Piece by Piece: A Mash-up of Modern Quilting, Digital Design and Craft is the title of the art exhibition that opens the Nutting Gallery’s 2018-19 exhibition season. The show features two artist-sisters — Sarah Davis and Lisa Parker — and the opening reception will take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 29. The exhibit continues through Sept. 20.
“As sisters with a mom who was always sewing and teaching us crafts, we grew up with a love of making. We continued our creative practice as adults, me as a graphic designer and Lisa as a modern quilter. We often talked about working together and organized crafting days during holiday get-togethers. Finally, we found the time and an opportunity to collaborate on a professional level,” said Sarah Davis, WLU assistant professor of Visual Communication Design.
“For this exhibition, we chose to create original fabric designs and textile art displaying individual, as well as collaborative works with process samples and participatory opportunities for guests. By collaborating and learning new skills from one another, we were able to combine and incorporate new techniques with our tried-and-true practices in digital design, printmaking, sewing and quilting. As a result, we have created one-of-a-kind works that bridge digital technology and handmade craft.
“Our goal from the beginning was to learn new techniques, enjoy the making process and spend creative time together as sisters. After all, it is the relationships with those we love that bring the most significant rewards and joy to our lives. With this as our motto, we have continued to remind ourselves that the joy is in the making, learning and being together. We hope that each work is infused with our love of craft and our time together.”
Davis is interested in exploring visual communication design through cross-disciplinary collaboration and in finding creative solutions by working with experts from different fields of study. Her teaching approach often reflects this philosophy by asking students to interview their intended audience and immerse themselves in the, often, new subjects for which they are designing.
Parker hopes to advance her work as a founding board member of the Indy Modern Quilt Guild in Indianapolis, Ind. She worked with a WLU graphic design student, Megan Bumgardner, to design the group’s logo.
Her quilting group currently sponsors over 50 members and organizes modern quilt shows in the Indianapolis and surrounding regions. Parker also was featured recently in the 2018 QuiltCon magazine, a well-known trade magazine. The article will be on display at this exhibition.
The Nutting Gallery is dedicated to educating, enriching and engaging students and the public through art exhibitions of the highest quality and to promoting the visual arts within the WLU community.
The Gallery fulfills this mission through exhibitions during the academic year. This exhibition schedule includes exhibitions by visiting artists, two Senior Exhibitions and the Annual Art Faculty Exhibition.
The exhibitions are free and open to the public.