Quilting is such a time-honored tradition – so how can you keep it fresh and let your own style shine? Artist Courtney Kennedy does just that, combining her deep appreciation for traditional quilting with her love of modern, contemporary art to create portrait quilts that are nothing short of extraordinary. Courtney displays her fiber work at art shows throughout the Midwest, impressing everyone from young painters to seasoned quilting veterans.
Like many quilters, Courtney comes from a long line of Stitchin’ Women. “Both of my grandmothers and great-grandmothers quilted, and for years our house was full of ancient hand-pieced blankets passed down through generations,” says Courtney. But during her childhood, she focused her creative energy on painting, drawing and other artistic expression.
While attending the School of Art Institute in Chicago, Courtney’s creative environment inspired her to try many new things, including sewing by hand. Courtney enjoyed fabric so much that she took a job at fabric store, and eventually she taught herself how to quilt.
“My first quilt was a really simple block called the rail fence block. It helped me get used to strips and blocks,” she says. “Then I jumped right into portrait quilts… I have the tendency to dive into difficult stuff right off the bat.”
When Courtney returned to St. Louis, she took a job managing a fabric store. She found herself surrounded by quilting experts who were more than happy to share everything they knew. “It was intimidating bringing in projects to show them, because they’re really accomplished and they really know what they are doing,” says Courtney. “It always meant a lot when they would say they liked it.”
While learning new techniques, Courtney was also inspired to read about quilting - everything from worldwide fiber art to the history of the textile industry. She developed a deep appreciation for the craft and women who, she explains, “used quilting and embroidery as a means of expression when there were few acceptable outlets for females to oust their creative spirit.”
“I really feel drawn to quilting,” says Courtney. “I think it is a true art form that women have perfected for centuries, and when I make quilts now, I really feel connected to past generations who used them for everything from a cover to keep warm to sign posts on the underground railroad.”
Courtney’s knowledge of quilt history and contemporary art gave her a wealth of ideas and the creative vision that most artists strive to find, and she soon developed a unique perspective of Past Meets Present Meets Punk.
Courtney regularly displays paintings, drawings and other modern art pieces. However, in a world of paint, clay and pastels, Courtney’s quilting stands out from the crowd. She also incorporates hand embroidery into her shows. “Embroidery is a good skill to have in case you have an art project. Like, ‘It’d be good to draw it, but it’d be even COOLER it embroider it.’”
Courtney gets involved in her local art community by watching for ‘open calls for artists’ in the paper and online, and submitting her work. For the past two years, Courtney has been involved with Venus Envy, an all female art show.
And even when she’s not creating work for shows, Courtney continues to look for inspiration, both through new mediums like the underground comic scene and older quilters who have mastered time-honored techniques. “It’s a great way to bridge the generation gap,” she says. “I think it’s cool that you can sit down with someone’s grandma and geek out about quilting together, and they’ll think you’re the coolest girl in the world.”
Stitchin’ Advice:
On Quilting: Measure twice, cut once. Make sure you cut items straight, and make sure you are using a flat surface. Press and iron. It was hard at keep that ¼” seam allowance at first, but I got it. If you make sure to cut straight and give yourself that ¼” seam allowance, your pieces will come together perfectly.
On Getting Involved With Your Local Art Scene: Don’t be afraid! Take some good pictures and really think about your work. Make sure that the medium you are using is the best one to express the concept you wish to get across.
