KJAER NELETIA PEDERSEN – BIO – CANADIAN ARTIST

Kjaer Neletia Pedersen proves to be a continuing work of art in progress. She was born in Owen Sound, Ontario to Kjaer, a Danish tailor and to Neletia, a strong beautiful woman of colour and substance. Kjaer grew up gleefully enjoying all of the wonders of her life...... love, dancing, art, academics.
Teaching all of her life, Kjaer has just retired after 30 wonderful years in the classroom. She has taught from Grade One to Adults, run large First Nations Alternate Programs, and, along with almost every subject area in all Grade levels, chose to teach secondary Art exclusively and joyfully for the past number of years. Kjaer and her students created wonderful massive murals together, in clay, paint, collage, and tile mosaics, along with assisting young people to earn University credit while still attending high school.
Working part time in her pottery studio, located on her own acreage, while still teaching, allowed Kjaer the creative outlet that she needed. She has successfully sold in many art galleries and her works are in private collections worldwide. Kjaer is drawn to the human face and began her serious ceramic work when she began to make clay masks, but, as everything in her life, she quickly became interested in a multitude of other related work.... playing with wall hangings, mirrors, along with various and gorgeous tableware pieces. Life is good. Kjaer shares her pleasure of having ‘eye candy’ in everyday life .... drawing ourselves back to the present moment in appreciating the finer details ... a simple bowl of soup can become a special occasion for one in a piece of art by Kjaer.
Kjaer Neletia Pedersen has an insatiable sense of enjoying a wide variety of artistic experimentation and has just recently incorporated her crazy, and admittedly somewhat obsessive passion for clothing..... in that she is always wanting and searching for unique, comfortable, artistic clothing world wide ..... Kjaer laughingly realizes that her own children didn’t even know that she could sew on a button, as she unexpectedly purchased a sewing machine only a few months ago and already has become a featured fabric artist at a world renowned shop, Bab’s Boutique on South Granville, Vancouver, and was just accepted to sell her wares at Circle Craft Christmas Show and Sale. Magical as it seems that Kjaer can sew, she recalls that in her youth, vividly remembering sitting at her father’s knee as he speed sewed......... mesmerized, awed, inspired.... learning and not realizing.
Totally excited about her new developing exclusive clothing line, Kjaer has already gone through various stages of development but, of one thing you can always be sure of... every work of art by Kjaer, both with pottery and with cloth is always one of a kind... work is freehand cut and designed so that ORIGINAL is what you will wear, place on your table, put up on your wall... when you purchase from Ko – Kjaer Originals.
Kjaer, a definite work of art in progress, and in quoting Oscar Wilde, “One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art”, and Kjaer proves with her artistic passion that she can be both. Kjaer is sure that your chosen piece will become a fast favourite. Works of Art to Wear... Clothing for EVERY body.... Look good and FEEL even better. Enjoy!!!
Please visit my web sites: www.KOVANCOUVER.COM – WWW.KJAERPEDERSEN.CA – WWW.KJAERPEDERSEN.COM and email me at STUDIO@KJAERPEDERSEN.COM

Not the best photo of this wonderful mask that I made... but... it reminds me.... I remember when I broke my front tooth... the Dentist said that he could do nothing but pull it... I was horrified and resistant to losing my front tooth... he pulled and he yanked... and I felt like a cartoon character with this little old man Dentist almost on my body pulling.. yanking... exclaiming how hard it was to pull out this root... that he had never seen anything like it... he was sweating... he was exasperated.... then... I realized that I was holding on... holding on for dear life... holding on to MY tooth... and I knew then that I had to accept what was the inevitable and simply relax and release... let it go... the very second that I did that the poor Dentist went flying in the air across the room ... but... with total glee as he now had this tooth.... so... why am I telling myself this story... reminding myself of the amazing power of the mind... my mind... because it is time to release my much much much loved log house... allow it to go ... let another family enjoy my home as I did.... I will go up on Sunday and, along with encouraging my family to participate, let this dream that was magically manifested of mine from over 15 years ago be released... and allow my new dreams... my new exiting life begin.... it is time..... I am ready....

Demented jesus... seemed somehow the appropriate name for the mask.... a little warped...long thin mask with flowing beard.... many people wanted to buy this and my husband wanted to give it to friends as a wedding gift.... hope they like it... it is not exactly for everyone.... but a very powerful and intriguing piece....

These are the last photos that I have of my more recent works... lately I have a whole new array of beautiful new long and short jackets... hoping to find my camera battery charger - from the move that isn't near unpacked yet .....as we wait for shelves .....in order to complete the organization in our new home....

As soon as I saw this print in the fabric store - I thought of my sister... this was made with her in mind.... I made a dress to match, too.... the jacket would fit up to at least an XXL - but the dress would fit only up to an XL at most - pieces, of course, are bought and can be worn separately.... clothing that looks good, easy wear, wash and wear... and FEEL GREAT!!!!

Another beautiful jacket just made .......

This morning I created this jacket and dress.... there was a student art show at the Mission Arts Council and, as I was in charge, I wanted to dress appropriately.... I felt great and comfortable all day long... look good and feel even better in my K.O.'s - KJAER ORIGINALS - designed to live in... all of my work has been machine washed and dried... designed to ENJOY!!!!

A few more pieces.... not the ones that I did yesterday... no photos yet but back to jackets... and dresses!!! Off to the Arts Council today and.. also.... hopefully.... the very last weekend of clean-up and fix-up our log house which is now up for sale.....

I now have my sewing machine up and running... I plan to sew sew sew today.... and then meet my girlfriends.... new creations are so much fun... I plan to make some dresses and some jackets today... and something very special for a family member.... I can't wait to get started.... wake up my boys... do a quick clean with them ... and away I go.... free hand cutting and then sewing like the wind.....

A couple more beautiful, flowing tops that remind me.... that ironing would make everything look better.... I have been trying to steam the wrinkles out and it doesn't seem to be working... oh well....

Off to Vancouver today to get my sewing machine working, deliver some pieces, and maybe find more fabric.....

A couple of new creations.... off to the stores tomorrow....

I have always loved the simplicity of this mask... and the feathers I added gave it more interest... I called it simply "gettin' by" - no emotion - no real interest... just getting by... doin' OK... kinda like..... whatever....