31 Days of Thanks: Day 6
I chose my college based on whether or not it had a fiber art program. During a local portfolio review day, Marsha, the Dean of the Art Department at Xavier University (Cincinnati, Ohio), was the only college representative to tell me I could potentially take a fibers class all eight semesters. Most colleges required you to take the basic foundation classes your freshman and sophomore year and would not allow you to start focusing on your concentration until junior year. Marsha’s offer was music to my ears. I held her to her word and that is exactly what I did. Throughout the eight semesters I took a fibers class, I learned all sorts of dyeing, weaving and surface design techniques under the guidance of Kitty, the fibers professor. I majored in Art with a concentration in Fibers and earned a Business minor. Thanks Marsha and...
Read More31 Days of Thanks: Day 5
I was very involved on the wardrobe crew for my high school’s theater department. My friend Becca, first convinced me to go to the Drama Club meetings after school and knowing my love of fabric, later convinced me to help Kathy, the costume supervisor on the annual musical and play. While at Presentation I was able to shadow a second “woman in a career field that interested me”. This time I was able to follow around a dresser with the local Theatrical Wardrobe Union on a Broadway Series touring production of BIG. Thanks again go to Ms. Hall, coordinator of the leadership program, who reached out to Amy with the Broadway Series. Amy connected me with Ginger who I was able to follow around backstage for the entire performance. At the time, becoming a dresser did not quite seem like the right fit for me, but all that changed with a phone call. A few months later, Ginger became the Business Agent for the local Wardrobe Union. I still remember walking back to my dorm room my freshman year of college and having a message on the answering machine from Ginger. She asked me if I would be interested and available to dress and work as a seamstress for the upcoming four week run of The Phantom of the Opera. No need to think about it, I was immediately on board. Since then I have worked dozens of Broadway shows, Operas, Ballets and Concerts. I have earned two union cards for wardrobe (a challenging feat with no family or friends working in the industry). It is fun to be able to incorporate my fibers background into the theatrical wardrobe world. In addition to being a seamstress for Phantom and several other productions, I have had the opportunity to paint costumes for The Lion King (one of my Top 5 favorite shows!). I cannot thank Becca, Kathy, Charlie (my high school theater Director), Amy and Ginger enough for building the foundation of what has become my love of...
Read More31 Days of Thanks: Day 4
I was first introduced to world renowned fabric artist, Penny Sisto, at a special leadership seminar my freshman year of high school. After hearing Penny speak and seeing her amazing quilts, I knew I wanted to shadow her through my school’s shadowing program. It took a few months, but the stars finally aligned and there I was spending the day in Penny’s studio. With Penny’s guidance, I made a wall hanging in less than a day, painting the background, creating the person, and quilting it all together. As I was sewing the person together, Penny cut the bird out for me to put in the figure’s hands. Ironically and unbeknownst to Penny, at the time I was reading “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” in English class. It was meant to be. I went home that day and proudly professed to my parents, “I know what I want to be when I grow up. I want to be a fabric artist!” Thank you Penny for inspiring me to be what I have...
Read More31 Days of Thanks: Day 3
One of the reasons I chose to go to high school at Presentation Academy was because of its leadership program. At the helm was leadership coordinator, Ms. Hall. As a prospective 8th grader, the potential to take days off of school to shadow women in career fields that interest me was very intriguing. Ms. Hall made it possible for me to shadow a fabric artist and a dresser on a Broadway show. While I will talk about the women I shadowed another day, today is dedicated to Ms. Hall for making the connections that enabled me to start on the path toward my future careers. Thanks Ms....
Read More31 Days of Thanks: Day 2
20+ years later I still remember sitting in my second grade art class making a painting of a clown. My teacher, Mr. Jones, guided us step by step as we painted his expression and black tux with some sort of tie. It has been years since I have seen that painting. I am sure it is around here somewhere and once I come across it I may have to frame it and hang it proudly in my studio. I recall my painting, which I later entitled “Mr. Sad”, had a flower in his black top hat. I do not consider myself much of a painter these days. I prefer to dye outside the lines and without the confinement of a brushstroke. But for a second grader, my painting ability was clearly a step up from the finger paintings I brought home in day care. After I finished the painting, I remember going with mom to get a mat for Mr. Sad in order to enter him in the Kentucky State Fair. I think that was the first year I entered my artwork in the fair. On opening day mom and I went aisle by aisle through the Junior Division, searching for Mr. Sad. We had virtually given up our quest and mom consoled me and explained that perhaps we did not follow the entry rules and my painting was disqualified. We turned the corner to look for another entry, and there, high, high up on the peg board wall surround by all of the special purchase prize and merit award winners was Mr. Sad, with not one but TWO blue ribbons! In fact, Mr. Sad won a first place ribbon and a Palette Club Merit Award rosette ribbon. For a second grader and a state fair novice, having two blue ribbons was pretty awesome. That painting ignited a love for entering my artwork in the Kentucky State Fair and perhaps art competitions in general. Over the years I have been awarded over 100 ribbons at the Kentucky State Fair. I won the Junior Textile Sweepstakes Award twice and a Best of Show Award in the Hobbies division. While I have not entered anything into the fair for a number of years, I think back to Mr. Jones from time to time and remember the budding artist he inspired when I painted Mr. Sad. Thank you Mr....
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