THE PRESERVER OF BEAUTY

Barrie Kaufman, Charleston

Artist and board member of Charleston Creativity Connections

THE BEAUTY AROUND US

“I grew up in Charleston and have lived here most of my life. When I was growing up, there was a lot of pollution in the state, and I wanted to find a way to preserve the beauty of West Virginia. I felt that, as an artist so influenced by the environment in which we live, I needed to tell that environmental story.”

VISUAL STORYTELLING

“I’ve always been an artist—it’s who I am—but I really think of myself as a storyteller. In 2013, I started to focus specifically on the environment. That is also when I began working in glass. For a display in the Czech Republic, I created a 5-foot-tall, four-sided glass column called Icy Burnings, telling the story of how global warming affects animals. These are the stories that need to be told and the ones I choose to focus my passion on.”

THE THICK OF IT

“One thing that fuels me is learning new things. There are a lot of failures in that. It’s not easy, but it keeps me moving forward as an artist. The ultimate goal is continuing to have a vibrant art career. I feel like I’m in the thick of it, and I don’t want to slow down.”

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Learn more about our Wonder Women

Since 2014 WV Living magazine has been honoring West Virginia Wonder Women, amazing women who are raising the bar in their communities, serving as beacons of light in their industries, and forcing change for the greater good. WV Living is proud to celebrate these Appalachian mothers, millennials, and mavens proving that in a time full of uncertainty, divisiveness, and hate, love for one another is all we really need. No need for bulletproof bracelets or a golden lasso of truth—these women are creating a better West Virginia with their can-do attitudes and Mountain State spirit.