Artist Statement | Biography | Resume

Artist Statement:
Every time I enter my studio overlooking a woodland lake I find inspiration in the ever-changing seasons and shifting colors of the woods. The trees as well as the abundant northern Michigan wildlife supply endless opportunities for study and interpretation.

Exploration of form and structure underlies my artwork. I am continually fascinated by the interplay of color, form and texture. Textiles including fabric, thread and yarn supply me with an endless source of each. Exploring new technique of surface design promotes an aspect of play that emerges in the art dolls and quilts. Stitching adds not only color and line but also an essential layer of texture to both.

The quilts frequently contain tactile elements created by beading and layering as well as a dimensional component like wired leaves. I enjoy combining fabric I create with dyes and paints with a wide variety of commercial fabrics. The silk, velvet and even cheesecloth I use for the art dolls also find their way into the quilts.

Most of my art dolls convey a fantasy theme which I find an interesting complement to my nature focused art quilts. These figures from my imagination allow me to play with a full range of color and texture while building layers of manipulated fabrics, assorted fibers, beads and decorative threads. While I tend to work intuitively, I find that the dolls, even more than the quilts, seem to take on a life of their own and direct their own creation.

Biography:
Kathie can't remember a time she didn't love fabrics and sewing. As a little girl she transformed outgrown clothing into doll clothes and elaborate Halloween costumes for herself and her siblings. She designed and made her first dress in the seventh grade then used coordinating embellishments to hide the monogram on a hand-me down sweater to create an ensemble. She continued to sew her own clothing eventually tackling tailored coats and even a wedding gown for her sister.

A love of quilts led her to begin a still unfinished "Grandmother's Flower Garden" in the late 70's. This exercise gave Kathie a respect for the patience of traditional quilters but she had no inclination to continue down that path. In the 1990's she became intrigued with fiber art dolls. The dolls gave her a creative challenge coupled with a new freedom of expression. She was soon asked to teach dollmaking at a quilt shop that specialized in contemporary fabrics. At the shop she discovered books about art quilts, which led to a workshop with Yvonne Porcella and the beginning of a never-ending adventure of self-expression with fiber.

After many years of living in a metropolitan locale and working in business and education, Kathie is finally living her dream as a studio artist in Northern Michigan. While she continues to make wearable art and art dolls, her passion is for art quilts since they offer her the widest range expression. Most of her work is nature inspired with trees as the most recurring image.

One of Kathie's personal goals is increasing the exposure and appreciation of fiber art in northern Michigan. In addition to serving as Studio Art Quilt Associates Michigan co-representative, she is part of Fabrications, a group of four artists who sponsor a fiber arts retreat each autumn in northern Michigan. After bringing the Michigan Quilt Artist Invitational show to her community she was asked to head up a local fiber arts design group. Kathie also works with her local arts council to bring fiber art programs into area schools.

Resume:
Juried Exhibits: