Irwin "Ike" Karnick is a planetary citizen; a photojournalist and
filmmaker whose work uses compelling words and images designed to inspire
social and environmental activism. His faith embraces the human spirit,
his culture is that of the human race. Karnick's early research resulted
in the first film about acid rain in North America. A fine artist, his
credentials are supported by numerous Canadian Arts awards. His current
project, entitled "The Artists, Water and Seven Seas" was done in
association with two divisions of UNESCO as well as the Portuguese Water
Authority, EPAL. Mr. Karnick is a prolific visual artist and journalist.
In his early days as a photographer, he formed his own art and film group
serving the advertising industry and corporate giants. The client list
included J. Walter Thompson, McCann-Ericson Advertising Agencies, Coca
Cola Inc., American Can Company, Olivetti and others. His career as a
fashion/ illustration photographer, working on Madison Avenue, catered to
the fashion and music industries and expanded his client list to include
Twentieth Century Fox and United Artists in the areas of film promotion,
music and advertising.
Ike Karnick's overriding concerns for the fragility of our world has
directed the course of his artistic life. Emigrating to Canada in the
1970's, the author freed himself to combine his efforts with the Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation/TV and the National Film Board, Canada to
research and produce environmental films, while farming 300 acres in
Ontario. Most notably, his work is in the collections of the Canadian
Museum of Photography, the Library of Queen Elizabeth II, President
Clinton's White House Library, as well as in the private collections of
Anthony Quinn, Sam Shaw and Rutger Hour. One of his books was a gift to
the delegates at the first "UN Law of the Sea" conference, given by the
Canadian Department of Fisheries.
Living in Ontario, Karnick ran for political office on an environmental
agenda while hosting a classical music and political controversy show on
FM radio. For the past 30 years, his images have been exhibited at myriad
venues featuring environmental/political concepts throughout North America
and Europe. His exhibitions were circulated widely by the government of
Canada. His work has been featured internationally at numerous private
galleries. Ike Karnick was the only living artist to be shown at the
Rotunda at Columbia University in New York and was exhibited at the Second
World Water Form at The Hague.
With the support of the President of Portugal and the President and
government of the Azores, Ike Karnick published a landmark limited edition
book renowned among European dignitaries. His journalistic work focuses on
the world's water crisis, global warming and social/political issues.
Funded in part by UNESCO, Mr. Karnick has continued to gather data on the
interface of human motivation, global economics and environmental
concerns.
He travels extensively to gather first hand knowledge and images that
relate directly to his artistic agenda. His presentations include
environmental sculpture as well as film and photographic treatments. The
Law of the Sea Division at the UN recently nominated him for the
prestigious PEW fellowship foundation award. Out of the 200 invited
applicants he placed 13th in the final round of 20. At present he
continues to create additional books, exhibitions and films to illustrate
the "global problematique."
