amounts of money
empty calories, her outfits are their talent as well as additional layers of people," says Kruk. all of that, but those are some of on new materials for each course
packed with personal statements. work within the greater commu- In addition to the packaging the things I think about as far as she enrolled in, Kruk started to
"I'm coming from alot ofdiffer- nity. metaphor, Kruk says her work how we are as a society,it's all kind look at creative ways to avoid it.
ent perspectives," says Kruk, who "We produce a lot of unneces- questions hew people spend their of backwards," she says. "I was screen printing on cloth
16 CUPERTINO COURIER OCTOBER 10, 2007
diapers, picking up brown bags as together and becoming my own."
opposed to going out and getting On her mother's side, it was tra-
the good stuff," she says. - dition to open every holiday/birth-
Soon she discovered her ulti- day present with great care.
mate material: the waste from her "You wouldn't rip it because we
candy-loving sweet tooth. would recycle the paper year after
`'During a camping trip I was sit- year," says Kruk.
ting there eating a whole bunch of But when the two Kruk girls
Now and Laters, and there wasn't a would visit their paternal grand-
trash can that was readily available, parents, life was a bit different.
_ soIhadthemallthereinfrontofine Each weekend, when her
and I thought,`What if I sew these grandmother picked the girls up,
all together and make a textile?' " they always stopped at a grocery
Kruk, who comes from a long store where they could buy their
line of talented seamstresses, favorite candy. Following dinner,
avoided learning how to sew when while her grandparents played
she was growing up. Because her Yahtzee, Kruk and her sister
father died when she was a child, would stay up late eating candy
Kruk says she was attracted to and watching Fantasy Island and
more masculine-type art forms The Love Boat.
like metalsmithing. But after her "Every weekend we would do
camping trip, Kruk knew it was the same thing, and then my mom
time to learn her mother's trade. would have to retrain us all over
"I started out by taking things because we would come home as
apart," she says. "I would find a these torture-nightmare-candy-
dress at a thrift store that I liked kids,"laughs Kruk,who admits that
and take it apart and then use it as if she could, even today, she'd love
my pattern." to live off candy and ice cream.
Kruk, who eats almost all of the Following Kruk's graduatioi~
candy herself, has only two fillings frnm SJSU, she continued to cre-
and is a healthy weight. What's ate candy couture while working
more interesting is how her as a waitress.
unique blend of indulgence aad It was her mother, once again,
meticulous saving was developed. who stepped in and encouraged
"Because my father passed away her to pursue a more stable career
and my mom needed to work, my to supplement her artistic passion.
sister and I were Despite disliking the teaching cre-
raised by mytwo sets dential program because of its
of grandparents," lack of art focus, Kruk said that
says Kruk, who from the second she got into the
grew up in classroom she completely dug
Campbell. _ it.
"So I have _ "The great thing about teach-
two completely ing art is you have the flexibility of
different hiloso- _
p teaching what you want because
phies on life that are ~ there aren't standardized tests at
coming the end," she says.
~F,n; r~ - Kruk is in her 10th year
of teaching, all of them at
y~. - - Lynbrook High School.
' ~ - "Continuous improve-
* ment is my goal as a
C "
N ~ ~v' ~v°
r{:~ ~ teacher,"she says.
' " - ' ~ The scheduled student
w ~ ~ breaks and early hours also
~°r~.
. ~ ~ ~ , ' mean that Kruk is still
~ ` ' ~ ~ . z" able to dedicate a signif-
~r icant amount of time to
~ ~Y
~ herownartwork.
"It would be great if I were
x
`a
• . ~ 1 w rich," she says."I'd love for all
-~a my time to be studio time,
9{.
A^ > ~`~~~a', ~ but that's not feasible
` r~,a.w.`m 3 . where I live and I want to
~~~.,~r~. ~ ~ live here forever." Kruk
` ~ ~ ~ and her husband, Dave
~ Kempken, live in Willow
w'•~"'"_ P2 ~ ~ Glen.
~ Close to five years after
~a ` , x Kr.uic started teaching and
o-r~ ,r ~ displaying her pieces in
~.~~R..,~
Ril:a ~ ~'~.p~ ya", ~ gall Aries across the Bay
Are ,she received a cease
Noda ` and desist letter in 2001
shows off n
` from Mars Inc.-the co -
Charlotte , , ~ - fectionery conglomerate
Kruk's behind Skittles, M&Ms and
Snicker { '~`~x
s LL~ . Twix.
