Celebrate Summer with Karel Hendee

Exhibit July 20 to October 2
Workshops July 21 & 22
An evening of music & poetry, July 22
Opening reception July 24, 1-4 p.m.

The Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts welcomes quilter Karel Hendee in July, 2011. Hendee hand-paints silk, and uses collage, appliqué and quilting techniques to create beautifully textured designs. Hendee draws on her passion as a gardener to create scenes from nature and the farm.

“I fell in love with silk and silk-painting when I was in my mid-twenties,” says Hendee. “After years of drafting and computer graphics in college, I was thrilled with the free expression of dye oozing onto silk and the vibrant luminescent colors. I love combining different fabrics with silk to add contrasting texture and tone. Quilting the silk creates angles and texture to catch the light in different ways. Piecing fabric together, like collage, is a very satisfying synthesis process. The end result of both silk-painting and fabric collage is unpredictable and mysterious. Each piece of art becomes an adventure.”

Hendee’s artwork will be on display beginning July 20 in the WMQFA’s Farmhouse Gallery. Hendee will offer two workshops,

• “Introduction to Surface Design with Silk” on Thursday, July 21, 9:30 a.m. to noon
• “Introduction to Silk Painting” on Friday, July 22, from 1-4 p.m.

Registration for either or both courses is available at www.wiquiltmuseum.org or by calling 262.546.0300.

On Friday evening, Hendee will be joined by her partner, Jonathan Lyerly, in presenting a lecture and live music entitled “Motherland: Americana in Sight, Sound and Soul.” The event will take place in the WMQFA’s new barn gallery, beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are on sale at the museum or online at www.wiquiltmuseum.com.

Finally, visitors to the museum on Sunday, July 24, will have the opportunity to meet the artist at a reception in her honor from 1 to 4 p.m. Hendee’s artwork will also be on display at the WMQFA Museum Gift Shop.