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creativity The Creativity Project

The Creativity Project Week #52: Kim Soper

Posted on December 28, 2018
Kim Soper The Creativity Project Week 52 Leland Ave Studios

Welcome to the final week of 2018, and the last week of The Creativity Project! Over the past 52 weeks, we’ve come together every Friday with so many amazing artists and makers to try to get to the heart of “why” we create. For 52 weeks, we’ve come to this space with an open heart and curious mind, to hear each participant give voice to their personal creative process.

Throughout the year, many of you have asked if I would provide my own reflections on the interview questions. While I didn’t want my opinions to influence any of the respondent’s interpretation of the questions, I thought it only fair for me to experience what it is like to be the one sharing their personal process. And so, for this final installment of The Creativity Project, I give you — me.

Before we begin the final interview, I’d like to express how much I appreciate each and every one of you for taking the time out of your busy lives to read this project and reflect on its meaning. It has been a privilege to bring you this series, and I only hope that you have enjoyed it as much as I have. Thank you for coming along on this journey with me.

Of course I’d like to extend a HUGE thank you to all of the project participants: Melanie Tuazon, Jess Skultety, Michelle Cain, Laura Hartrich, Yvonne Fuchs, Shannon Fraser, Tiffany Horn, Andrea Tsang Jackson, Christa Watson, Silvia Sutters, Michelle Wilkie, Deborah Fisher, Michelle Bartholomew, Kirsty Cleverly, Steph Skardal, Laura McDowell Hopper, Daisy Aschehoug, Heather Black, Shelagh Jessop, Kathryn Upitis, Carole Lyles Shaw, Dash Masland, Victoria Gertenbach, Leslie Tucker Jenison, Mel Beach, Diana Vandeyar, Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill, Kristin Shields, Alexis Deise, Sujata Shah, Sara Trail, Gina Adams, Tara Faughnan, Melissa Averinos, Luke Haynes, Jen Broemel, Sarah Goer, Timna Tarr, Heidi Parkes, Alyce Blythe, Scarlet Sparkuhl, Riane Menardi, Zak Foster, Karen Duling, Jenny Haynes, Carolina Oneto, Kim Eichler-Messmer, Suzy Williams, Heather Jones, Sam Hunter, and of course all of you who participated in the survey. Thank you for taking the time to thoughtfully consider the interview questions. Without you this project could not exist! 

And now, without further ado, I give you the final installment of The Creativity Project.

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creativity The Creativity Project

The Creativity Project Week #49: Heather Jones

Posted on December 7, 2018
Heather Jones The Creativity Project Week #49 Leland Ave Studios Kim Smith Soper

Heather Jones is an artist, designer, and educator whose work questions and pushes traditional conceptions of both quilt making and painting. Her work is represented by The George Gallery, Charlestown, SC , Imlay Gallery, Montclair, NJ, and she has work available through the Marta Hewett Gallery in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is a three-time winner of the Project Modern Quilt Design competition, a two-time finalist for the Martha Stewart American Made Awards, and was named a “Creative Genius” by DIY Network.  Her work has been exhibited widely at venues across the United States. Heather’s first book, Quilt Local: Finding Inspiration in the Everyday was released in October 2015 by STC Craft, an imprint of Abrams, New York.  Heather’s work has been featured in numerous books and magazines such as Martha Stewart Living; Lucky Spool’s Essential Guide to Modern Quilt Making; Modern Patchwork; and Curated Quilts. She teaches quilting and design workshops across the country, offers online classes through Creativebug.com, and has appeared on PBS’s Quilting Arts TV and Fresh Quilting. A native Cincinnatian, Heather studied art history at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning, earning both a Bachelors of Arts and Masters of Arts (ABT). She currently lives just outside the city on a small farm with her husband and two young children. Continue Reading

creativity The Creativity Project

The Creativity Project Week #47: Kim Eichler-Messmer

Posted on November 23, 2018
Kim Eichler-Messmer The Creativity Project Week #47 Kim Smith Soper Leland Ave Studios

Kim Eichler-Messmer is a textile artist living and working in Kansas City. Born in Iowa as an only child to two hard-working and creative parents, Kim developed a love of art from an early age. In college, she discovered a passion for working with textiles, and almost all of her quilts are hand dyed. Since 2008, Kim has been an Associate Professor in Fiber at the Kansas City Art Institute, where she has taught surface design, quilting, and natural dye. She received an MFA in Textiles from the University of Kansas and a BFA in Drawing and Printmaking from Iowa State University. Her hand dyed, one-of-a-kind quilts have been exhibited nationally in numerous solo and juried shows and featured on prominent design blogs including Apartment Therapy and Design Sponge. Kim is the author of Modern Color: An Illustrated Guide to Dyeing Fabric for Modern Quilts and her work has been featured in many books and publications, including: Quilting with a Modern Slant by Rachel May; The Essential Guide To Modern Quilt Making, edited by Heather Grant; and The Uppercase Compendium of Craft and Creativity by Janine Vangool. Most recently, Kim has been exploring natural dyes and dying techniques. This summer, she traveled to Japan, where she studied with shibori masters. She also taught a summer workshop for the Penland School of Crafts, in Penland, North Carolina on natural dyes and quilting. Welcome, Kim! Continue Reading

creativity The Creativity Project

The Creativity Project Week #46: Carolina Oneto

Posted on November 16, 2018
Carolina Oneto The Creativity Project Week #46 Leland Ave Studios Kim Smith Soper

