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Kimberly duCharme PSA, PPSCC
comes from a family background rich with creative influences. Her parents, both artists,
met while attending Rhode Island School of Design. She is the oldest of four sisters,
all of whom are working professional artists today.
duCharme received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, with a major in sculpture and a minor
in illustration, from New York State University at New Paltz. During her college years she
spent her summers on Cape Cod, Massachusetts and moved there after graduation.
In 1989 duCharme began sculpting for a small toy company out of L.A. and within a couple
of months was sculpting full-time. She is still working as a free lance toy sculptor for
various toy manufacturers around the world. While living in New Mexico, she took up stone
carving, the first of which won an award at the 1998 All Cape Show. The Judge, Ruth
Frisch Dealy, of Rhode Island School of Design, was so moved by this piece she wrote;
Integrity in choice of medium for this classic contrapposto nude; beautiful.
After spending a couple of years out west in Ruidoso, New Mexico and Houston, Texas, duCharme
returned to Provincetown and became an active member of the Provincetown Arts Commission.
This committee's main responsibility is to oversee all the town owned art. Its cataloging,
safety and restoration is a big concern for a town that was home to so many influential artists.
In the fall of 1995 she moved to Chatham, Cape Cod, Massachusetts and subsequently became
involved in the local art community. Upon entering a National For Pastels Only show, held
at the Creative Arts Center in July of 1996, she took the largest sponsor prize. This show was the
inspirational catalyst she needed to start painting again whenever she could take a break from
her sculpting. This desire to paint has been an increasingly persistent force in her life, and has
proven to be boundless in the directions it is to take. duCharme has ventured to paint such
subjects as Seascapes and Landscapes,
which she finds eagerly awaiting her on the shores of Cape Cod
and on her frequent trips to Nantucket. Portraiture is another path which has proven to be fruitful
and well received. Her work, whether it be
from nature or a commissioned Portrait of a child, Pet or
Boat can be found in numerous private
collections worldwide. These efforts were rewarded with the acceptance as a Signature Member
of the Pastel Society of America and the Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod.
Upon winning Best in Show at the 2002 Charles & Evelyn Dibner Memorial Exhibition at the Cape
Cod Art Association, the Juror stated:
Unusual and Wyeth-like use of compositional space, giving
strong 'mood' feeling! Very evocative!
Other awards include; Second Place at Duxbury Art
Associations 28th Annual Winter Juried Show ~ 2002, and an award 5 out of the 6 years the Pastel
Painters Society of Cape Cod has been holding their national show.
In 1999 duCharme was asked to consider a position on the Chatham Cultural Council. As Vice
Chairman and Correspondence Secretary she enjoys being a small part of bringing the arts to the
local community.
In December of 2000 duCharme married an eleventh generation Chatham resident. She is proud to
call Chatham home and now that she is a member of the Nickerson Family it's safe to say that she
plans to stay.
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