Beginning Dec. 11, the Hayloft Gallery at The Jacksonville Center for the Arts in Floyd will be presenting “The Art and Life of Karen Carrino.” A reception will be held on Jan. 9, 2010.

In 1972, Karen was killed in a hit-and-run car accident along with her 8-year-old brother, Michael, and a 3-year-old friend, Lisa Boudrie. Karen was 19 at the time. Her sister, Deborah Carrino, was then 18 and survived the accident.

Karen’s legacy includes a vast portfolio of drawings and paintings, most of which her father sold upon her death. The earned monies were given to two art students at Karen’s former high school. While celebrities of the time, such as John Lennon and Jackie Kennedy, occasionally appeared in her work, Karen largely focused on children, who she saw as lively and truthful, natural and unhidden.

In 1990, Deborah launched a search for Karen’s work, eventually locating nearly three hundred pieces. She then compiled 124 of the pieces into a book about Karen’s life and work, The Spirit of Children, which was published in 2000. At the time of publication, Karen’s work was the subject of three exhibitions and was featured in media outlets including CNN, CBS Evening News, New York Times, People Magazine, and The Today Show.

Deborah, an artist in her own right, moved to Floyd in 2004. She continues to work toward identifying more of Karen’s work, estimating that as many as 100 additional pieces are in existence.

The Jacksonville Center offers a venue for a new audience to experience the talent and scope of this young artist whose life was cut tragically short.