About the Artist

I am drawn to the textile medium by its vibrant palette, tactile richness, and endless versatility. I especially enjoy creating work that begins with a blank palette of white fabric, which then comes to life through multiple layers of dyes, paints, paper, foil, stitching, and embellishment.

The style of my work vacillates on a continuum between abstract and representational. I am increasingly fascinated by the capacities of color and imagery to entice the viewer to venture into particular territories, while at the same time offering broad latitude regarding the specific terrain to be explored.

Spiritual themes are evident in much of my work, often giving exterior expression to interior reflections on sacred writings recorded in holy scripture, experienced among God’s people in worship, and imbedded in my own spiritual geography. I am gratified when viewers experience my work as an invitation to reflect more deeply on spiritual themes, to enter into more thoughtful examination of religious presumptions, or to embrace more nuanced understandings of either their own beliefs or the beliefs of others.

My creative pursuits are informed by artistic intuition and academic study in art, theology, and journalism, including:

     The Art Cloth Mastery Program with Jane Dunnewold of Art Cloth Studios in
               San Antonio, TX
     The Master of Divinity Degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, OH
     The Master of Arts Degree in Journalism (Communications) from the Gaylord College
               of Journalism at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK
     The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism (Public Relations) from the Gaylord College
               of Journalism at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK

My work is displayed in juried group, invitational, and solo exhibitions throughout the United States, as well as in Europe and Asia; it also resides in corporate and private collections throughout the U.S. In addition to my exploratory work, I maintain an active commission schedule, primarily for projects purposed in liturgical use.

I welcome comments and inquiries about my work.


SELECT EXHIBITIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

2009 and beyond
      The Jewelry Quilt Project, an invitational exhibition with artists from Japan, France,
          and the United States for exhibition 2009-2014 in Asia, Europe, and the U.S.
     Featured artist, Imaging Ubuntu, Episcopal Church Visual Arts, on-line exhibition
     America Celebrates, invitational traveling exhibition, 2010-2014
     Cover, Buying Indy Art: A Guide for Businesses, Arts Council of Indianapolis, Summer 2009
     Featured artist, Cherishing Earth’s Bounty, Multi-Faith Action Society of British Columbia
     Featured artist, Gifts, Episcopal Church Visual Arts, on-line exhibition
     Envisioning the Word (solo exhibition), Via Creativa Gallery, Virginia Beach, VA
     Imago Dei, Kansas City, MO

2008 and beyond
     Mary, Mary, Mary: Visions of Grace, Via Creativa Gallery, Virginia Beach, VA
     Succour: Gifts of Support and Solace, Orange International Street Fair, Orange, CA;
           the Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, CA
     Featured artist and cover, 2009-2010, Salt of the Earth Christian Seasons Calendar,
          United Church of Canada
     Familiar Fiber, Surprising Surfaces, Tippecanoe Arts Federation, Lafayette, IN
     Featured artist, Create Your Own Hand-Printed Cloth by Rayna Gillman
          (Lafayette, CA: C & T Publishing, 2008)
     Don’t Fence Me In invitational exhibition, Longmont Museum and Culture Center,
          Longmont, CO; Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, MO; South Dakota Art Museum ,
          Brookings, SD; Kimball Art Center, Park City, UT
     Featured artist, 2008-2009 Salt of the Earth Christian Seasons Calendar,
          United Church of Canada
     Feature article and cover, March 2008 issue of The Lutheran magazine

2007
     ARTQUILTS Images, Cary, NC; Cincinnati, OH; Harrisburg, PA; Santa Clara, CA;
          Schaumburg, IL; Golden, CO
     Expressions: The Art Quilt, La Veta, CO; Manchester, NH; Nashville, TN; Paducah, KY
     Highly Favored: Contemporary Images of the Virgin Mary, Christians in the Visual Arts [CIVA],
          Wendham, MA; Thousand Oaks, CA; Chicago, IL; Dayton, OH; Rochester, NY; Grand
          Rapids, MI; New York, NY; New Haven, CT; Helena, MT; Jackson, TN; New York, NY;
          Dallas, TX; Seattle, WA; Atlanta, GA, and other sites through 2009
     Fabric of Legacies, Lincoln Center, Fort Collins, CO
     Featured artist, April 2007 issue of Indie Arts DVD magazine
     28th Annual Contemporary Crafts Exhibition, Mesa, AZ, and exhibition catalog
     Form, Not Function: Quilt Art at the Carnegie, Albany, IN
     Featured artist and conference presenter, Symposium on Worship, Music, and the Arts,
          Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI

2006
     Au Naturale, Ricky Tims Quilt Art Gallery, La Veta, CO
     Fabric of Legacies, Lincoln Center, Fort Collins, CO
     Celebration! , HGA Convergence, Grand Rapids, MI
     Liturgical and Sacred Art Exhibition, Springfield Art Association, Springfield, IL
     Spiritual Expressions in Fiber, Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, Golden, CO
     Considering Quilts 2006, Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna Beach, FL
     Sacred Prostitute, Springer-Croke Fine Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2005
     Windows to the Divine, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Denver, CO
     Featured artist, Sacred Threads, Reynoldsburg, OH
     Feature article, Quilters’ Newsletter magazine
     Secret Place, Sacred Space, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL
     Contemporary Works of Faith 2005 (Poster Award), Schumacher Gallery, Columbus, OH
     Alegré, Sweeny Conference Center, Santa Fe, NM

2004
     Expressions of the Sacred [Jurors’ Award], the University of Denver, Denver, CO


PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

      Episcopal Church and Visual Arts (ECVA)
     Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA), Professional Artist Member
     Front Range Contemporary Quilters (FRCQ)

SELECT COLLECTIONS

Organizations
Ashburn Lutheran Church, Chicago, IL
Calvary Presbyterian Church, Denver, CO
Christ the Savior Lutheran Church, Aurora, CO
Christ Church, Zionsville, IN
Community of Christ Worldwide Headquarters, Independence, MO
Easter Lutheran Church, Eagan, MN
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Headquarters, Chicago, IL
First Plymouth Congregational Church UCC, Englewood, CO
Grace Lutheran Church, Mendham, NJ
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Chicago, IL
St. John’s Lutheran Church, Des Moines, IA
Zion Lutheran Church, Offerle, KS

Individuals
The Rev. Cathy Fanslau,Chesapeake, VA
The Rev. Sue Gaeta, Milwaukee, WI
The Rev. James Grunow, Boise, ID
The Rev. Dr. Anne Holland Heuer, Denver, CO
The Rev. Joseph Holub, Dillon, CO
The Rev. Ruth Huff, Littleton, CO
Al and Mary Kay Horton, Centennial, CO
The Rev. Sylvia High Karlsson, Hildreth, NE
Christine Larson Rehnquist, Aurora, CO
The Rev. Alan Rider, Indianapolis, IN
The Rev. Brenda K. Smith, Jamaica, NY
The Rev. Jared Stillions, Bay City, TX
Scott Weidler, Chicago, IL
The Rev. Dr. John D. Witvliet, Grand Rapids, MI
The Rev. Dr. Marti Zimmerman, Centennial, CO