Statement of Art and Vision 2000

Creativity is fundamental to my life. I studied art because I like to create and now I make art because I want to find new ways to express my feelings, opinions, questions and concerns. Some of my happiest times are when I get an idea and take time to act on it.

I make art quilts using fabric and techniques similar to those of my Hoosier grandmothers. I have also developed innovative techniques for improvisational patchwork. For my current quilts I paint on plain cotton cloth with fiber-reactive dyes, so I can control the colors and explore images. I find that intuition, accidents, mistakes and my willingness to take risks are important in my work. When making a quilt I may start with an idea, but each quilt evolves into something unexpected. Generally I have several quilts in progress. If I get frustrated with one, I work on another while ideas or solutions to design problems develop unconsciously. Each quilt has times of struggle while I am trying to resolve its final direction. I never know what I am doing until it is done.

For several years I have been working on abstract quilts which deal with aspects of the American bombing of Hiroshima. The "Hiroshima Series" has evolved in a very powerful way. My work has often been emotional and sometimes surprising even to me.

When people have strong feelings, positive or negative, about something I have made, I feel successful. When they disagree with each other or find things in my work that I had not consciously intended, I know they are thinking and reacting. The viewer then becomes part of my creative process.

P.S. In February 2000, I became 57 years old. At this point in my life I realize that I have more ideas than time. My enthusiasm for creative work is greater than ever.