Blues Tapestry

Rhonda Blasingame, quilt artist and exhibiting member of the Craftsmen's Guild of Mississippi, is the newest featured artist at ARTichoke. Join us Thursday, February 21, 2008 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm for a reception honoring Rhonda and presenting her incredible art quilts. The theme of this show is "Blues Tapestry". Below, the artist describes her work and her inspirations.

"Although my work utilizes traditional quilting skills, my quilts are nothing like the ones I made with my grandmother. Contrast, color, design and subject matter are all used to create an overall "feel" to each piece. The fabrics I use are heavily textured and it's not unusual to see burlap or velvet in my work along with the traditional cottons.

Embellishments, whether beading or found objects or fibers, are used to enhance the overall design and add another layer of movement and texture. The threadwork on each piece may be dense or minimal and is chosen to highlight or minimize the different areas of the design.
All of my work incorporates my deep love of the South and the tradition of quilting in some way, either through the materials I use, the subject matter, or my chosen techniques for the piece.

Most of my quilts contain at least one piece of fabric that I have created myself through painting, dyeing or rust staining. Music is a recurring theme in my work because of the rich musical history of Mississippi, as is Mardi Gras, based on my own history of family from the Delta and the Gulf Coast. Traditions play a large part in my work, both through the themes I choose and the actual skills used in constructing the piece."

Let us know what you think of this piece and look for more on this site about Rhonda Blasingame and her upcoming exhibition at ARTichoke in the coming days and weeks.