Artist Profile: Hope Wilmarth

Hope Wilmarth

Houston, TX 

1. What kind of challenges did this theme present to you? The design of graffiti on cloth as well as technique implementation was a challenge.

2. Describe your studio space? I have two studio spaces: one is a large bedroom, Studio A, dedicated to domestic machine, fabric, design wall, sewing/cutting table, ironing board, books and tools. Studio B is a large room in the house which is over a double car garage and houses a large work table for mixed media processes, a sink and a long arm machine which is mostly used to quilt charity quilts for homeless children. 

3. Where can people see your work in the next six months? 
1. Sacred Threads, Floris UMC, Herndon, VA, July 7-23  
2. Contemporary Art Quilts 2017, Whistler House Museum of Art, Lowell, MA, Aug 5-Sept 1. 3. Threads of Resistance, New England Quilt Museum, Lowell, MA. 
4. Texas Quilts: Art in Stitch SAQA regional show,  Center for Contemporary Arts, Abelene, TX, Sept 20- Nov. 10, then Texas Tech University Museum.
5. Dinner@Eight, World of Beauty, Hands All Around, Houston Quilt Festival, IQA, Houston, TX. Nov 2-5. 
6. Under the Western Sun, SAQA regional NM: Rocky Mt. Quilt Museum April 24 - July 22, then Macy Center, NM July 21-Sept 11.

4. Do you ever work in a series?  If so, what benefits or challenges does this present to you as an artist? Yes, I work in a series and have several series in my art quilt collection. The benefit is that the work builds on itself. The challenge is to make a new and interesting art while adhering to the original design elements in the series.

5. What other activities do you engage in that “feed” your creative energy? I love attending local SAQA meetings and conferences to meet other artists as well as  attending art quilt openings. I also find entering calls for entry a creative challenge. Much of my creative energy comes from the work itself as it evolves.