It is commonly accepted in film school that one must choose between a narrative or documentary pursuit. Samuel Karow never understood this single-minded thinking.
In his formative years, Sam converted the family barn into a haunted house that gained considerable popularity. His approach to creating the attraction was to honor the factual structure while embellishing it with figments of imagination. Straddling factual subject matter and fanciful invention carried over into Sam’s filmmaking.
For this installation, Samuel expands on these concepts in collage form — including relics and mementos from past projects. “I enjoy making props, costumes, and set pieces for my films — another passion I picked up during the haunted barn days.”
About the Artist:
After receiving his BFA in film from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Samuel Karow is now a professional video artist based in Appleton, Wisconsin. Specializing in documentaries, he seeks to capture genuine moments of beauty, intimacy, and the human experience. Sam’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. His award-winning short film “3 Miles East” was included in the 64th Cannes Film Festival Court Métrage.