Knickers. " The letter cited Kruk's use
of their wrappers as trademark "Itwassuperscaryfor started to research ways to
and copyright infringe- me," says Kruk, who respond to the letter.
went and unfair ~s ~ ~ sought legal advice "I've tried to really do my
competition . ~ f', d;: from the California homework on satire versus paro-
Mars, Inc. also Lawyers for the dy and what is fair use as far as
wanted her to ~ i.:.~ Arts. artists are concerned," says Kruk.
n~ Y; w_ . , . .
turn over three When she found it Some of the famous examples
pieces for destruc- ~ wouldcostmorethan$5,000 she is looking at include Andy
tion: the Snickers Knick- to pursue a court battle, she Warhol and his use of Campbell
ers, the Miss Chocolate decidedsheandherartwork Soup cans. Kruk also started
Fun Size Dress and the would lay low for a while. working on a visual response piece
Chewy Fruit Twin "I have a statement, and in the form of an extravagant M &
~j', I feel ustified in that I M matador suit.
Dress made out J
of Starburst ~ have purchased "I really researchedcostumesand
w r a - "f` ~ A` every single one historical traditions of dress," she
p ' ~F _ ; of these pack- sa s."After looking at all the differ-
pers. ,~~-a:.. A ~ Y
~ ages and I ent ones I just really came to terms
4 }
. n
~„~~.k ~ ~ am wearing with the matador,because it is such
. ~ w ~ I~ ~ w ; : , - the calories a ballsy way to approach a situation;
~ - , - on my hips it's like,`Here it is,come and get it: "
' ; ~ ~ ~ ~ and I should The highly embellished matador
' ~ ' - ~ be entitled suit is a blend of browns (plain
. _ , , ~ to my MsLM packaging) and golds
v . ~k; ~ trash,butI eanut M&M ackaoina and has
: ~ ~ was real- (P P g g)
r:- " an intricate self-portrait on the back.
,r .
~ . r `a ~ ~ ly scared It has taken Kruk close to four years
" k ' a and I to com lete.Toda she is uttin the
~ ~ , P Y P g
" ~ ~ ~ really finaltouchesonthelargered"mule-
' : ~ { ~ . don t
~,p ~ ~ ~ M ta,"the cape used to lure the bulls.
~ " ~ have "Documentin the suit is a huge
4, »
~ goal, says Kruk, who plans to
~ com fete with
~ ~R i'~ ,j" - a ~ ~,,.;t ~ wear the outfit p
= " " authentic matador tights from
~ , I° l4~ Spain for the photos."It will be a
~ ~ ~ ~~M sense of closure."
~-f~ , ~ ~ , ~ , ' ° In addition to finishing the
.
» 1 a
, t'g* ~ ' matador suit, teaching and coach-
l~• ~ ~ ' ~ ~ ing field hockey this fall, Kruk is
' ~
_ - ~ A ~ ; ~ ~ busy starting aTiffany & Co. dress,
a , ° ~ . ~ ` three candy capes, as well as fin-
to be mess-
r " ~ ' ~ fishing a commissioned Godiva
~ y o
. ~ , ~ t ;nl~haro sh chocolate jacket for SanFrancisco
,~~4~ . = t . w 49ers tight end Vernon Davis.
~ A~. ~ n ~ sa K r u k "It has been a blessing and a
~ curse at the same time working for
~ ~ r ~ "T- ~ states on her someone so fabulous," says Kruk.
~~r ~ ~ website that
Davis first saw Kruk's work at
~~'1 ~ ~ she has no ,
, ~ y ~ r '~;n ~ , Laura Taylor Moore s Campbell
~i ~ a f f i l i a t i o n Showroom and asked fora hand-
" ' ~ with the
~ ~ made acket he could wear.
t _ s v~~ trademark ~=It's not my favorite way to
a ~ ~ , s ~ ; . ~ holders.
~ work because I think there is such
f ~ t ~ ~ During the
~ ~ ''~"t ; ~ K ~ ~r a personal level that is grounded
six or so
~ ~ in my work, but I know it's also
1~ ~ years follow-
l ' im ortant for me to et m work
+ • inQ the let- P g Y
`~A ter, Kruk out there and to have it in places
~ a~~, like Vernon s house.
didn t really
create much Some of Kruk's current work
and refused to can be seen at the Campbell
Photographs by show the three Showroom in downtown Camp-
steve Jennings bell, Triton Museum of Art gift
pieces when
`Traje de Luces' asked by gal- shop in Santa Clara, and Kaleid
won Best of leries. Luckily, Gallery in ~ an Jose, as well as on
Show in the Mars,Inc. decid- her website at www.kruktart.com.
Wearable Art ed not to pursue "I've never seen anything like
Competition at the case much what she does with candy wrap-
the Pacific further. pers, and I think that's what won
International t As the her the commission's vote," says
Quilt Festival in r years Robert Harrison, chairman bf the
Santa Clara i~? passed, Cupertino Fine Arts Commission.
