Candidate Profile

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EXPERTISE
Architecture & its History
Destinations & Ports
History - Art & Culture
Travel & Destinations
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH:
BIOGRAPHY
Karin, a former Teacher and Head of Department, is an enrichment Guest Speaker on the Western Mediterranean, the Scandinavian/Baltic ports and the Caribbean with many years experience speaking on a selection of cruise-lines. She taught Art, Design & Textiles up to A‘level for over 30 years leaving teaching in 2013 to pursue her passion for photographing the decorative built environment. She is a free-lance artist specialising in embroidery, ceramic sculpture and is a qualified interior designer. She travels in pursuit of her interest in architecture with a passion for detail which is evident in her lectures drawing the viewers into her presentations, informing and enhancing their awareness of the world of architecture and artistic features around us. She has exhibited her work at Leeds Castle, Priory Academy, the Royal British Legion Basecamp in Kent and The Maidstone Museum Gallery. Karin is the president of the Mid Kent Embroidery & Textile Group.

GUEST SPEAKER
Karin's talks include the Western Mediterranean, the Scandinavian ports and the Caribbean on art, architecture, street furniture and sculptures including the decorative and the unusual {which are often of interest to new travellers or seasoned travellers who have 'seen & done' almost everything else!}. Many of her talks are tailored specifically for ports and cities on the itinerary, others are European/worldwide thus can be given on any route, anywhere. All can be enriching and of interest to the cruising passengers giving them, a detailed visual insight, an awareness of the artistry & architecture with relevant history, and some humour!

During her teaching career Karin organised and led art trips to European cities for as many as forty students and staff, and has since travelled to many destinations worldwide photographing a host of urban sculptures, historic and contemporary architecture, cultural textiles and street furniture for her presentations and talks

Karin has to date, sailed on nearly 40 cruises with Viking Ocean, Cunard, SAGA, Fred Olson, Ambassador, Voyages of Discovery and Swan Hellenic.
PRESENTATIONS

A. WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN lectures

1. AIX EN PROVENCE, the City of 1000 Fountains. Delve into the history, stories and designs of the many hot and cold fountains, functional or decorative, from the Roman settlements to recent times, plus the birthplace and home of the artist Paul Cezanne.
France, near Toulon & Marseilles

2. Avenues of Art in MONACO - Admire the famous Monte Carlo Belle Époque Casino and charming Royal Palace with its historic royal family dating back to the 13th century This tiny principality is adorned with royal statues and wonderful contemporary sculptures in the streets, gardens and on the quayside.

3. Beautiful BARCELONA - Explore the amazing eclectic mixture of classical, modern, and extraordinary art and architecture including Antonio Gaudi, artist Joan Miro, architect Joseph Puig i Cadafalch and... a fibreglass lobster!

4. VALENCIA : The Traditional and The Futuristic, where the former River Turia meets the Mediterranean Sea. Explore the city of ancient history, wonderful architectural features and the amazing Arts & Sciences Complex propelling you into a future world.

5. Historic CARTAGENA – What Floats Your Boat in this Spanish Naval Port dating back to Roman times with an ancient theatre & a new approach to art, sculptures and centuries of interesting architecture

6. Sit with Picasso in MALAGA - marvel at the historic architecture, learn of the ‘One Armed Lady’, the landscaped Paseo Parque {what is that noise?}, & the magnificent Neo-Baroque City Hall.

7. Historic CADIZ : full of character & charm : explore an ancient port city & home of the Spanish Navy. Walk in the footsteps of James Bond & see the 18th Century Cádiz Cathedral which dominates the city skyline

8. Historic Architecture of NAPLES - A 13th Century Castle, a 19th Century mosaic-ed floored Galleria, and the recreation of the 14th Century Santa Chiara Monastery cloistered garden with a stunning array of beautiful, narrative majolica benches you cannot sit on!

9. The Carnival of VENICE - Delve into the history, its origins, the exquisite costumes and the beautiful decorative Venetian masks which intriguingly hid the identity and status of the wearer.

10. Treasures of LISBON: home to centuries of beautiful architecture, tasty custard tarts, colourful azulejo tiles, picturesque streets and seemingly moving pavements in peaceful Portuguese plaza’s, including one renowned for its toilet paper…

11. The Urban Art of TURKEY : view the interesting collection of the Alanya Quayside series, historic sculptures and those dedicated to M.K.Ataturk - the founder of modern Turkey who inspired his nation inspiring a wealth of statues dedicated to him.


B. BALTIC & SCANDINAVIA lectures

1.STOCKHOLM - explore the city built across a stunning archipelago with the architectural delights of Gamla Stan, the Opera House, the Royal Palace, the City Hall and (possibly) and world's smallest bench!

