Capitol Reef National Park 2022
I was honored to be selected to be an Artist in Residence at Capitol Reef National Park for 3 weeks in May to June 2022. It is beautiful red rock country on the Colorado Plateau of Southern Utah full of canyons, spires, and arches. The park has a rich cultural history of a prehistoric Native American culture who left inscriptions on canyon walls, as well as white settlers who planted orchards of peaches, plums, apples and apricots in the 1800's. The National Park keeps the orchards producing fruit for park visitors to enjoy. I was housed near an apricot orchard and enjoyed watching the resident birds and the daily changes of sunlight and shadows on the canyon walls. I explored the park on foot nearly everyday and recorded scenery, plants and animal life with photos. There is still so much more to explore in this park. I am still working on my portfolio. Stay tuned for updates!
Gallery
Hand painted silk and machine quilted. 19"H x 19"W
Hand painted cotton and silk screened. Machine quilted. 21"H x 23"W
Hand painted silk and machine quilted. 13"H x 13"W
Hand painted silk and machine quilted. 19"H x 19"W
Great Basin National Park 2022
I was awarded a second artist residency with the National Park Service in September 2022. Great Basin National Park is part of the Basin and Range geological region of Nevada. I spent 3 weeks exploring the mountains and valleys of this park and interpreted the scenery into art quilts. The treasures of this park include a limestone cave system called Lehman Cave. Wheeler Peak, a 13,065 ft. giant, towers over the park and the forests of Engelmann spruce, Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, pinyon pine, juniper and sagebrush covers its flanks. Above 10,000 ft. stands of ancient bristlecone pine live. These trees are known be the oldest trees in the world and are sculpted by wind, snow and rain. On hikes, I visited mountain peaks, the cave, areas that are recovering wildfire, elk habitat, streams and alpine lakes. I witnessed the change of seasons with the aspen leaves turning from green to golden. My portfolio is still in progress. Here are the finished ones so far.
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Gallery
Hand painted silk and machine quilted. 27" H x 29" W
Hand painted silk with the help of community members at the Baker Community Center. Machine quilted. 19"H x 18"W
Hand painted silk and machine quilted. 19"H x 19"W
Hand painted silk and machine quilted. 27" H x 29" W
Allagash Wilderness Waterway 2021
I was the 2021 Visiting Artist at the Allagash Wilderness Waterway sponsored by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands. For 2 weeks, I immersed myself in the north woods surrounded by the sweet aroma of balsam fir and the yodeling of distant loons on the water. This is a 92 mile corridor of lakes and river that many canoe campers and other outdoor enthusiasts use year round. During my stay, I explored the area, collected many images with photos and painted silk interpretations of the scenery that became art quilts.
Gallery
Hand painted silk and machine quilted.
Hand painted silk and machine quilted. 20"H x 19"W
Hand painted silk and machine quilted.
Hand painted silk and machine quilted.
Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park
2019
I was selected as an Artist in Residence (AIR) at Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for 2 weeks. It is an expansive 60,000 acre park of Lake Superior Lakeshore, rugged terrain, lakes, swift rivers and old growth forests. During my visit I explored the many hiking trails, along streams and mountain ridges taking in the scenic views and photographing them for future art projects. Back at the artist cabin I transformed some of these images into silk paintings that were later finished into art quilts. It was a wonderful experience!
Gallery
Hand painted silk and machine quilted. Painted with the help of park visitors at the public program.