2006. Kruk "She's a great artist, but she also
really gives back to the communi-
ty through teaching and coaching
- 4 • and that also scored big."
s~ For more in
formation on how to
nominate both visual and perform-
ingartrstsfor the2008 Cupertino
Distineuished Artist o f the year call
u ertino
p
~Iolume 60, Number 38.October io, 2007 • Cupertir ~o, CA • Est. ig4.7 • www cupertihr~ocouriercnm
A 1~t .7
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Artist Charlotte Kruk with her latest confection creation: a jacket made from Godiva chocolate wrappers. The jacket was a
special commission for San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis.
_„y .
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Phomgraph by Iacqueline Rxmseye~
Charlotte Kruk, an art teacher at Lynbrook High School, also coaches the school's junior varsity field hockey team.
Charlotte Kruk is Cupertino's `Artist of the dear'
By ERIN HUSSEY
¢h their bright colors, was recently named Cupertino's sary waste that thenjust winds up money on such things as acces- Kruk first started making her
fashionable cuts and "DistinguishedArtistoftheYear." in the trash. So I think there is a soriesfordogsversustlteIragwaz, candy creations in the late '90s
recognizable packaging, Each year the Cupertino Fine real interesting commentary on the media's fascination with while she was a fine arts under-
it'seasytoassumethatCharlot[e Arts Commissiongivesalocal, how we sort of package ourselves celebrities and society's focusona graduate student at SanJoseState
Kruk's handmade candy wrapper Cupertino-involved artist anon- w th clothing and how we some- person's weight. Univetsity.Frustratedbyhavingto
clothes are sweet. But, instead of monetary award that recognizes times don't see beyond the plastic "I know my work doesn't show spend copious amounts of money
empty calories, her outfits are their talent as well as additional la ?ers of people," says Kruk. all of that, but those are some of on new materials for each course
packed with personal statements. work within the greater comma- In addition to the packaging the things I think about as faz as she enrolled in, Kruk stazted to
"I'mwmingfromalotofdiffer- nity. m:taphor, Kruk says her work howweazeasasociety,it'sallkind look at creative ways to avoid it.
ent perspectives,'says Kruk,who "We produce a lo[ of unneces- gL.estions hsw people spend their of backwazds,"she says. "I was screen printing on cloth
16 CUPERTINO COURIER OCTOBER Iq 2007
dupe rs, picking up brown bags as together and becoming my own."
opposed to going out and getting On her mother's side, it was tra-
the good stuff," she says.. dition to open every holiday/birth-
So~~n she discovered her ulti- day present with great care.
mate material: the waste from her "You wouldn't rip it because we
cand~~-loving sweet tooth. would recycle the paper year after
"D uring a camping trip I was sit- year," says Kruk.
ling there eating a whole bunch of But when the two Kruk girls
Now:ind I.aters,and there wasn't a would visit their paternal grand-
. _ trash ~:an that was readily available, parents, life was a bit different.
_ soIh«dthemallthereinfrontofine Each weekend, when her
and I thought, `What if I sew these grandmother picked the girls up,
all together and make a textile?' " they always stopped at a grocery
Knik, who comes from a long store where they could buy their
line of talented seamstresses, favorite candy.Following dinner,
avoid~dlearninghowtosewwhen while her._grandparents played 1
she was growing up. Because her Yahtzee, .Kruk and her sister
father died when she was a child, would stay, up late eating candy
Kruk says she was attracted to and watching Fantasy Island and
more masculine-type art forms T'heLov+eBoat.
like metalsrnithing.Bu~ after her "Every weekend we would do
camping trip, Kruk knew it was the same thing, and then my mom '
time to learn her mother's trade. would have to retrain us all over
"I started out by taking things because we would come home as
apart." she says. "I would find a these torture-nightmare-candy-
dress at a thrift store that I liked kids,"laughsKruk,who admits that
and take it apart and then use it as if she could, even today, she'd love
my pattern." to live off candy and ice cream.
Kruk, who eats almost all of the Following Kruk's graduation
candy herself has only two fillings fmm SJSU, she continued to cre-
and i~~ a healthy weight. What's ate candy couture while working
,more interesting is how her as a waitress.
unique blend of indulgence and It was her mother, once again,
meticulous saving was developed. who stepped in and encouraged
"Because my father passed away her tQpursue a more stable cazeer f
and my mom needed to work, my to supplement her artistic passion.
sister and I were Despite disliking the teachingcre-
raised by mytwo sets dential program because of its
of grandparents," lack of art focus, Kruk said that j
says h:ruk, who from the second she got into the
grew up in classroom she completely dug
Campbell. it. -
"So I have `•`~he great thing about teach-
' two completely ingarcisyouhavetheflexibilityof
differ<:nt philoso- teaching what you want because
phies on life that are there aren't standardized tests at
coming the end," she says.
