CATHERINE ANN VELASCO: The Journal Times: An Artist’s Inspired Gift: Bringing Heaven Down to Earth: Friday November 10, 1995

Wayne Kavaliauskas stood among the clouds Thursday morning as he and his crew lifted a 100-pound painting in the air and placed it next to Jesus Christ.

It took lots o coordination and three ladders as Kavaliauskas and his two workers simultaneously climbed the ladders, placing the 10-by-6 foot painting in its new home at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 2219 Washington Ave.

Instead of staring at the green stucco in the chancel area, congregation members can get lost in a world of clouds, light and shadows – thanks to artist Karen Gunderson.

For more than 30 years, Gunderson, 52, a Racine native now of Manhattan, has made a career of painting clouds.  She is now leaving a gift of her art to her church.

The first phase of her project was completed Thursday after the two side panels were placed in the church.  The final project – the clouds behind the Christ figure – will be created after $16,500 is raised to cover costs.

Gunderson got the inspiration in church during one of her trips to visit her mother, Deloris Gunderson, who lives in Racine.

“I was looking up at the green stucco in the chancel area, and since I am an artist, I was fantasizing about how it could be changed,” she said.  “I was struck with the idea that clouds paintings could be beautiful up there.  They would open up the space and reinforce the spirituality of the church.”