2.HELSINKI - the White City of the North - witness its Neo-classical Senate Square, Art Nouveau train station, the orthodox Byzantine revival Uspenski Cathedral, the stunning, albeit controversial, contemporary Sibelius Monument and the crazy, increasingly popular Finnish World Challenges.

3. COPENHAGEN - home to colourful Nyhavn, the enchanting Tivoli Gardens , Hans Christian Anderson, the Rococo Amalienborg Royal Palace, The Little Mermaid … and her sisters!

4. TALLINN -The Fairy-tale city of the Baltic : walk around the medieval old town with a Russian Revival Orthodox Cathedral, a Gothic Town Hall, Art Nouveau facades and a traditional Chimney Sweep to step back in time

5. Sweden VISBY -The Gem of Gotland : appreciate this small island with a lot on offer. In picturesque surroundings of traditional Scandinavian culture, this former Hanseatic port has centuries of history and the most amazing selection of ice-cream…!

6. ÅLBORG - discover this delightful Danish destination, an idyllic, traditional coastal port and former trading post, but what connects it to the Sydney Opera House?


C. CARIBBEAN lectures

1. All Around ARUBA, the ‘A’ of the ABC islands - view candy coloured buildings, iguanas walking around Oranjestad, the wild Kasabari Rocks, the legend of the blue horses… and why, is it known as ‘The Happy Island’?

2. St KITTS: The Batiks of Basseterre, The Brimstone Fortress and Berkeley Circus. The smallest sovereign state in the western hemisphere with interesting places and culture including the beautifully crafted Batiks of Romney Gardens inspired by local flora, landscapes and Bob Marley!

3. CURACAO and the Art of the ChiChi – enjoy wonderful Dutch candy coloured colonial architecture and the artistic energy of the quirky Chichi statues, blending German craftsmanship with Caribbean colours – a multi-cultural cooperation and home to the liquor named after the island itself

4. ART DECO of MIAMI– witness the re-birth of this city with stylised architecture that now adorns the famous Miami South Beach : plus an insight into Little Havana from its Cuban origins and the zany colourful array of deco lifeguard beach huts – both decorative and functional. Miami is a popular area for artists, tourists and the occasional film setting.


D. GENERAL TALKS of INTEREST which include and focus on itinerary destinations.

1. WEIRD WONDERFUL & AMAZING ARCHITECTURE - discover majestic buildings, magnificent churches, imperial palaces, futuristic constructions, rustic cottages, humble abodes and... a teapot house - but what inspires generations of architects to create these wondrous creations around the globe?

2. STUNNING CITY SCULPTURES - Delve into architectural design and learn of some outstanding, decorative, curious, unusual and poignant statues & sculptures inspired by creatures, culture, literature, historic events and everyday people

3. TAKE A SEAT AND MEET … John Lennon, Winston Churchill, Rudyard Kipling, Pablo Picasso, Mark Twain or Wallace & Grommit! Who will you meet on your travels ?

4. FABULOUS FEATURES : it takes more than windows and doors to create a beautiful building– appreciate the aesthetic & decorative additions creating visual delight to enhance the majestic, the historic and the everyday abode.

5. AROUND THE WORLD ON 80 BENCHES – journey around the globe viewing the historic, the decorative and the quirky seats that adorn our towns and parks today – designers are becoming more adventurous and producing some wonderfully stylish and fun furniture to sit on and admire, others are commemorative, thought provoking, a place to rest and contemplate.

6. DELICIOUS DESIGN – all man-made objects have to be designed – some practical, some functional, some decorative, imaginative, narrative or humorous, to intrigue and make us smile : view this collection of everyday artefacts which make a delightful daily decorative difference

7. Decadent ART DECO - observe the beautiful stylized architecture from the 1920s & 1930s that adorns many cities
with its birth in Paris to New York, Lisbon, Miami, Mumbai, London and New Zealand.

8. The Art of Traditional INDIAN EMBROIDERY : explore the origins and history. India is well known for beautiful fabrics, threads and unique techniques that adorn so many of its textiles
RECENT PAST CRUISES COMPLETED
The following recent Cruise History has been recorded for this candidate.
SHIP REF CRUISE DESCRIPTION NIGHTS SAILING FROM DEPARTURE DATE
Viking Venus VE240105 Iberian Explorer 7 Barcelona Friday, January 5, 2024
Spirit of Discovery SD065 Islands and Coastlines of the Mediterranean 18 Southampton Sunday, March 13, 2022
Viking Venus VE220105 Iberian Explorer 7 Barcelona Wednesday, January 5, 2022
Viking Sun SU190608 Viking Homelands 14 Stockholm Saturday, June 8, 2019
Viking Star ST181018 Around the Caribbean Sea 14 New York Thursday, October 18, 2018
Viking Star ST180421 Mediterranean Odyssey 12 Barcelona Saturday, April 21, 2018