I met Karen Unger-Strickland when a mutual friend dragged me to a Friday Knitting Group Night last spring. And when I started to imagine what kind of articles to include in the first newsletter, I found myself asking, “Who is this woman, anyway? What makes her tick? And how the heck does she keep going at such a pace?!” From my perspective, she was a tireless dynamo with the best shoe/stocking collection on this side of the Rockies, and a big heart that was intent on making a living by helping artists and artisans make a living. Clearly, an interview with Karen was necessary.
As we sat on the comfy red chairs at the front of her store, the very same ones we occupied for the Knitting Group, Karen seemed both excited and nervous as she poured tea into china cups. With one hawk-eye on the customers, anticipating their every need, we embarked on the interview.
RL: What kinds of jobs did you have before Bird on the Wire?
Karen Unger-Strickland: How far back would you like me to go? I started working at 14 and was a dishwasher for a hotel in Port Coquitlam to save for my first 12 speed bike. Since then I have worked as a stay-at-home Momma, in areas of service and/or creativity. I worked as a sales clerk in fashion and shoes, drafting design as a Building Technologist, Executive Assistant to sales teams, opened my first business – a paint-your-own ceramic studio called Paintin’ Place, a Massage Therapist and Energy Worker, but most recently stay-at-home Mom to EsaBella.
RL: Who has inspired you?
Karen Unger-Strickland: Women who have risen above adversity. I am inspired by their strength, their self-confidence, their wisdom and their compassion. The first one would be my Momma. Then M.C. Richards (Poet, and Potter), Frida Kahlo, and Jo Packham (Editor of Where Woman Create).
RL: What tips do you have for someone starting out in the arts?
Karen Unger-Strickland: Believe in what you are doing and never waiver. We are currently living out an old paradigm that has exhausted its usefulness – Starving Artist. I have a personal mandate (persondate) to shift the paradigm from Starving Artist to Thriving Artist, and not for a few but for many. That’s why I opened this store….for Artists to have a storefront to sell their work…For the artist to make a living at what they love to do…and for locals to know where to buy good, quality local artwork/craftwork.
RL: What kinds of things do you make?
Karen Unger-Strickland: Currently my “canvas” is the store. It is constantly changing, and frankly I have time for little else, but I do knit and I am knitting myself a dress.
RL: What kinds of creative activities do you wish you still did?
Karen Unger-Strickland: Painting and sewing.
RL: How much do you see music as an influence?
Karen Unger-Strickland: Music is very much an influence. If you listen closely, you can hear music in everything you do. Music can create a mood, but yesterday I heard a CBC program on colour and one of the artists (I cannot remember his name) saw colour as music.
RL: What’s your favourite album?
Karen Unger-Strickland: Album, now that’s going back in time for me. The first thing that comes to mind when I think Album is the Boston album I used to listen to in grade 12 art class. But if you mean music in general, that is a tough one. I love all kind of music and it depends on what I am doing. For example, I like to listen to Smooth Jazz while I am cooking, HipHop while house cleaning and Classical (my favourite is Bach Brandenburg concertos).
RL: Running your own creative business is not easy, what helps you keep sane?
Karen Unger-Strickland: That’s an easy one….spending time with EsaBella, my youngest. Yes, a cheesy answer, but it’s true. Otherwise, I like to read, and I am currently reading Pillars of the Earth [by Ken Follet], cooking something yummy and drinking red wine while doing so, and going to the Vancouver Art Gallery.
RL: Which recipe do you make when you are feeling expressive?
Karen Unger-Strickland: Depends on the mood, but for a yummy home-cooked Sunday meal, I love to make Classic Coq au Vin. While cooking, I love to listen to smooth Jazz, have a little red wine and then go to town.
RL: Will you share the recipe?
Karen Unger-Strickland: Sure…
Serves 4
2 tbsp Olive Oil
½ cup pancetta (diced)
1 cup Pearl Onions
1 lb Crimini mushrooms (quartered)
1 Chicken (cut into 8 pieces)
1 tbsp Corn Starch (for thickening more can be used if desired)
1/3 cup brandy
1 bottle Red Wine
3 cloves of garlic (peeled and minced)
Fresh sprigs of Thyme
1 sm sprig of Rosemary
Preheat oven to 300*F . In a braising pan, heat olive oil and brown pancetta. Remove pancetta and reserve. In same oil brown chicken pieces, skin side down first and then remove from pan and reserve. Add onions to the pan using the same oil and brown. Remove and reserve. Finally, sauté mushrooms for 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Deglaze pan with brandy and then add pancetta, onions and chicken back into the pan. Sprinkle with Corn Starch over top the chicken and stir to combine with contents in the pan. Pour in red wine and add garlic cloves, Thyme and Rosemary. Bring to a boil, cover and place in preheated oven for about 40 minutes. To servel, remove chicken to a serving platter and reduce liquid in pan if desired. I like to serve this dish over a Parsnip and Potato mash along with an Arugula salad.
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