Karen Kushner

Inspired by the Japanese art of amigurumi where small animals and toys are crocheted, I have used my knitting skills to create sculptural figures of famous characters. Each one begins with the choice of the person and grows and is refined as I research the era, the culture and the activity that defines the character and gather the types of yarn that are necessary to create the image I have chosen.  Each character is sixteen inches tall and is made of yarn and polyfill stuffing. Each one stands erect on a metal stand.   

Karen Kushner is the author of two books, How to Raise a Jewish Child: No Experience Necessary  with Anita Diamant and Because Nothing Looks like God with Lawrence Kushner. A psychiatric social worker, and chief education officer for Interfaith Family and the CEO of the Jewish Welcome Network, she worked as a family educator and psychotherapist specializing in the self healing power of families.   Karen is the mother of three adult children and the grandmother of six.