Having grown up with several professional and amateur artists in my family, it was natural that I find a creative outlet. I first explored the artistic potential of the fiber arts over 35 years ago, under the tutelage of quilt teacher Kathryn Watts. While my favorite artist is Georgia O’Keefe, the early art quilts of Nancy Crow and Michael James first introduced me to the possibilities of utilizing textiles in art. Later, the work of my family friend, the late African-American folk art quilter Anna Williams, gave me a new sense of freedom to break the “traditional rules.”
The textile art I create today incorporates many of the sewing techniques I learned as a young girl, expands upon those basics, and integrates exotic and interesting fibers, materials, paints, and dyes into each piece. This multitude of fibers and materials has become my paint and my canvas. The tactile qualities of the fibers that I incorporate into my art are essential to my work. The sense of touch is as important to me in the creative process as the sense of sight.
I am always eager to explore and learn new techniques, and I strive to continuously grow as an artist.
Wendy Read
Resume:
Exhibitions:
2022 Sacred Threads
2022 Burlington Iowa Art Center Fiber Arts Exhibit
2022 Macon Illinois Art Center Fiber Arts Exhibit
2022, 2017, 2013, 2011, 2010 Fairfield Art Association member show
2021 VISUALS #3 exhibit, Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival Online, Mancuso Show Management
2021 Studio Art Quilters Association member exhibit, Virtual Gallery
2021, 2019, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2011 2009 Iowa Art Quilters group exhibits, Fairfield Art Association, Fairfield Area Convention Center lobby gallery
2020 Mancuso Quilt Festival Virtual Gallery
2020 Central Iowa Textile Artists group exhibit, Des Moines Botanical Center
2019 Lowe Park, Marion, Iowa, Iowa Art Quilters group exhibit
2019 Ankeny Art Center, Central Iowa Textile Artists group exhibit
2019 Central Iowa Textile Artists group exhibit, Des Moines Area Quilters Guild Show
2019 Warren Culture Center, Greenfield Iowa, Iowa Art Quilters group exhibit
2019 Iowa Quilt Museum, Winterset, Iowa, Iowa Art Quilters group exhibit
2018 Health and Wholeness solo exhibit
2018 Iowa Art Quilters group exhibit, Des Moines Area Quilters Guild show
2018 Warren Culture Center, Greenfield Iowa, Iowa Art Quilters group exhibit
2017, 2015 Iowa Art Quilters group exhibit, Lowe Park, Marion, Iowa
2016-2018 Studio Art Quilters Association, Regional Traveling Exhibit: Deeply Rooted
2016 Central Iowa Textile Artists Group Exhibit, DMAQG show
2016 Iowa Art Quilters group exhibit, Marshaltown Art Center, Marshaltown, Iowa
2016, 2015 Iowa Art Quilters group exhibit, Ankeny Art Center, Ankeny, Iowa
2016 Central Iowa Textile Artists group exhibit, Winterset Art Center, Winterset, Iowa
2016 Central Iowa Textile Artists group exhibit, Des Moines Botannical Garden
2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010 Studio Art Quilters Association silent benefit auction
2015 Iowa Art Quilters group exhibit, Mercy Hospital, Cedar Rapids
2015 Central Iowa Textile Artists group exhibit, Urbandale Library, Urbandale, Iowa
2014 Central Iowa Textile Artists group exhibit, Gallery 52, Fairfield, Iowa
2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 American Quilters Society, Des Moines Show
2014, 2013, 2011 Fiber Arts Show, Central Iowa Arts Alliance, Marshalltown, IA
2013 Central Iowa Textile Artists group exhibit, Des Moines Area Quilters Guild show
2011 Co-Curator, ICON Gallery, Fairfield, IA, Contemporary Fiber Arts show
2010 Small Art Quilt Works, Main Street Gallery, Croton, NY
2011, 2010 Wiederspan Gallery, Cedar Rapids
2010-2011 "Art and Science", traveling show of Professional Art Quilters Alliance members
2011, 2010 Grinnell Area Arts Council, Iowa Art Quilters
2011 Women in the Arts, Central Iowa Arts Alliance, Marshalltown, IA
2010 Des Moines Area Quilters Guild silent auction
1984 Contemporary Quilt Show, State Street Gallery, Baton Rouge
1983 Fiber Arts Guild member show, LSU Union Gallery, Baton Rouge
Organizations:
2009-2022 Studio Art Quilters Association
2015-2022 Central Iowa Textile Artists
2005-2022 Iowa Art Quilters and Fiber Artists
2005-2022 Fairfield Art Association
Publications:
2014 Aug/Sept Quilting Arts Magazine
1988, 1991 Fait a La Main, a Source Book of Louisiana Crafts
1985 The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate
1984 Goodfellows Catalog of Wonderful Things to Wear and Wear and Wear
Workshops Offered:
Art Quilting Techniques:
Free Motion Quilting
Thread Painting
Art Quilt Embellishing
Traditional Quilts:
Seminole Patchwork
All images and text are copyright Wendy Read, and may not be reproduced without written consent.
