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Eun-Kyung was born in the small town of Dae Chun in Korea. The first 12
years of her life was spent in this very traditional setting, which provided
the basis or foundation of whom she would become.
Eventually Eun-Kyung's family moved to Seoul. After graduating from high
school, Eun-Kyung attended and received a degree in physical education from
Ewha Women's University. Although it was unusual at that time for
women in Korea to receive postgraduate education, her professors strongly
encouraged her to attend graduate school. At that time schools abroad were
better than schools in Korea, and Eun-Kyung decided to attend graduate school
in Japan. She received a scholarship and received a Master of Science Degree in Health and Physical Education from Tsuba University in Japan.
Although she was urged to get a Ph.D. in Health and Education, she decided to
go to the United States to study English. After one year in the English
program at the University of California at Santa Cruz she met Richard Otte, a
philosophy professor at UCSC. After falling in love, they
were married, and now live in Felton, California with their two boys, Gabriel
(Tae-Yoon) and Michael (Dae-Hyun).
Although artistic expression through sewing is important to her, Eun-Kyung also
enjoys skiing, rock climbing, and camping with her family. You can find out
more about her family through the following links:
Richard Otte
Gabriel Otte
Michael Otte
She is also active in Ss Peter and Paul Orthodox Church and Prophet Elias Greek
Orthodox Church.
Even though Eun-Kyung now lives in the U.S.A, the influence of her very
traditional Korean upbringing is still very evident and important to her.
However, she also is very appreciative of many aspects of contemporary American
culture. It would not be completely accurate to describe Eun-Kyung as
a traditional Korean woman, or as an Americanized Korean American.
Eun-Kyung attempts to adopt the best aspects of each culture in order to
become the best individual she can be.
Thus in many ways she is a traditional Korean woman, but in other ways she
has been influenced by American culture.
In her art she wants to create unique works that express these aspects of her life.
Although sewing has been the primary expression of Eun-Kyung's art, she is
very interesting in learning other techniques, such as painting, weaving, and
printing.
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