I was raised in southern Illinois, and currently live in west central Illinois. In college I studied botany, but I began developing my artistic abilities in the mid-1980's when I started making quilts. I have been mostly self-taught, with the aid of many fine books. Unable to keep to a pattern, from the beginning my quilts were my own designs. After covering all the beds in the house, I started making wall quilts. These soon became contemporary expansions of traditional patterns and my work moved into the realm of art quilts. I since have added watercolor and weaving to my artwork.
I was trained as a scientist, that finder of facts and explainer of processes. The more time I spend doing these functions, the more I become distracted by the duality of the beauty and the peril I see in the ecosystems of Illinois. The state of the prairies and oak woodlands that I love is fragile. As I became an artist I realized I could use my art to express and share these concerns.
In my art, I strive to be a witness to a moment in time for something about whose fate I care. My artistic life began in fabric, abstracted visions of my world. This led to finding ways to put images on fabric besides stitching-painting, printing, discharge, digital printing. My newest work is often framed rather being hung from a rod.
As my body of work grows, I hope that it opens the eyes of its viewers to the world about us here in the midwest, its beauty, its fragility, its uniqueness.
Recent work includes manipulated digital photos printed on fabric used as the basis for pieces which are stitched, painted, and then framed.
My work has been featured in the magazines Quilting Today and Quilter's Newsletter. It has been juried into the American Quilter's Society Show (Paducah) , the International Quilt Festival (Houston),among others.
In 2004, I was juried into the Illinois Artisan Program as a fiber artist. I was accepted as a Professional Artist Member of Studio Art Quilts Associates in 2006.
Quincy Medical Group, Quincy, Illinois, May 2008
Keokuk Art Center, Keokuk, Iowa, January 2008
Form, Not Function, New Albany, Indiana, 2008
Art Quilts XII, Currents, Chandler, Arizona 2007
Fiber Focus, St. Louis, Missouri, 2007
SAQA: Balancing Act, 2007
Blessing Hospital, Quincy, Illinois, April 2007
John Wood Community College, Quincy, Illinois, January 2007
David Strawn Gallery, Jacksonville, Illinois,February 2007
Fiber Renaissance,January 2007--summer 2008
Modern Landscapes, Springfield, Illinois 2005-honorable mention
Quad State Show, Quincy, Illinois 2005-merit award, 2007
Hannibal Arts Council, Hannibal, Missouri 2005-2nd place in 'mixed media'
Keokuk Art Center Annual Show 2004-1st place in 'other media'
International Quilt Festival 2002 (Houston, Texas)
Mary S. Oakley Show 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
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