'Quilted'

Digital image of one of my paternal great grandmother's quilts with my own digital work.

     I'm deeply touched and honored to have been personally invited to show one of my ongoing, long-term projects at the Center for Visual Arts in Wausau. It's truly a labor of love and a distinct departure from my painting studio.
    The 'Piece by Piece' exhibition brings together several contemporary makers to examine their different approaches to quiltmaking and the use of quilting techniques. Displayed alongside are representations of quilts in other mediums that demonstrate how artists can use the visual language of the quilt to connect with the viewer. The exhibition runs from March 27-May 24.

𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀:
Colleen Ansbaugh, Tony Bergeon, Pat Bishop, Rachelle Craig, Maday Delgado, Janet Dietrich, Helen Dolan, Pat Gaska, Mary Hermanson, Debra A Ketchum Jircik, Michelle Louis, Linda Marcus, Heidi Parkes, Hannah Rae, Jean Sredl, and Kelsey Voy

     The story behind my 'Quilted' project included in this exhibition:
     Handmade from late 19th - early 20th century flour sacks and cut from worn out clothing, my grandmothers' and great grandmothers' quilting scraps and quilts are objects of artistic beauty. Some of the textiles are more than 100 years old. A sentimental time capsule and labor of love, I have bundles of their quilts and pieces but wasn't sure what to do with them.
    Digital technology gifted me the answer. Many years ago I began documenting the textiles by scanning and photographing them. It's a painstaking task I tackle when I need a change from painting. More recently I've begun composing and digitally “stitching” the images together, adding my own simple markings to continue the history.
      Last year I entered some of my digital images in a more broadly based show on technology and art. They were accepted and shown. The curator at CVA Wausau later contacted me wondering if I'd be interested in showing more of this work in an exhibition specifically focused on quilting. I thought to myself, "Could there be a better way to honor my foremothers? Of course I'll put together a collection of images!"
     These digital images hold memories of the past—family, identity, thrift, creativity, skill, love, and longing—and melds them with our present moment to bring together generations of artful women.
       And to the generations of women who kept their families warm with their labor, thrift, and love—thank you.
        
     I hope if you're in the area you'll stop in to visit, 'Piece by Piece.'

Digital image of one of my maternal great grandma's quilts with my added personal touches.