A Minute With: Karen Chew Karen Chew was born in San Mateo. She attended local grammar and junior high schools and graduated from Hillsdale High School, class of 1977. After graduation she went to UC Berkeley, where she majored in environmental design/architecture with a visual design minor. While there, she loved taking classes and workshops in book arts and art. She also took printmaking and green design classes at Foothill College in Mountain View. Karen has been in the construction industry “since Stonehenge,” working as a design associate at Robert Lyon Associates and in our fair city as a building inspector and code enforcement officer. After leaving her job in <strong>Redwood</strong> City, she jumped into her own business, offering services as a building designer and lecturer through the Community Education program at College of San Mateo. She is also a Green Point Rater and spends time helping Mike G. at CollabWorks. Karen is single but says about marriage: “It could happen in this lifetime.” She enjoys spending time with “my friends’ kids, any of Miss Dragan’s kids. I’ll be thrilled with grandchildren.” Karen is a San Mateo County Arts Commissioner, a member of Bay Area Book Artists and G.R.O.W., and a drive-by PAL helper. Her hobbies include mail (not male) art, test-driving recipes, and anything else artsy-fartsy. Do you have a favorite piece of art in <strong>Redwood</strong> City? Whatever’s showing in the Caldwell and Community galleries. We’ve got great local art and artists here! Cultural arts in <strong>Redwood</strong> City are? Super important to support. <strong>Redwood</strong> City is? Ditto. Whom do you most admire? Mom and Dad, and people who strive to be their authentic self. What talent would you most like to have? Mediation skills, including Corinne’s knack of asking great questions, and making peace with my three iron. Something few know about you? That I’m learning everything I can about Life Between Lives and sacred geometry right now. What phrase do you most overuse? Too many four- and six-letter words. Favorite song? “Que No Hay” by Bosé, “Blanket on the Beach” by Stanley Turrentine, Tower of Power, torch songs by Luis Miguel and Andrea Bocelli, Italian operas — into the 1960s stuff now. Favorite movie? Just about any Cinderella movie where the good guy wins and doesn’t get killed off. What is your motto? Get the lesson so you don’t have to come back again. Anyone you got on your mind? All of the terrific “dog people” that I meet on my walks and my friends at <strong>Redwood</strong> City and County — I just want to tell them that I’m thinking about all of them and to hang in there. Better times await, in many shapes and forms. Memorable moment? Sliding down the pole at Station 9 for the first time, ride-alongs, playing Santa at the Toy and Book Drive, doing improv comedy with Terry Sands and the Red Herrings. First word that comes to mind? Seeking. You still can’t believe? <strong>The</strong> 2010 SF Giants season — what a ride. You currently feel? That I need a few more lifetimes. You are inspired by? Futurethinkers, artistic process, great teachers. What or who is the love of your life? My sweetheart, my friends and family, my animals, all things chocolate. When you die you want to come back as? Karen 2.0, with vast improvements. If you’re happy and you know it? Clap your hands. OK, then share the love. www.<strong>Spectrum</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.net
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