Who is a fiber artist? How does a fiber artist differ from a quilter?
Fiber artists need to tell stories about their experiences and their reflections especially now that the world is in such turmoil with climate change and world leaders that don’t play well together. But we also birth pieces that reflect the beauty and wonder of creation. We give thanks and are humbled by nature’s daily gifts.
Quilting is one technique we use to create our pieces. We also may use paint, dye, rust, felt, wool, appliqué, stamping, collage, beads, hand embellishments, printed texts or pictures etc to create a piece. My works are all original and they all have a story to tell. I leave the door open so when someone spends time with a piece their own experiences and views allows them to develop their own interpretation and experience.
Reaction to a piece is important whether it be positive or negative. Art should stir the emotional pot and cause people to pause and think. My goal is to create a body of work that draws attention to the environment, the privilege of living in Canada, inequality, love of animals and people. I want viewers to stop and think about what is happening to our earth and all living things we share it with. Hopefully people will open their eyes, step forward and help with positive change.
I am blessed to have the opportunity to create. It has given me a voice to say “hey wait a minute we need to think about what just happened or what is going to happen”.
“You’ve got too many irons in the fire!” Mom’s words still reverberate in my head each time a new creative idea wanders in. How can I choose on which to spend my energy and resources. These ideas seem to flood in and fight for attention in those “tiny grey cells” as Hercule Poirot would say. So many ideas, so little time. The beauty of nature from micro to macro cause visions of intricate texture and explosions of colours to overwhelm my mind. Then I must try to confine these ideas to only a few selected mediums.
