Artist Statement
Woman to Woman
An
Art Quilt Project
Throughout
history women have gathered for quilting bees, contributing
scraps of fabric to create something of beauty, while sharing
a sense of community.
For this
project, I asked 30 women, friends and family, to provided me
with a scrap representing their lives. I did not give them any
direction on what that scrap should be, I limited them only
to size. They knew only that their scrap would be incorporated
into a public art installation, a collaged quilt. I also asked
them to write a brief statement of why this scrap represented
their life.
The items
they provided amazed and touched me. Their comments were funny,
thought provoking and intelligent. Some women spent a great
deal of time thinking about the project and we had numerous
exchanges. A few knew immediately what they would submit, and
sent it within days. Others spent weeks trying to come up with
just the “right piece” using this assignment as
an inner journey. Still others, selected several scraps and
debated which should represent them, while one friend had difficulty
identifying anything.
Among
the precious items I received were a dried flower from a wedding
bouquet, a bit of fabric from an only child’s baby blanket,
an inspirational quote which changed a life.
Replacing
conventional fabric and needlework with paper and 3 dimensional
objects, I worked each item into a quilt square which tells
a story about that woman, be it a historical moment or a day
to day frivolity. I assembled the entire quilt with clear line,
a tribute to the invisible yet strong network women have created
to support each other.
This
project was installed in the Contemporary Arts Forum’s
Glass Box in Santa Barbara. It is not for sale, but remains
in my collection. I have included a few of my favorites quilt
squares to share with you.
