Playing the French Horn was my path to art. The ability to develop original pieces and improvise on tradition is a freedom that arose with needle art. I learned to be adventurous with art quilts.
My approach to making art is borrowed from the large textile tradition. Abstract Design in American Quilts, the 1971 exhibit at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City served as a new chapter in the evolution of the quilt. Quilts were selected for a visual aesthetic and displayed on the wall. Abstract design excites my imagination.
Using needle and thread to piece cloth and hold layers of fiber together has been practiced through the ages. I’m proud to contribute to the preservation of an ancient skill. I find pleasure in quilting by hand using an old fashioned floor frame. The hand quilting develops design and texture on the surface of the work, and directly reveals the hand of the artist in the art.
Inspiration comes from music, nature, study, life experiences and concerns. Collaboration with my husband Wayne Walma, Woodworker, expands creativity. The imaginative wood frames embellish and interact with the art quilts. Making and sharing art enhances our simple lifestyle.
