Somers Artist Gives Back to Katonah Museum

SOMERS, N.Y. — There’s a reason Marjie Kern’s family affectionately refers to her as “No-Charge Marj.”

The Somers resident, who is a graphic designer, calligrapher and painter, takes pride in lending her services — artistic and otherwise — wherever they are needed, and whether she’s earning 30 cents or less.

That is evident through her longtime contribution to the Katonah Museum of Art, where she has organized programs as well as created banners and logos over years.

“I don’t think of it as volunteering,” she said. “I do it because I love it. It’s my calling.”

Kern is an advisory board member for the museum's Artist Association. This year alone, she organized its Tri-State Juried and Small Works Exhibitions. The Small Works exhibition, which invited almost 100 artists to create canvases with New York City themes, sold nearly 100 artworks and earned the museum more than $2,500. Kern also regularly lends her time to its Shop in a Box sale, which features jewelry, home accents and gifts.

She is now gearing up to do the same as part of the museum’s new “Ice Age to the Digital Age: The 3D Animation of Blue Sky Studios” exhibition.

Kern was recently awarded the museum's 2012 Volunteer of the Year Award for her services.

Her ties to the art facility go back further than 2012, though. In the early 1970s when Kern was working as a textile designer, her hand weaving projects were exhibited there.

“I always try to have fun,” she said. “Life has been good to me, so why not give back?”