Deborah Fell – October 8-10
Deborah Fell is a full-time studio artist committed to the quilt medium. Deborah’s art focuses on abstract, organic shapes while using surface treatments such as dyeing, painting, photography, and reclaimed materials. She has been a professional educator for over 30 years.
Deborah obtained a Master’s degree from Northern Illinois University as well as graduate work at University of Illinois, University of New Hampshire, and a fellowship at Northwestern University. In 2012 Deborah started teaching art quilt related courses at the University of Illinois through OLLI program. She also taught in Tokyo in 2019 and Australia in 2023. Deborah’s art quilt won the Quilts Japan Prize in Visions 2018. She is also honored to have won the Award of Excellence in Quilt National 2023.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT:
Why do we make art? Specifically, why do we make quilts? In describing my work to a group of young artists, while doing a residency at the Vermont Studio Center, I was asked why I make art quilts. I make art quilts because it is cheaper than the co-pay to the local psychiatric facility. Nobody got it. Creating art allows me to navigate between point A and point B. The world presents us with often impossible situations. Whether those situations are at the global level or at a deeply private level, art allows me to understand things for which there is no control. The combined use of cloth, thread, paper, paint, dye, and stitching sings beautiful music.
Art gives me hope and strength to believe in myself and keep going, even when it seems hopeless. Holding cloth and thread allows me to have control in my tiny corner of the world. Creating art is my strategy to get through those impossible times.
In-person and Virtual Lecture: Tues, Oct 8: 9:30 am (CT): Thank You, Edward Hopper
Deborah Fell will trace her 30-year journey as an artist and educator.
In-Person Workshop: Perfectly Imperfect Mark Making
Tues, Oct 8: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Wed, Oct 9: 9:30 am – 4:00 pm
Thurs, Oct 10: 9:30 am – 4:00 pm
This retreat-like workshop focuses on slowing down and relishing in process rather than product. Supplies needed are minimal and no machine is necessary. Learning to celebrate imperfection is a prevailing theme. Small compositions will be created with an emphasis on how to use the hand stitch as a major design mark making element. So, grab a bag of fabric scraps and your favorite hand sewing tools, and jump on board. This is not a technique workshop where you learn how to hand stitch. The focus is on using the stitch line as mark making on cloth and learning to color outside the lines. The stitch marks are the brush strokes that make the composition complete. Students will explore personal mark making preferences, with the power of parallel play in groups.
• No sewing machine
• Willingness to color outside the lines
• All levels; no experience necessary
Choices for the final project include:
• Making a banner
• Create 9 small compositions that relate to each other
• Make a book
• Make a sculpture