Carolina Oneto is a South American Industrial Engineer with a Master’s degree in Business Engineering. She worked in the industry and was a university professor for more than 10 years. In 2010, Carolina and her family left Santiago, Chile to relocate to Buenos Aires, Argentina. After the birth of her third child, she chose this opportunity to slow her life down. It was at this time that she discovered her love of patchwork. Carolina went on to study patchwork and quilting with Cecilia Koppman and Teresita Leal, and afterward has traveled yearly to study with experienced quilters here in the US. In addition, Carolina’s time spent studying “The Interaction of Color” at the art school of Chile’s Catholic University has had a huge influence on her work. Color (and its interaction) is a recurring theme for her. Carolina teaches classes and workshops in her studio. She has also partnered with Janome Chile to teach workshops in the Janome Academy and in the craft fair “Materia Prima” throughout Chile. This year, Carolina has taught workshops in Buenos Aires, and in September she participated as Professor of The Quilt and Patchwork Festival in Gramado, Brazil. She is member of the Modern Quilt Guild, member of the Studio Art Quilt Association (SAQA) and the International Quilt Association. Carolina lives in Chile with her husband and their three children. Welcome, Carolina!  [Editor’s Note: this interview is presented in both English and Spanish.]

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creativity The Creativity Project

The Creativity Project Week #39: Heidi Parkes

Posted on September 28, 2018
Heidi Parkes The Creativity Project Week #39 Leland Ave Studios:Kim Smith Soper

Heidi Parkes is a quilt artist exploring concepts of place, relationship, and memory. A graduate of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Heidi has worked as a ceramicists’ apprentice, a high school art teacher, and now has established a loyal following as a quilter and mender. Heidi’s award-winning work has appeared locally in numerous shows in Milwaukee; at QuiltCon; as part of the 2017 Piecework Collective exhibit in New York City; and in textile museums including: the New England Quilt Museum, the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts, and the Dairy Barn Arts Center.  Heidi will be teaching in Nashville at QuiltCon 2019 and has two upcoming workshops with The Makerie in Boulder, Colorado in April 2019. Heidi is active within her local quilting community, and is a member of the Midwest Fiber Arts Trails, the Milwaukee Art Quilters, the Chicago MQG, and One-Onethousand. In addition, Heidi is a certified yoga instructor and teaches workshops like Yoga for Makers with Siddhi Yoga. Welcome, Heidi! Continue Reading

creativity The Creativity Project

The Creativity Project Week #28: Kristin Shields

Posted on July 13, 2018
Kristin Shields The Creativity Project Week 28 Leland Ave Studios:Kim Smith Soper

Kristin Shields is an artist living in Central Oregon, USA. Kristin’s work ranges from modern, art and folk art quilts to sketching, painting and other media. She is influenced by animals, the environment, books, modern design, traditional quilts, and folk art. When not working in her home studio, she may be found exploring with a camera and a sketchbook in hand. She is an animal lover who has a special fascination with birds. This may have inspired her background in the sciences, where she has a Masters in Avian Sciences. Kristin’s quilts have hung in numerous shows, including the Pacific International Quilt Festival; QuiltFest Oasis; International Quilt Festival Houston; AQS Paducah, Chattanooga, Grand Rapids, and Syracuse; QuiltCon 2015-2018; Northwest Quilt Expo; and the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show where she was the featured quilter in 2013. Among the many ribbons her quilts have received, she received 1st Place, First Entry in to Paducah, 2016; 1st Place, Small Quilts, QuiltCon 2016 and Judge’s Choice, QuiltCon 2017. In addition, Kristin’s quilts have been published in books and magazines including Modern Quilts: Designs of the New Century (book and touring exhibit); Free Range Triangle Quilts by Gwen Marston and Cathy Jones; Minimal Quiltmaking by Gwen Marston; Modern Patchwork Magazine; Simply Moderne Magazine and QuiltCon Magazine. Kristin lives with her husband and son in Central Oregon. Welcome, Kristin! Continue Reading

creativity The Creativity Project

The Creativity Project Week #26: Diana Vandeyar

Posted on June 29, 2018
Diana Vandeyar The Creativity Project Week #26 Leland Ave Studios: Kim Smith Soper

Diana Vandeyar is an Australian-born artist who relocated to Virginia from South Africa. She uses quilts to raise awareness of social injustices, stir emotion, and explore new techniques. In fact, two of Diana’s quilts have been purchased by the Michigan State University Museum as part of their permanent collection. Diana is a frequent contributor to the Modern Quilt Guild, with her patterns being featured as block and quilts of the month. Diana’s quilts and designs have been published in numerous places, among them, Modern Quilts: Deisgns of the New Century; Simply Moderne Magazine; 50 Little Gifts: Easy Patchwork Projects to Give or Swap; Curated Quilts; and QuiltCon Magazine. Diana won both second and third place in the Modern Traditionalism category at QuiltCon 2018, and her quilt Log Cabin Quilter Unknown was month the MQG’s showcase at the International Quilt Festival 2017. Welcome, Diana! Continue Reading