Kruk is in her 10th year
ofteaching,all ofthem at ,
Lynbrook High School.
"Continuous improve-
went is my goal as a
_ teacher," she says.
The scheduled student
breaks and earlyhours also
mean that Kruk is still
_ ~ " - able to dedicate a signif-
icantamount oftime to
herownartwork.
$ "It would be great if I were
rich," she says."I'd love for all
my time to be studio time,
but that's not feasible
' where I live, and I want to
live here forever." Kruk
and her husband, Dave
Kempken, live in Willow
Glen.
Close to five years after
Kruk started teaching and
displaying her pieces in
_ galleries across the Bay
Ri1~a Area, she received a cease
Nods .and desist letter in 2001
shows off from Mars, Inc.-the con-
Charlotte fectionery conglomerate
Kruk's behind Skittles, M&Ms and
Snickers Twix.
Knickers. The letter cited Kruk's use
of their wrappers as trademark "Itwassul~erscaryfor started to research ways to
and copyright infringe: me," says Kruk, who respond to the letter.
went and unfair I ~ sought :legal advice "I've tried to really do my
competition . from the California homework on satire versus paro-
Mars, Inc. also Lawyers for the dy and what is fair use as far as
wanted her to Arts. artists are concerned," says Kruk.
. turn over three When she found it Some of the famous examples
pieces for destruc- wouldcostmort;than$5,()00 she is looking at include Andy
tion: the Snickers Knick- to pursue a cow-t battle,she Warhol and his use of Campbell
ers, the Miss Chocolate decided she and her artwork Soup cans. Kruk also started
Fun Size Dress and the wouldlaylowforawhile. workingonavisualresponsepiece
Chewy Fruit Twin "I have a statement, and in the form of an extravagant M &
Dress made out I feel justified in that I M matador suit.
of Starburst have purchased "Ireallyresearchedcostumesand
wrap - every single one historical traditions of dress," she
pers. of these pack- says. "After looking at all the differ-
ages and I ent ones I just really came to terms
am wearing nth the matador, because it is such
the calories a ballsy way to approach a situation;
~ on my hips it's like,`Here it is, come and get it: "
.and I should The ~g~y embellished matador
be entitled suit is a blend of browns (plain
to my M&M packaging) and golds
trash,but I (peanut M&M packaging) and has
. ~ was real- anintricateself-portrait on the back.
ly scared It has taken Kruk close to four years
and I to complete.Today she is putting the
really finaltouchesonthelargered"mule-
o~ don't ~~"the cape used to lure the bulls.
have "Documenting the suit is a huge
# goal," says Kruk, who plans to
r y.
wear the outfit complete with
authentic matador tights from
Spain for the photos. "It will be a
sense of closure."
In addition to finishing the
' matador suit, teaching and coach-
ing field hockey this fall, Kruk is
$5,000 busy starting aTiffany & Co. dress,
to be mess- three candy capes, as well as fin-
,k ing around fishing a commissioned Godiva
with," she chocolate jacket for San Francisco
49ers tight end Vernon Davis.
' ,l ~ says. "It has been a blessing and a
Kruk curse at the same time working for
states on her someone so fabulous," says Kruk.
website that
Davis first saw Kruk's work at
affi lation Laura Taylor Moore's Campbell
with the Showroom and asked fora hand-
trademark madejackethecouldwear.
holders. "It's not my favorite way to
During the work because I think there is such
a personal level that is grounded
~ years follow- in my work, but I know it's also
ing the let- important forme to get my work
ter, Kruk out there and to have it in places
didn't really like Vernon's house."
create much Some of Kruk's current work
and refused to can be seen at the Campbell
Photographs-by sktow the three Showroom in downtown Camp-
Steve Jennings bell, Triton Museum of Art gift
pieces when
`1Yaje de Luces' asked by gal- shop in Santa Clara, and Kaleid
won Best of le ties. Luckily, Gallery in San Jose, as well as on
Show in the Mars,Inc.decid- herwebsite at www.kruktart.com.
WearableArt ed.nottopursue "I've never seen anything like
Competition at tb.e case much what she does with candy wrap-
the PaciSc further. pets, and I think that's what won
International As the her the commission's vote," says
Quilt Festival in years Robert Harrison, chairman bf the
Santa Clara in passed, Cupertino Fine Arts Commission.
2006. Kruk "She's a great artist,but she also
really gives back to the communi-
tythrough teaching and coaching
and that also scored big."
Formore information on how to
nominate both visual and perform-
ingartists forthe2008 Cupertino
DistinauishedArtistoftbe year call